GB2031283A

GB2031283A - Golfer's grip practice device

Info

Publication number: GB2031283A
Application number: GB7840587A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: CURZONS R
Current assignee: CURZONS R
Priority date: 1978-10-14
Filing date: 1978-10-14
Publication date: 1980-04-23
Also published as: GB2031283B

Abstract

An aid for golfers to enable them to achieve a correct gripping position of the hands has projections 12, 14 for respective hands and which fit between the thumbs and forefingers when the hands are in the correct position. The axial spacing and the relative angular positions of the projections 12, 14 are adjustable. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Golfer's grip aid This invention relates to an aid for golfers and more particularly an aid for enabling golfers to achieve the correct positioning of the hands on golf clubs.

One difficulty for golfers in playing golf is in always ensuring that the hands are correctly placed on the golf club. Under the rules of golf it is not allowed for the golf club to be specially shaped or otherwise adapted to guide the hands into the correct position. Needless to say, golfers achieve better results if the hands are correctly positioned for their shots.

An object of the invention is to provide a device whereby the golfer can ascertain and memorise the correct position of the hands preparatory to gripping a golf club.

According to the invention a golfer's grip aid comprises an elongate member having an outer profile generally conforming to the shape of the gripped portion of a golf club and two outwardly projecting portions axially spaced from one another and arranged to fit between the thumbs and forefingers of the golfer's hands when in the desired gripping position around the member.

Preferably the projecting portions are of tapered section, the narrower ends being located towards the top end of the member. To conform to the shape of the gripped portion of a golf club the member will generally be of circular cross-section tapering inwardly from the top end.

To cater for golfers hands being of different sizes the axial spacing of the projecting portions may be adjustable.

Preferably the member is in two parts, one part being formed with one of the projecting portions and the other part being formed with the other of the projecting portions, and the parts being connected together by a connecting element.

The two parts may be angularly adjustable about the axis of the member so that the projecting portions can take up different radial positions relative to one another. In this way the position of the hands can be changed to achieve positions in which shots can be deviated to the lefl or the right or a tendency for such deviation can be corrected.

Further features of the invention appear from the following description of an embodiment of the invention given by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a side elevation, Fig. 2 is a plan view, Fig. 3 is a section on the line Ill-Ill, and Fig. 4 is a section on the line lV-IV.

Referring to the drawings, an aid for golfers includes a two-part gripping member having a top part 10 and a lower part 11, each being of circular cross-section and each tapering inwards from its upper end.

The top part 10 has an outwardly projecting portion 1 2 which tapers outwardly from its upper to its lower end and which also tapers inwards towards its radially outer edge. As can be seen from Fig. 2 the portion 12 projects more from the part 10 at its upper end than at its lower end.

Moreover, from Fig. 3 it will be seen that the portion 1 2 is asymmetrical about a radius 1 3 from the axis of the member to the outer end of the portion 12.

The lower part 11 also has a projecting portion 14 which in several respects is similar to the portion 12 in being tapered outwardly from one end to the other, tapered inwardly from the radially inner end, and in projecting more at one end than the other. It will also be seen from Fig. 4 that the portion 1 4 is offset to one side with respect to the radius 13 when the part 11 is in its central position in relation to part 10.

The part 11 has a bore 1 6 extending from one end to the other along the axis of the part 11, one portion 1 6A of the bore being of larger diameter than the other portion 1 6B to receive a cylindrical portion 17 of the part 10. The portion 1 7 also has a bore 1 8 which is aligned with the bore portion 1 6B, and at the inner end of the bore 18 is a screw-threaded portion 1 8A.

A threaded bolt 19 secures the parts 10 and 11 together by engagement of the threaded end of the bolt 19 with the threaded bore portion 1 8A, and of a knurled head 20 of the bolt 19 with one end of the part 11, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Spacing washers 21 may be located about the bolt 19 between the parts 10 and 11 to adjust the spacing between the parts according to the necessary spacing of the projecting portions 12 and 14. This will vary depending on the size of the golfer's hands.

The top end of the part 11 is formed with a series of circumferentially-spaced grooves, notches or splines 22 and the lower end of the part 10 is formed with a lug 23 engageable with any one of the grooves 22 according to the desired relative angular orientation of the projections about the axis of the member.

Alternatively, if washers 21 are present each washer has a lug at one end and a groove at the other end which serve to lock the parts 10 and 11 together in the desired position.

It will be seen that the invention provides an aid for golfers for achieving and maintaining the correct grip on golf clubs. The device can be adapted to suit different hand sizes and further adaptation is possible to give the best grip in the case where with the 'correct' grip a golfer tends to hook or slice his shot. Above all, the device serves to enable the golfer to memorise the correct position of the hands on the golf clubs.

