Apparatus and process used by a golfer to apply custom indicia for improving consistency in positioning their hands when gripping a golf club.

Abstract

An apparatus and process wherein a golfer can apply visual aids (Indicia) to any commercially available golf glove as well as to the golfer's ungloved hand that can be used to improve consistency in the manner of gripping a golf club from shot-to-shot and from round-to-round. The position and alignment of the Indicia on the golf glove are customized to match the golfer's preferred or accustomed manner of placing their hands on the grip of a golf club. By applying Indicia directly to the golfer's ungloved hand as well, the positioning of that hand can also be evaluated without impacting the golfer's feel for the clubface and golf swing.

1 . A method for a golfer to apply indicia to a golf glove whereby said indicia align with the shaft of a golf club when the golfer has disposed their gloved hand on the grip of the golf club using the golfer's preferred or accustomed manner of gripping the golf club, said method comprising;
 a. disposing a glove indicia applicator on a golf glove after the golfer has disposed their gloved hand on the grip of the golf club;   b. a method for using said glove indicia applicator to apply said indicia to the golf glove; and   c. a method for urging the disposal of said glove indicia applicator into alignment with the shaft of a golf club, whereby said indicia applied by said glove indicia applicator will be aligned with the shaft of the golf club.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  for urging the disposal of the glove indicia applicator of  claim 1 , wherein said method further comprises;
 a. joining a plurality of elastic materials having the property of elasticity to said glove indicia applicator; and 
 b. attaching said elastic materials to the shaft of a golf club, thereby the resistance created by said elastic materials urges said glove indicia applicator towards and into alignment with the shaft of the golf club. 
 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  for using the glove indicia applicator of  claim 1  to apply said indicia to a golf glove wherein said method further comprises applying a pigment medium to the surface of the golf glove through a plurality of indicia application apertures in said glove indicia applicator. 
     
     
         4 . An apparatus that a golfer uses to apply indicia to a golf glove whereby said indicia align with the shaft of a golf club when the golfer has disposed their gloved hand on the grip of the golf club using the golfer's preferred or accustomed manner of gripping the club, said apparatus comprising;
 a. a glove indicia applicator;   b. a means for disposing said glove indicia applicator on the golf glove after the golfer has disposed their gloved hand on the grip of the golf club using the golfer's preferred or accustomed manner of gripping the club;   c. a means for urging said glove indicia applicator towards the shaft of the golf club, whereby said glove indicia applicator will be aligned with the shaft of the golf club; and   d. a means for applying said indicia to the golf glove using said glove indicia applicator.   
     
     
         5 . The glove indicia applicator of  claim 4  wherein said means for disposing said glove indicia applicator on a golf glove further comprises a cuff hook, which is a curved or angular appendage that is hooked around the cuff of the golf glove after a golfer has disposed their gloved hand on the grip of the golf club using the golfer's preferred or accustomed manner of gripping the club. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 4  wherein said apparatus further comprises:
 a. a shaft attachment; 
 b. a means for disposal of said shaft attachment on the shaft of a golf club; 
 c. a plurality of elastic material having the property of elasticity joining the glove indicia applicator of  claim 4  to said shaft attachment, thereby creating resistance that acts as the means of  claim 4  for urging said glove indicia applicator towards and into alignment with the shaft of the golf club. 
 
     
     
         7 . The glove indicia applicator of  claim 4  whereby said glove indicia applicator further comprises a plurality of elastic material attachments used to join the elastic material of  claim 6  to said glove indicia applicator. 
     
     
         8 . The shaft attachment of  claim 6  wherein said shaft attachment further comprises:
 a. a plurality of elastic material attachments whereby the elastic material of  claim 6  is attached to said shaft attachment; 
 b. a cross section of a cylinder having an interior diameter of sufficient size to house the shaft of a golf club but which is narrower than the diameter of the grip of the golf club, thereby said elastic material urges said shaft attachment against the end of the golf grip in the direction of the glove indicia applicator of  claim 7  as the means of  claim 6  for disposing said shaft attachment on the shaft just below the grip of the club; and 
 c. a club opening on the side of said shaft attachment through which the shaft of the golf club can be placed inside said shaft attachment. 
 
     
     
         9 . The glove indicia applicator of  claim 4 , wherein said glove indicia applicator further comprises a plurality of indicia application apertures through which a pigment medium can be applied to the surface of the golf glove as the means of  claim 4  for applying indicia to the surface of the golf glove. 
     
