US20150290509A1

US20150290509A1 - Golf club grip with feedback and improved stability

Info

Publication number: US20150290509A1
Application number: US14/251,030
Authority: US
Inventors: Timothy Rose
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2014-04-11
Filing date: 2014-04-11
Publication date: 2015-10-15

Abstract

A grip for a golf club includes a grip section having an outer shell and an inner sleeve inside the shell. The sleeve has a channel for receiving an end of the shaft of a golf club. The outer shell is of a rigid non-compliant material. The inner sleeve is of a compliant material. Vibration of the club shaft by contact between the club strike face and a ball is transmitted by the inner sleeve to cause vibration of the outer shell enabling detection via the vibration of the outer shell of a quality of the contact of a golf ball with a strike face of a head of the golf club. The outer shell is rigid for preventing deflection or movement of the grip during a golf swing.

Description

FIELD OF INVENTION

The disclosed invention relates to a grip for a golf club with a structure that is configured to both transmit vibration of the club to a golfer holding the grip in order to provide feedback to the golfer on the accuracy or nature of the contact between the strike face of the club head and the golf ball and to provide to the golfer a stable, rigid gripping surface, rather than a gripping surface that yields or deforms under the grip by the golfer or that permits shifting of the clubhead as a result of grip movement or flex.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIG. 1, a typical golf club 10 includes a club head 12, a shaft 14, and a grip 16. Club head 12 is connected to one end of shaft 14 and grip 16 resides at the opposite end of shaft 14 and extends along shaft 14 from the opposite end a partial distance toward club head 12. A conventional grip 16 is usually several inches long.
A conventional grip comprises a one-piece sleeve made of a compliant material that fits around and frictionally couples to the exterior surface of the opposite end region of shaft 14 or is coupled to the shaft by adhesive tape.
Another well known variation of a grip includes an inner sleeve of a compliant material that stretches or deforms to receive the thickness of the shaft in the smaller width opening into the grip and the sleeve, that fits around and frictionally couples to the exterior surface of the opposite end region of shaft 14. An outer strip of leather or the like material is wound around the inner sleeve.
Referring to FIG. 2, club head 12 includes a strike face 18. Strike face 18 is the part of club head 12 that makes contact with a golf ball (not shown). Strike face 18 includes a sweet spot region 20 located approximately at the center of strike face 18 but may be off the center of the strike face.
Sweet spot region 20 on strike face 18 is the ideal region of contact with a golf ball for the most accurate stroke against the golf ball. When a golf ball is struck at a region of the strike face outside the sweet spot region 20, the struck ball may be misdirected, move at an undesired speed or move in an unplanned direction.
When a strike face strikes a golf ball, this generates vibrations in the golf club. The vibrations so generated travel along shaft 14 and are transmitted to the golfer's hand through the grip 16. In response to vibrations felt by the golfer, the golfer will be able to make necessary adjustments in his grip or stance, when aligning the club for future shots, to improve contact with ball.
Typical conventional golf club grips are made from compliant materials that have shock absorbing and vibration damping properties. Most conventional golf grips are made entirely of an elastomeric material or of a blend of an elastomeric material with other materials such as cork.
Some grips are made of a combination of an elastomeric sleeve with a layer of felt-like material covering the sleeve, and an outer gripping surface made of an elastomer or spongy material which is supplied in sheet form and is then wrapped around the layer beneath the gripping surface.
Traditional golf grips are engineered to utilize compounds with the most shock absorbing or vibration damping results to reduce hand fatigue caused by vibrations of a missed hit and to provide a non-slip surface.
One reason for making grips 16 of a compliant material, such as a soft polymer, is to damp the vibrations that are transmitted to the golfer's hand. It is thought that damping vibrations may reduce golfer fatigue, particularly hand fatigue, caused by the vibrations produced by a “miss hit”, defined as any ball strike not a “perfect” contact between the sweet spot region of the club head and the golf ball at impact. Another reason for making grips from an elastomer is to provide a non-slip gripping surface.
