GOLF PUTTER GRIP
Disclosed is a golf putter grip having proximal and distal ends, the distal end being open and the proximal end being closed and including a bore therethrough for installation of a golf putter. The putter grip of the present invention further comprises a main grip area having a forward facing surface and a rear facing surface. The forward facing surface of the main grip area having a cross section which is “V” shaped with the vertex of the “V” pointing away from the golfer, and resulting in a vertex line running longitudinal along the entire front of the main grip area. The rear-facing surface of the main grip area having an arcuate, or “C” shaped cross section which is convex from the viewpoint of the rear of the grip. The rear facing and front facing contours meet along the sides of the main grip area to create a cross section that is substantially teardrop shaped. The entire length of the main grip area of the grip tapers gradually in the proximal-to-distal direction.
This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 29/358,248 filed on Mar. 24, 2010, a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 29/368,718 filed on Aug. 27, 2010, and a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 29/393,644 filed on Jun. 7, 2011, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD OF INVENTIONThe present invention relates to equipment used to play the sport of golf. More particularly, the present invention relates to a hand grip (“grip”) for a golf putting club (“putter”) which forces the player to place his hands in a position which is conducive to greater balance and control of the club.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONUnlike many other facets of the game of golf which rely on power, and strength, putting relies, for the most part, on finesse. Specifically, a solid, smooth and balanced putting stroke is essential to achieve good results within the greens. For this reason, many golf experts believe that putting is the hardest aspect of the game of golf to master.
Successful putting requires a chain of events to occur in a specific order starting with the body and ending with the putter face striking the ball. The interface between body and putter occurs at the grip which is significant because this is the point where the “chain” can be broken due to a poor interaction which disrupts the body's muscular recruitment sequence for an efficient putting stroke.
Traditional putter grips are designed without a clear understanding of how hand position affect's the body's natural ability to perform a smooth, efficient and repeatable putting stroke. This fact is evident as seen by the increasing popularity of “fat” putter grips, belly and long putters which try to tap into the body's efficient muscular recruitment pattern.
Golfers at all levels are always looking to maximize optimal club and body interaction in order to make them perform as one. When this occurs, the movement sequence produces a smooth and accurate stroke more often.
Previous attempts at putter grips that optimize the interaction between the golfer and the club have failed to achieve good results.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a golf putter grip that creates a desirable interaction between body and putter that automatically turns on the correct upper body muscular recruitment sequence resulting in t putting movement.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a golf putter grip that automatically places the golfer's hands in a position so that their palms face each other and the wrists are in a neutral position.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a golf putter grip that teaches and encourages a repeatable and correct putter stroke
These and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention may be more clearly understood and appreciated from a review of ensuing detailed description of the preferred and alternate embodiments and by reference to the accompanying drawings and claims.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIn one embodiment of the present invention, provided is a golf putter grip having proximal and distal ends, the distal end being open and the proximal end being closed and including a bore therethrough for installation of a golf putter. The putter grip of the present invention further comprises a main grip area having a forward facing surface and a rear facing surface. The forward facing surface of the main grip area having a cross section which is “V” shaped with the vertex of the “V” pointing away from the golfer, and resulting in a vertex line running longitudinal along the entire front of the main grip area. The rear-facing surface of the main grip area having an arcuate or “C” shaped cross section which is convex from the viewpoint of the rear of the grip. The rear facing and front facing contours meet along the sides of the main grip area to create a cross section that is substantially teardrop shaped. The entire length of the main grip area of the grip tapers gradually in the proximal-to-distal direction.
In a second embodiment of the present invention, provided is a golf putter grip having proximal and distal ends, the distal end being open and the proximal end being closed and including a bore therethrough for installation of a golf putter. The putter grip of the present invention further comprises a main grip area having a forward facing surface and a rear facing surface. The forward facing surface of the main grip area having a cross section which is comprised of three substantially flat sides, namely a left, a right and a center side. The left and right sides form diagonal converging planes which converge in the direction that is a way from the golfer. The center side is the most forward facing and is substantially horizontal with respect to the left and right sides. In combination, the cross section formed by the left, right and center sides of the forward facing surface of the main grip forms a half-hexagon in which the hexagon has been cut by a line running from one of its vertices to the opposite vertex. The rear-facing surface of the main grip area having an arcuate or “C” shaped cross section which is convex from the viewpoint of the rear of the grip. The rear facing and front facing surfaces meet along the sides of the main grip area. The entire length of the main grip area of the grip tapers gradually in the proximal-to-distal direction.
In a third embodiment of the present invention, provided is a golf putter grip having proximal and distal ends, the distal end being open and the proximal end being closed and including a bore therethrough for installation of a golf putter. The putter grip of the present invention further comprises a main grip area having g a forward facing surface and a rear facing surface. The forward facing surface of the main grip area having a cross section which is “V” shaped with the vertex of the “V” pointing away from the golfer, and resulting in a vertex line running longitudinal along the entire front of the main grip area. The rear facing surface of the main grip area also having a cross section which is “V” shaped with the vertex of the “V” pointing towards the golfer, and resulting in a vertex line running longitudinal along the entire rear of the main grip area. The rear facing and front facing contours are optionally substantially symmetrical and meet along the sides of the main grip area to create a cross section that is substantially diamond shaped. The entire length of the main grip area of the grip tapers gradually in the proximal-to-distal direction.