     
         10 . A method to apply indicia in a consistent position directly on a golfer's ungloved lower hand, whereby said golfer can use said indicia to assess the disposal of the hand on the grip of a golf club without impacting the golfer's feel for the clubface or golf swing, said method comprising;
 a. a method for consistently disposing a hand indicia applicator on the golfer's ungloved hand; and   b. a method for applying said indicia directly to the golfer's ungloved hand in the position disposed by said hand indicia applicator.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  for consistently disposing the hand indicia applicator of  claim 10 , wherein said method further comprises;
 a. joining the hand indicia applicator of  claim 10  to a plurality of elastic material having the property of elasticity; and 
 b. wrapping said elastic material around the golfer's ungloved hand, thereby the resistance created by said elastic material urges the curved underside of the hand indicia applicator against the natural curvature of the proximal interphalangeal and metacarpophalangeal joints of the proximal phalanx of the index finger, whereby said hand indicia applicator is disposed in the 12 o'clock position on top of the proximal phalanx of the index finger of the ungloved hand where the hand is extended as if shaking someone's hand with the fingernail of the index finger pointing horizontally to the side. 
 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10  for consistently disposing the hand indicia applicator of  claim 10  wherein said method further comprises;
 a. obtaining an indicia application glove that incorporates said hand indicia applicator; and 
 b. placing said indicia application glove on the golfer's ungloved hand, thereby disposing said hand indicia applicator in a consistent position. 
 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10  for applying said indicia directly to the golfer's ungloved hand wherein said method further comprises;
 a. obtaining indicia material that is sufficiently pliable and resilient with sufficient adhesion to remain affixed to the skin of the golfer's ungloved hand while hitting a plurality of golf balls; 
 b. disposing the hand indicia applicator of  claim 10  on the golfer's ungloved hand using the method of  claim 10  for doing so; and 
 c. applying said indicia material in the position disposed by said hand indicia applicator. 
 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10  for applying said indicia directly to the golfer's ungloved hand wherein said method further comprises applying a skin-safe pigment medium through a plurality of apertures in the hand indicia applicator of  claim 10 . 
     
     
         15 . An apparatus that applies indicia in a consistent position directly on a golfer's ungloved lower hand, whereby the golfer can use said indicia to assess the disposal of the hand on the grip of a golf club without impacting the golfer's feel for the clubface or golf swing, said apparatus comprising;
 a. a hand indicia applicator;   b. a means for consistently disposing said hand indicia applicator on the golfer's ungloved hand, and   c. a means for using said hand indicia applicator to safely apply said indicia directly to the skin of the golfer's ungloved hand.   
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein said apparatus further comprises;
 a. a plurality of elastic material having the property of elasticity that can be wrapped around the golfer's ungloved hand;   b. an indicia material that is rectangular in shape and is sufficiently pliable and resilient with sufficient adhesion to remain affixed to the skin of the golfer's ungloved hand while hitting a plurality of golf balls; and   c. an indicia container used to hold said indicia material as part of the means of  claim 15  for applying said indicia directly to the skin of the golfer's ungloved hand.   
     
     
         17 . The hand indicia applicator of  claim 15 , wherein said hand indicia applicator further comprises;
 a. sufficient length so as to exceed the length of the proximal phalanx of the index finger of a mature adult's ungloved hand;   b. an underside having curvature from side to side;   c. a plurality of elastic material attachments joining said hand indicia applicator to the elastic material of  claim 16  thereby urging the curvature of the underside of said hand indicia applicator against the natural curvature of the proximal interphalangeal and metacarpophalangeal joints of the proximal phalanx of the index finger as the means of  claim 15  for consistently disposing said hand indicia applicator in the 12 o'clock position on top of the proximal phalanx of the index finger of the ungloved hand, where the hand is extended as if shaking someone's hand with the fingernail of the index finger pointing horizontally to the side; and   d. an indicia container aperture of sufficient size and shape for the indicia container of  claim 16  to be placed within said hand indicia applicator.   
     
     
         18 . The indicia container of  claim 16  wherein said indicia container further comprises;
 a. a curved surface of sufficient length to exceed the length of the indicia material of  claim 16 ; 
 b. vertical walls on each side of said curved surface whose interior diameter is less than the width of said indicia material, thereby flexing and securing said indicia material when said indicia material is placed in said indicia container; and 
 c. a means for removing said indicia material from said indicia container and affixing it to the golfer's ungloved hand, thereby said indicia material is properly disposed on the hand to create the indicia that is used to assess the disposal of the hand on the grip of a golf club. 
 
     
     
         19 . The hand indicia applicator of  claim 15  wherein said hand indicia applicator further comprises a plurality of apertures through which a skin-safe pigment medium can be applied to the golfer's ungloved hand as the means of  claim 15  for safely applying the indicia directly to the skin of the golfer's ungloved hand. 
     
     
         20 . The hand indicia applicator of  claim 15 , wherein said hand indicia applicator is incorporated into an indicia application glove that fits on the golfer's traditionally ungloved hand as the means of  claim 15  for consistently disposing said hand indicia applicator on the golfer's ungloved hand.