A sweet spot region 20 on the strike face 18 is usually limited to a small portion of the surface area of strike face 18. The perfect contact with the golf ball is made when the golf ball is perfectly aligned with the sweet spot region 20 at contact. The further the contact location on the strike face from the “sweet spot” region 20, the more vibration the golfer will feel in his/her hand, which produces “feedback” which informs the golfer of the quality of the contact between the club strike face and the golf ball.
A golfer can make necessary adjustments to his/her swing by feeling the feedback vibration and adjusting factors that affect the accuracy of the swing, such as the stance, the grip hand placement, the grip pressure, the body movement during the swing, and other factors in an effort to more consistently hit the golf ball within the sweet spot region 20 to further improve the accuracy and the distance selection for each swing.
A significant effect of a compliant golf grip is that it permits a golfer's hand to slightly depress into the surface of the grip during gripping and during club movement toward a ball strike. Traditional golf grips are comprised of elastomeric materials which “give” slightly under a golfer's hands to depress into the grip when a club head is swung toward a ball strike. Due to the distance between the golfer's hands and the club head, even the slightest amount of movement caused by the elastomeric grip material will cause exaggerated movement at the club face, compromising a golfer's intended alignment and shot quality.
An all metal golf grip has been offered for sale by Dog Leg Right Corporation. Because that grip includes no compliant material, it tends to vibrate much more intensely than a grip including compliant material, which will cause a golfer hand fatigue and even numbness over a round of golf played using such a club and grip, usually after only a few strokes against a golf ball. Further, golf grip of compliant material may be fitted over the end of a club shaft because that sleeve shaped grip would expand to receive the rigid shaft. But, an all metal grip would not expand, requiring that the grip be pre-installed and sold as one unit (with shaft) or would make pairing the metal grip with industry standard shafts very difficult as industry standard shafts are not all the same size and have varying degrees of taper. Inserting a tapered shaft into a metal grip having a parallel hole would require special materials and non-traditional burdensome efforts.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to improve the quality of the feedback received by the golfer as to the location of the contact between the golf ball and the strike face of the club head.
Another object of the present invention is to provide such a golf grip that delivers feedback to the golfer to allow the golfer to adjust the alignment of the club relative to the ball, particularly when preparing future shots. This may progressively improve the golfer's performance.
A further object is to enable the position of the golf grip in the golfer's hand and the orientation of the club to remain constant, as the golfer selects, when the golfer grips the golf grip tightly and during a club swing.
Another object of the invention is to provide a golf grip that has a rigid grip surface over at least one or more portions of the grip, where a properly placed golfer's hand and fingers will contact the rigid surface during a club swing to prevent or minimize grip movement or shifting beneath golfers hand during a swing.
A further object is to provide at least some areas along the surface of grip that are comprised of a more compliant material to provide a non-slip contact of the compliant material with the golfer's hand to prevent the club slipping during play.
The invention concerns a grip of a golf club, not the club shaft. The principal features of the grip disclosed herein are typically not applied to the shaft, and particularly are not extended down the shaft from the grip.
However, in an alternate design for the golf grip, the shell is shaped, sized and positioned on the grip surface so that the shell makes some contact with the shaft. This may be desirable to increase transmittal of vibrations caused by striking the ball. The shell would not contact the entire surface of the club shaft as this could create difficulty in mounting a preformed grip on the club shaft.
In one aspect, a grip according to the present invention includes a compliant inner sleeve (e.g. a sleeve made of an elastomer or an elastomer mixed with another material, such as cork) and a relatively rigid outer shell (e.g. a metal outer shell). The shell has unyielding or non-compliant regions which are not depressed as the golfer grips the grip at the non-compliant regions. The benefits of the rigid shell have been described above. The non-compliant regions also define a feedback region to provide improved feedback of vibration of the club to the golfer's hand during a ball strike. The rigidness of the shell causes rigidness of the grip surface portions covered by the shell enabling more precise hand alignment during club movement.
The grip may include a grip section and an outer end integrated with the grip section.
