Performance-enhancing handle and equipment incorporating same

Abstract

A handle for sports equipment. In an illustrative embodiment, the handle includes grip structure for accommodating a hand. The grip structure includes a first mechanism that is coupled to the grip structure for reducing involvement of a thumb of a hand in grasping the grip. A second mechanism is coupled to the grip to reduce involvement of an additional digit of the hand in grasping the grip. In a more specific embodiment, the handle is a golf club handle. The additional digit includes an index finger, a middle finger, and/or a ring finger of the hand. The involvement of a thumb includes involvement of muscles and tendons coupled to the thumb. The involvement of an additional digit includes involvement of muscles and tendons coupled to the additional digit.

1 . A grip comprising:
 a grip structure adapted to accommodate a hand;   first means for reducing involvement of a thumb of a hand in grasping the grip, wherein the first means is coupled to the grip structure; and   second means for reducing involvement of an additional digit of the hand in grasping the grip, wherein the second means is coupled to the grip structure.   
     
     
         2 . The grip of  claim 1  wherein said second means includes:
 means for reducing involvement of an index finger of the hand in grasping the grip.   
     
     
         3 . The grip of  claim 1  wherein said second means includes:
 means for reducing involvement of a middle finger of the hand in grasping the grip.   
     
     
         4 . The grip of  claim 1  wherein said second means includes:
 means for reducing involvement of a ring finger of the hand in grasping the grip.   
     
     
         5 . The grip of  claim 1  wherein said first means includes:
 means for reducing involvement of muscles and tendons coupled to the thumb.   
     
     
         6 . The grip of  claim 1  wherein said second means includes:
 means for reducing involvement of muscles and tendons coupled to the additional digit.   
     
     
         7 . A handle comprising:
 a shaft;   a first protrusion extending from the substantially cylindrical shaft, the first protrusion adapted to hold a first digit of a hand in a substantially strait orientation and   a second protrusion extending from the shaft, the second protrusion adapted to hold one or more additional digits of the hand in a substantially strait orientation.   a second protrusion extending from the shaft, the second protrusion adapted to hold one or more additional digits of the hand in a substantially strait orientation.   
     
     
         8 . The handle of  claim 7  wherein the handle includes:
 a golf club handle.   
     
     
         9 . The handle of  claim 7  wherein the first protrusion is adapted to hold a thumb of a hand in a substantially strait orientation. 
     
     
         10 . The handle of  claim 9  wherein the first protrusion and the second protrusion are adapted to hold the thumb and the one or more additional digits at a predetermined orientation for inhibiting opposability of the thumb. 
     
     
         11 . The handle of  claim 10  wherein the second protrusion is adapted to hold an index finger, a middle finger, or a ring finger of the hand in a substantially strait orientation. 
     
     
         12 . The handle of  claim 11  wherein the first protrusion and the second protrusion are adapted to hold the thumb and the index finger in an approximately coplanar orientation. 
     
     
         13 . The handle of  claim 11  wherein the first protrusion and the second protrusion are adapted to hold the thumb at an angle between 20 and 90 degrees relative to the index finger. 
     
     
         14 . A golf club handle comprising:
 a handle shaft and   a grip structure coupled to the shaft, wherein the grip structure is adapted to hold a thumb and an index finger of a hand in substantially straight orientations.   
     
     
         15 . The golf club handle of  claim 14  further including a golf club coupled to the shaft, wherein the golf club includes:
 a hitting surface positioned on a side of the club opposite a gripping surface of the grip structure.   
     
     
         16 . A handle comprising:
 a handle shaft and   first means coupled to the handle shaft for selectively reducing gripping ability of one or more fingers of a hand on the handle.   
     
     
         17 . The handle of  claim 16  wherein the first means includes:
 a grip structure coupled to the shaft, wherein the grip structure is adapted inhibit a thumb and an index finger from wrapping around the shaft.   
     
     
         18 . The handle of  claim 17  further including:
 a golf club coupled to the shaft.   
     
     
         19 . The handle of  claim 16  wherein the first means includes:
 means for reducing involvement of forearm muscles in gripping the handle.   
     
     
         20 . A grip comprising:
 first means for inhibiting opposability of a thumb relative to one or more additional digits of a hand and   second means for coupling the first means to a sports equipment handle.   
     
     
         21 . The grip of  claim 20  wherein the first means includes:
 a thumb protrusion and   an index finger protrusion for preventing a thumb and index finger from wrapping around a shaft of the sports equipment handle.