1. A golfers grip aid comprising an elongate member having an outer profile generally conforming to the shape of the gripped portion of a golf club, and two outwardly projecting portions axially spaced from one another and arranged to fit between the thumbs and forefingers of the

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Golfer's grip aid This invention relates to an aid for golfers and more particularly an aid for enabling golfers to achieve the correct positioning of the hands on golf clubs. One difficulty for golfers in playing golf is in always ensuring that the hands are correctly placed on the golf club. Under the rules of golf it is not allowed for the golf club to be specially shaped or otherwise adapted to guide the hands into the correct position. Needless to say, golfers achieve better results if the hands are correctly positioned for their shots. An object of the invention is to provide a device whereby the golfer can ascertain and memorise the correct position of the hands preparatory to gripping a golf club. According to the invention a golfer's grip aid comprises an elongate member having an outer profile generally conforming to the shape of the gripped portion of a golf club and two outwardly projecting portions axially spaced from one another and arranged to fit between the thumbs and forefingers of the golfer's hands when in the desired gripping position around the member. Preferably the projecting portions are of tapered section, the narrower ends being located towards the top end of the member. To conform to the shape of the gripped portion of a golf club the member will generally be of circular cross-section tapering inwardly from the top end. To cater for golfers hands being of different sizes the axial spacing of the projecting portions may be adjustable. Preferably the member is in two parts, one part being formed with one of the projecting portions and the other part being formed with the other of the projecting portions, and the parts being connected together by a connecting element. The two parts may be angularly adjustable about the axis of the member so that the projecting portions can take up different radial positions relative to one another. In this way the position of the hands can be changed to achieve positions in which shots can be deviated to the lefl or the right or a tendency for such deviation can be corrected. Further features of the invention appear from the following description of an embodiment of the invention given by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a side elevation, Fig. 2 is a plan view, Fig. 3 is a section on the line Ill-Ill, and Fig. 4 is a section on the line lV-IV. Referring to the drawings, an aid for golfers includes a two-part gripping member having a top part 10 and a lower part 11, each being of circular cross-section and each tapering inwards from its upper end. The top part 10 has an outwardly projecting portion 1 2 which tapers outwardly from its upper to its lower end and which also tapers inwards towards its radially outer edge. As can be seen from Fig. 2 the portion 12 projects more from the part 10 at its upper end than at its lower end. Moreover, from Fig. 3 it will be seen that the portion 1 2 is asymmetrical about a radius 1 3 from the axis of the member to the outer end of the portion 12. The lower part 11 also has a projecting portion 14 which in several respects is similar to the portion 12 in being tapered outwardly from one end to the other, tapered inwardly from the radially inner end, and in projecting more at one end than the other. It will also be seen from Fig. 4 that the portion 1 4 is offset to one side with respect to the radius 13 when the part 11 is in its central position in relation to part 10. The part 11 has a bore 1 6 extending from one end to the other along the axis of the part 11, one portion 1 6A of the bore being of larger diameter than the other portion 1 6B to receive a cylindrical portion 17 of the part 10. The portion 1 7 also has a bore 1 8 which is aligned with the bore portion 1 6B, and at the inner end of the bore 18 is a screw-threaded portion 1 8A. A threaded bolt 19 secures the parts 10 and 11 together by engagement of the threaded end of the bolt 19 with the threaded bore portion 1 8A, and of a knurled head 20 of the bolt 19 with one end of the part 11, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Spacing washers 21 may be located about the bolt 19 between the parts 10 and 11 to adjust the spacing between the parts according to the necessary spacing of the projecting portions 12 and 14. This will vary depending on the size of the golfer's hands. The top end of the part 11 is formed with a series of circumferentially-spaced grooves, notches or splines 22 and the lower end of the part 10 is formed with a lug 23 engageable with any one of the grooves 22 according to the desired relative angular orientation of the projections about the axis of the member. Alternatively, if washers 21 are present each washer has a lug at one end and a groove at the other end which serve to lock the parts 10 and 11 together in the desired position. It will be seen that the invention provides an aid for golfers for achieving and maintaining the correct grip on golf clubs. The device can be adapted to suit different hand sizes and further adaptation is possible to give the best grip in the case where with the 'correct' grip a golfer tends to hook or slice his shot. Above all, the device serves to enable the golfer to memorise the correct position of the hands on the golf clubs. CLAIMS

1. A golfers grip aid comprising an elongate member having an outer profile generally conforming to the shape of the gripped portion of a golf club, and two outwardly projecting portions axially spaced from one another and arranged to fit between the thumbs and forefingers of the golfer's hands when in the desired gripping position around the member.

2. An aid according to claim 1 wherein the projecting portions are of tapered section, the narrower ends being located towards the top end ofthe member.

3. An aid according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the axial spacing of the projecting portions is adjustable.

4. An aid according to claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the member is in two parts, one part being formed with one of the projecting portions and the other part being formed with the other of the projecting portions, and the parts being connected together by a connecting element.

5. An aid according to claim 4 comprising spacer elements locatable between the two parts to enable the axial spacing of the parts to be adjusted.

6. An aid according to claim 3, 4 or 5 wherein the two parts are angularly adjustable about the axis of the member so that the projecting portions can take up different radial positions relative to one another.

7. An aid according to claim 6 wherein one of the parts of the member is formed with a plurality of circumferentially-spaced grooves which are selectively engageable with a co-operating lug so that when secured by the connecting element the projecting portions are in the desired angular orientation relative to one another.

8. An aid according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the elongate member is in two parts connected by a connecting element in the form of a headed bolt, screw-threaded at one end for securing to one of the parts and arranged to extend through the other of the parts with the head of the element engaging against said one of the parts.

9. A golfers grip aid substantially as described with reference to the drawings.