Customizable Grips for Golf Clubs and Baseball Bats

Abstract

The disclosure provides example apparatus and methods for personalizing a grip of an implement. The apparatus includes: (a) a base layer having a first side and a second side, (b) a middle layer having a first side and a second side, where the first side of the middle layer is coupled to the second side of the base layer, where the middle layer comprises a moldable material configured to have a compressed position that is contoured to a portion of one or more hands of a user in response to an applied pressure, where the middle layer is configured to harden in the compressed position in the presence of air, and (c) an outer layer having a first side and a second side, where the first side of the outer layer is removably coupled to the second side of the middle layer.

1 . An apparatus for personalizing a grip of an implement, comprising:
 a base layer having a first side and a second side;   a middle layer having a first side and a second side, wherein the first side of the middle layer is coupled to the second side of the base layer, wherein the middle layer comprises a moldable material configured to have a compressed position that is contoured to a portion of one or more hands of a user in response to an applied pressure, wherein the middle layer is configured to harden in the compressed position in the presence of air; and   an outer layer having a first side and a second side, where the first side of the outer layer is removably coupled to the second side of the middle layer.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of alignment indicators coupled to the outer layer and configured to correspond with a first position for a left hand and a right hand of the user. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the first position corresponds to the personalized grip for the implement, the implement comprising a golf club, a baseball bat, a tennis racquet, or a hockey stick. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the middle layer has a thickness in an uncompressed position ranging from 4 mm to 11 mm such that the left hand and the right hand of the user are prevented from rotating out of the first position during a swing. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the middle layer forms a physical stop or an abutment in the compressed position that is configured to prevent a user's hands from rotation out of the first position. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one alignment indicator coupled to the outer layer and configured to correspond with a second position for the portion of at least one hand of the user. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the middle layer has a thickness ranging from 7 mm to 15 mm such that the portion of at least one hand of the user is retained in the first position during use. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the middle layer has a thickness ranging from 4 mm to 21 mm to accommodate a growth or a protrusion on at least one of a palm, a finger, and a thumb of the user's hand in the compressed position. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the moldable material of the middle layer comprises a viscoelastic liquid silicone or a rubber memory foam. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the base layer, the middle layer, and the outer layer are arranged in a rollable sheet. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , further comprising a backing removably coupled to the first side of the base layer, wherein the first side of the base layer is coated with an adhesive. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein at least one of the outer layer and the backing have a plurality of spaced apart markings configured to act as a sizing guide for the personalized grip. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the base layer, the middle layer, and the outer layer are arranged as a flexible sheath. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the first side of the base layer is configured for frictional engagement with the golf club or the baseball bat. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the middle layer and the base layer are configured for shock absorption. 
     
     
         16 . A method for personalizing a grip, the method comprising:
 applying the apparatus of  claim 1  to the implement;   applying a pressure to the middle layer, via at least the portion of the one or more hands of the user, and thereby causing the moldable material to have the compressed position that is contoured to the portion of the one or more hands of the user; and   removing the outer layer from the middle layer thereby exposing the middle layer to the air and causing the middle layer to harden in the compressed position.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 prior to applying the pressure to the middle layer, aligning a left hand and a right hand of the user in a first position on the grip in alignment with a plurality of alignment indicators coupled to the outer layer, wherein the first position corresponds to the personalized grip for the implement, and the implement comprising a golf club, a baseball bat, a tennis racquet, or a hockey stick.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the base layer, the middle layer, and the outer layer are arranged in a rollable sheet, wherein a backing is removably coupled to the first side of the base layer, wherein the first side of the base layer is coated with an adhesive, wherein applying the apparatus to the implement comprises:
 removing the backing from the base layer; and   placing the adhesive in contact with a gripping area of the implement and wrapping the apparatus around the gripping area.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein at least one of the outer layer and the backing have a plurality of spaced apart markings, the method further comprising:
 cutting along at least one of the plurality of the spaced apart markings thereby sizing the apparatus to fit the gripping area of the implement.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the base layer, the middle layer, and the outer layer are arranged as a flexible sheath, wherein applying the apparatus to the implement comprises:
 sliding the sheath over an end and onto a gripping area of the implement.