According to the present invention the grip section includes an outer shell that may extend the entire length of the grip section and may cover the entire body of an inner sleeve of the grip or may be shaped to cover only one or more portions of the sleeve.
The inner sleeve is preferably made from an elastomeric material, such as the materials used for making conventional grips. The grip end includes a channel for receiving an end of a golf club shaft. The thickness of the inner sleeve may be selected to provide the desired degree of vibration damping.
The outer shell of the grip is configured to define a feedback region(s) that is exposed and uncovered, and is shaped and positioned to make contact with any portion of a golfer's hand when the club is being held to strike a ball, so that the golfer's hand receives feedback from the vibrations of the golf-club shell during a ball strike.
In one embodiment, the outer shell has at least one pocket or depression formed in its exterior surface, which can be filled with a filler of a compliant material, e.g. a piece of leather, leather like material, rubber materials, such as urethane, silicone rubber, thermo plastic elastomers and EPDM rubber. The filler may provide a comfortable feel in the golfer's hand while he/she holds the grip and should assist in preventing the grip slipping in the golfer's hand when the club is swung.
In a further embodiment, the depression may be connected to the inner sleeve through a via or hole defined in the outer shell. In this embodiment, the filler may be made of the same material as the inner sleeve and may be connected to the sleeve through the via.
The grip section of a grip according to the present invention may be fabricated when the outer surface of the inner sleeve makes contact with the inner surface of the outer shell. The adhesion of the two surfaces may be caused by use of an adhesive. Alternatively, adhesion may be caused by the inner sleeve material being molded through openings of the outer shell into depression(s) in the outer surface of the outer shell.
An elongated body, which is the core for forming the grip's inner core, may be placed inside the outer shell. The elastomer may be delivered to the space between the outer shell and the elongated body in a curable state (not cured and preferably fluid), and the curable material may then be cured to form the inner sleeve.
The elongated body may be a tube having delivery orifices along its length. The curable material may be introduced into the space between the tube and the outer shell through the delivery orifices. After curing of the curable material, the elongated body is drawn out, leaving the formed molded inner sleeve inside the outer shell.
The elongated body may be ribbed with axial direction ribs of about 0.03 to 0.070 inches width that extend axially the full length of the body or at least the distance from the entrance of the club shaft into the grip entrance to the final position of the club shaft in the grip. The ribs along the body create voids in and arrayed around the inner wall of the inner sleeve of the grip. The voids later make installation of the grip onto the shaft easier, especially if there is a rigid shell surrounding at least part of the inner sleeve. When a shaft is inserted into the cavity of the grip, the rubber or other compliant material of the grip will normally expand due to diameters engineered to obtain compression between the inner wall of the inner sleeve and the outer diameter of the shaft. But, the rigid outer shell of the grip disclosed herein may make installation difficult and may cause the compliant material to distort as the rigid shell restricts the compliant inner sleeve from outwardly expanding as a result of the size difference between the grip's inner diameter and the shaft's outer diameter. This would result in the compliant material bulging out of certain areas and would cause the grip to have an unattractive appearance and may even cause the grip to be non-compliant with USGA rules of golf by having raised (bulged) surfaces. Therefore, placing the compliant material inner sleeve of the grip on the rigid shaft will cause the ribs on the compliant inner sleeve to be depressed into those voids between the ribs as the shaft end is fitted into the inner sleeve.
The outer shell may be positioned inside a mold cavity or some other support arrangement prior to the delivery of the curable material. The mold cavity may make intimate contact with the exterior surface of the outer shell for stability. If the outer shell includes a depression in its exterior surface with a via that leads to the interior of the outer shell, then the interior surface of the mold cavity and the exterior surface of the outer shell would enclose a space in the depression that could be filled by the curable material. The shell may extend over only a portion of the inner sleeve, and the inner sleeve extends to be molded against the inner surface of the mold cavity.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional golf club.