Various exemplary embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail, wherein like reference numerals refer to identical or similar components or steps, with reference to the following figures. Likewise, some of the figures herein depict minimal line-work for ease of understanding.
While the present invention will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which a number of embodiments of the present invention are shown, it is to be understood at the outset of the description which follows that persons of skill in the appropriate arts may modify the invention herein described while still achieving the favorable results of this invention. Accordingly, the description which follows is to be understood as being a broad, teaching disclosure directed to persons of skill in the appropriate arts, and not as limiting upon the present invention.
Referring first to
The bore through the grip extends substantially from the distal end (1) to the proximal end (2) where it is capped by closed surface (5). The bore opening (4) is more clearly illustrated in
The main grip area (3) has a forward facing surface (6) and a rear facing surface (7) which meet at lateral vertex lines (8) and (9). The front facing surface (6) of the main grip area (3) is divided into left (10) and right (11) surfaces which converge at a forward vertex line (12). The main grip area (3) also has a rear facing surface (7) which has a convex, generally “C” shaped rounded surface.
The disposition and shapes of forward facing surface (6) and rear facing surface (7) can be better seen in
As can be seen in
As can be best seen in
Additional embodiments of the present invention are shown in
Shown in
In use, the grip (100) of the present invention creates a desirable interaction between body and putter that automatically turns on the correct upper body muscular recruitment sequence resulting in an efficient putting movement. This is accomplished by placing the hands in a position so the palms face each other and the wrists are neutral. This small change to hand and wrist position on the grip makes a fundamental change to muscular recruitment and interaction between body and putter.
Shown in
The design of the disclosed putter grip adapts to the body's natural muscular recruitment pattern for efficient movement of body and putter as one during the stroke increases a golfer's chance of success on the putting green more often unlike traditional grips.
In an independent study conducted by the inventor of the disclosed grip, fifty golfers who used traditional grips were given the grip of the present invention to place On their putter. In an indoor training facility located in Miami Beach, Fla., each golfer was given 20 putts using the new grip. After putting, the golfer was given a standard questionnaire to provide feedback. Overwhelmingly, 92% of the golfers responded that the grip helped produce a more relaxed putting stroke, eliminated hand or wrist involvement during the stroke, gained more confidence putting with the Garsen grip and will be kept on the putter.
Finally, from a medical standpoint, the disclosed putter grip also allows players with arthritis to hold and use the putter without creating additional stress across the joints of the hands and wrists due to their neutral position during movement.
Accordingly, it will be understood that several embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed by way of example and that other modifications and alterations may occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the appended claims.
Claims
1. A golf putter grip comprising:
- a proximal end and a distal ends, the distal end being open and the proximal end being closed and including a bore therethrough adapted to fit on the shaft of a putter;
- a main grip area located between said proximal and distal ends having a forward facing surface and a rear facing surface;
- said forward facing suffice of said main grip area having a cross section which is “V” shaped with the vertex of the “V” pointing in the forward direction and resulting in a vertex line running longitudinally along the front of said main grip area;
- said rear-facing surface of the main grip area having an arcuate cross section which is convex when viewed from the rear of said grip;
- said rear facing and front facing surfaces intersecting along the sides of said main grip area resulting in vertex lines running longitudinally along the left and right sides of said main grip area; and
- said main grip area tapering gradually along its longitude in the proximal-to-distal direction.
2. A golf putter grip comprising:
- a proximal end and a distal ends, the distal end being open and the proximal end being closed and including a bore therethrough adapted to fit on the shaft of a putter;
- a main grip area located between said proximal and distal ends having a forward facing surface and a rear facing surface;
- said forward facing surface of said main grip area having a cross section with left right and central sides arranged in a half-hexagonal shape resulting in two vertex lines running longitudinally along the front of said main grip area;
- said rear-facing surface of the main grip area having an arcuate cross section which is convex when viewed from the rear of said grip;
- said rear facing and front facing surfaces intersecting along the sides of said main grip area resulting in vertex tines running longitudinally along the left and right sides of said main grip area; and
- said main grip area tapering gradually along its longitude in the proximal-to-distal direction.
3. A golf putter grip comprising:
- a proximal end and a distal ends, the distal end being open and the proximal end being closed and including a bore therethrough adapted to fit on the shaft of a putter;
- a main grip area located between said proximal and distal ends having a forward facing surface and a rear facing surface;
- said forward facing surface of said mm grip area having a cross section which is “V” shaped with the vertex of the “V” pointing in the forward direction and resulting in a vertex line rut ling longitudinally along the front of said main grip area;
- said rear facing surface of said main grip area having a cross section which is “V” shaped with the vertex of the “V” pointing in the rear direction and resulting in a vertex fine running longitudinally along the rear of said main grip area;
- said rear facing and front facing surfaces intersecting along the sides of said main grip area resulting in vertex lines running longitudinally along the left and right sides of said main grip area; and
- said main grip area tapering gradually along its longitude in the proximal-to-distal direction.
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 15, 2013
Publication Date: Aug 29, 2013
Inventor: Bernard Garsen (Miami, FL)
Application Number: 13/834,154
International Classification: A63B 53/14 (20060101);