Golf club grip

Abstract

The golf club grip includes an upper portion and a lower portion. The upper portion has a forward-facing aspect and a rearward-facing aspect, the forward-facing aspect preferably having a substantially arcuate contour. The forward-facing aspect is adapted to support the user's thumb during use. The rearward-facing aspect includes first and second surfaces joined together at a vertex, the first and second surfaces being acutely angled with respect to one another. The first and second surfaces are adapted for gripping by the user's fingers. The golf club grip has an axial bore formed therein, and the golf club grip is preferably symmetric about a plane of symmetry extending between the vertex and a central point of the forward-facing aspect. The axial receives the upper end of a golf club shaft.

1 . A golf club grip adapted for attachment to a shaft of a golf club, comprising:
 an upper portion having a forward-facing aspect and a rearward-facing aspect, the forward-facing aspect having a substantially arcuate contour adapted for supporting a golfer's thumb, the rearward-facing aspect having first and second surfaces being joined together at a vertex, the first and second surfaces forming an acute dihedral angle, the first and second surfaces being adapted for gripping by the golfer's fingers; and   a lower portion extending from the upper portion, the lower portion defining an axial bore adapted for forming a friction fit with the shaft of the golf club.   
   
   
       2 . The golf club grip as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the substantially arcuate contour of the forward-facing aspect of said upper portion has a constant radius of curvature. 
   
   
       3 . The golf club grip as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the vertex of the rearward-facing aspect of said upper portion is rounded. 
   
   
       4 . The golf club grip as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said lower portion has a circumference less than said upper portion. 
   
   
       5 . The golf club grip as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said golf club grip is formed from at least one material selected from the group consisting of rubber, synthetic rubber, leather, imitation leather, leather wrap, soft wood, plastic, a synthetic polymer, and polyurethane. 
   
   
       6 . The golf club grip as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said golf club grip is symmetric about a plane defined by a longitudinal axis through said upper and lower portions and an axis extending between the vertex and a central point of the forward-facing aspect. 
   
   
       7 . A golf club having a golf club grip according to  claim 1  attached thereto. 
   
   
       8 . A golf club, comprising:
 a golf club shaft having opposed first and second ends;   a golf club head attached to the first end of the golf club shaft; and   a golf club grip attached to the second end of the shaft, the grip having:
 an upper portion having a forward-facing aspect and a rearward-facing aspect, the forward-facing aspect having a substantially arcuate contour adapted for supporting a golfer's thumb, the rearward-facing aspect having first and second surfaces being joined together at a vertex, the first and second surfaces forming an acute dihedral angle, the first and second surfaces being adapted for gripping by the golfer's fingers; and 
 a lower portion extending from the upper portion, the lower portion defining an axial bore adapted for forming a friction fit with the shaft of the golf club. 
   
   
   
       9 . The golf club as recited in  claim 8 , wherein the substantially arcuate contour of the forward-facing aspect of said upper portion has a constant radius of curvature. 
   
   
       10 . The golf club as recited in  claim 8 , wherein the vertex of the rearward-facing aspect of said upper portion is rounded. 
   
   
       11 . The golf club as recited in  claim 8 , wherein said lower portion has a circumference less than said upper portion. 
   
   
       12 . The golf club as recited in  claim 8 , wherein said golf club grip is formed from at least one material selected from the group consisting of rubber, synthetic rubber, leather, imitation leather, leather wrap, soft wood, plastic, a synthetic polymer and polyurethane. 
   
   
       13 . The golf club as recited in  claim 8 , wherein said golf club grip is symmetric about a plane defined by a longitudinal axis of said golf club grip and a lateral axis extending between the vertex and a central point of the forward-facing aspect of the upper portion, the lateral and longitudinal axes being orthogonal with respect to one another. 
   
   
       14 . The golf club as recited in  claim 13 , wherein said golf club shaft extends along the longitudinal axis. 
   
   
       15 . The golf club as recited in  claim 14 , wherein said golf club head extends along the lateral axis. 
   
   
       16 . The golf club according to  claim 8 , wherein said golf club head comprises a putter head.