FIG. 2 illustrates the strike face of the club head of a golf club.

FIG. 3 is an exterior, side, plan view of a grip according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view along a plane parallel to and coinciding with the central longitudinal axis of the grip shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is an exterior, side, plan view of a grip according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view along a plane parallel to and coinciding with the central longitudinal axis of the grip shown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a grip according to a third embodiment of the present invention along a plane parallel to and coinciding with the central longitudinal axis of the grip shown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 8 illustrates an arrangement for fabrication of a grip according to the present invention.

FIG. 9 illustrates another arrangement for fabrication of a grip according to the present invention.

FIG. 10A shows a side, plan view of a grip according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10B shows a front view of a grip as in FIG. 10A with a circular shape.

FIG. 10C is a front view showing another alternate, non-circular shape of grip as in FIG. 10A.

FIG. 10D is a cross-sectional view taken along plane 10D and viewed in the direction of the arrows shown in FIG. 10A in the second alternative shape of FIG. 10C.

FIG. 11 shows an alternate golf grip embodiment where the shell of the golf grip extends to the club shaft.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of an entrance end of the grip hereof.

FIG. 13 shows the entrance end of the grip with a golf club shaft installed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIG. 3, a grip 22 according to a first embodiment of the present invention may be a generally elongated body having a grip section 23 with a proximal end 24, which receives a shaft 14 of a golf club, and a distal end 26 opposite proximal end 24. The grip is at a grip section of the club shaft at the end of the shaft away from a club head 12.
The grip includes an inner sleeve comprised of a compliant material, as described below. That material may slightly deform when gripped tightly, and will give the grip a non-slip characteristic when gripped tightly and while the club is swung.
A grip exterior surface 28 extends between proximal end 24 and distal end 26. According to the present invention, grip exterior surface 28 includes at least one region 30 that is exposed and uncovered. For comfort, appearance and assured contact with the golfer's hand, one or more of the regions 30 may be defined on the exterior surface. At least one region 30 is provided and positioned to make contact with a part of the golfer's hand. One principal purpose of the region or regions of the outer shell is to provide a grip region that is not depressed by the golfer's hand and/or fingers. Another purpose of each region 30 is to provide feedback transmitting vibrations generated as a result of the striking face of the club head striking the golf ball and the vibrations are transmitted from the club head 12, to the shaft 14 of the golf club, which partially damps the vibration of the club, to the grip 22 and then to the golfer's hand. The compliant material of the inner sleeve of the golf grip partially damps the transmitted vibrations, but the material is of such hardness and thickness that vibrations are still transmitted.
In the preferred embodiment, grip section 23 is generally uniform about its central longitudinal axis 32 from its proximal end 24 to its distal end 26. Thus, each cross-section taken along a plane normal to axis 32 would usually be circular in shape, although of a different respective diameter if as shown, the grip section 23 is frustoconical.
Grip 22 may further include an end section 25 in the form of an end cap at the distal end 26 of grip section 23. Preferably, grip section 23 and end section 25 are integrated to form a unitary body, but they could be discrete pieces fastened together.
A preferred grip design has two open ends (one at the end 24 that slips onto shaft, and the opposite cap end 26), rather than only one open end. In this design, the end cap 25 would be likely made of metal and would be fastened to the cap end of the grip after installation. This enables a golfer to easily remove the grip from one shaft and install the grip onto another shaft without ruining the grip in the process. The grip could be securely fastened to the shaft using a fastener of some type which is installed after grip installation and before placing the end cap onto the cap end of grip. This would allow the grip to be installed without the use of adhesive tape so that grip could be un-installed from one golf club and re-installed onto another golf club.
Referring to FIG. 4, grip section 23 according to the present invention includes an inner sleeve 34 and an outer shell 36. Preferably, inner sleeve 34 is directly adhered to the inner surface of outer shell 36. The outer shell 36 is comprised of one or more of the regions 30, either partially or completely covering the inner sleeve 34, as selected.
A preferably cylindrical channel 38 is defined in inner sleeve 34. Channel 38 extends along the central axis 32 and is preferably centered on axis 32.
The diameter of channel 38 is selected to receive and be secured to a shaft 14 of a golf club. Inner sleeve 34 is preferably comprised of a compliant material, such as an elastomer, that is resilient to deform to allow shaft 14 to be received in channel 38, and then the interior surface of the elastomer in the channel 38 couples to the exterior surface of the shaft 14 typically with assistance of adhesives. Although channel 38 is shown as having two open ends, in another variation, only the proximal end is open at the proximal end of grip 22, while the opposite end is not open. In the embodiment shown, the end section or end cap 25 closes the open distal end 26 of grip section 23. However, channel 38 could further extend into end section 25, or channel 38 could be closed inside grip section 23.
In the preferred embodiment, all of outer shell 36 or at least its portion that includes regions to be gripped or feedback regions 30 is comprised of a rigid material. Rigid as used herein means the material is less compliant (stiffer) than the person's hand and less compliant (stiffer) than the elastomer used to form inner sleeve 34. Preferably, the outer shell is non-deformable, and in a preferred embodiment, the outer shell may be comprised of a thin metal body (e.g. an aluminum shell), a rigid plastic or another rigid material plated with metal or to look like a plating of metal on a rigid plastic body and a metallic body. As noted above, the rigidity of the shell transmits vibration of the grip to the parts of the hand of the golfer contacting the rigid shell, rather than damping that vibration. This aids in the golfer making adjustments in use of the club. Also, the rigidity of the grip surface enables precise hand alignment during club movement and avoids depressing the grip surface. Also, although FIGS. 3 and 4 show the exterior surfaces of outer shell 36 to be smooth, the exterior surface 28 of outer shell 36 may be patterned.
The outer shell preferably covers only the grip, and does not extend to contact the shaft of the club below the grip. However, in a grip as shown in FIG. 11, the outer shell 36 is of such shape, size and is so positioned that the shell extends inward along extension 37 to and contacts the shaft 14 of the golf club. The axial length of the extension 37 may determine the extent of transmission of vibration from the shaft to the shell 36 of the grip. This arrangement is believed to increase transmittal of vibration from the club head. The shell preferably does not contact the entire outer surface of the shaft, thereby controlling the amount of transmitted vibration from the shaft to the shell.
Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, in which like numerals identify like features already described, a grip 40 according to a second embodiment of the present invention may include one or a plurality of depressions 42 defined in the exterior of outer shell 36. Pieces or strips of leather, plastic, or the like softer material may fill depressions 42 to provide regions with different feel and different coefficient of friction and resultant minimal slippage than the rigid grip or feedback regions 30 on exterior surface 28 of grip section 23. The golfer can adjust the position of his/her grip for better stability and maintain a stable gripping.
Referring to FIG. 7 in which like numerals identify like features described above, in a grip 44 according to a third embodiment of the present invention, depressions 42 are connected to inner sleeve 34 through respective vias 46 defined in outer shell 36. Depressions 42 are filled with the same material as the material used to form inner sleeve 34. Each via 46 is filled with the same material as that of inner sleeve 34 to connect inner sleeve 34 to the filled depressions 42. The fillings 48 in depressions 42 provide a different feel and preferably different coefficient of friction than rigid, feedback regions 30 and allow the golfer to adjust the position of his/her grip along grip 44.
A grip according to the present invention may be fabricated by an injection molding process. Referring to FIG. 8, to fabricate at least the grip section 23 of a grip according to the present invention, a mold 50 having a mold cavity 52 supports an outer shell 36. Mold cavity 52 has the same inner surface configuration as the exterior surface of an outer shell 36, which is possibly molded in the cavity, and when an outer shell 36 is formed or is received inside mold cavity 52, the inner surface of mold cavity 52 makes intimate contact with the outer surface of outer shell 36. An elongated body 53, preferably cylindrical, is inserted inside of outer shell 36 to define a space 58 between the inserted body 53 and the inner surface 37 of outer shell 36. The material for forming inner sleeve 34 is then introduced into space 58 in a curable (not cured) state, where the material will form inner sleeve 34 upon curing. Preferably, elongated body 53 is configured (i.e. sized and shaped) to define a channel 38 in the grip.
Elongated body 53 may be a delivery tube 54 as shown in FIG. 9. Delivery tube 54 may be used to inject the curable material into space 58 for forming inner sleeve 34. Delivery tube 54 may be a generally cylindrical tube, the exterior surface of which defines channel 38 in inner sleeve 34 once the injected material is cured. Delivery tube 54 may include a plurality of injection orifices 56 along its length through which the curable material is delivered to space 58.
To form inner sleeve 34, delivery tube 54 is inserted inside outer shell 36 with its central, longitudinal axis aligned with central axis 32 of grip section 23 that is to be fabricated. Thereafter, the curable material is fed into tube 54 and injected into space 58 defined between delivery tube 54 and inner surface of outer shell 36. Upon curing of the curable material, an inner sleeve 34 is formed inside of outer shell 36.
In a preferred embodiment, the outer surface of the delivery tube is ribbed, with axial direction ribs arrayed at regular intervals around the circumference of the body 54 and over either its full length or over at least the part of its length which receives the golf club shaft. The body 54 has ribs which create complementary voids and ribs on the inside surface of the inner sleeve. The ribs on the body 54 are, for example, 0.03 inch in width. They produce voids of 0.03 inch in width alternating with ribs around the sleeve. When the shaft is installed in the channel 38, the elastomeric material of a grip would normally expand to receive and then securely grip the entering shaft. But, the outer shell of this golf club is rigid over at least a part of its area and may block the expansion of the elastomeric inner sleeve to receive the shaft as illustrated in FIG. 13. The added ribs in the inner sleeve will be urged to deform into the voids between the ribs by the pressure of the entering shaft, and thus will widen the space in the channel 38 to receive the shaft being installed.
Referring to FIG. 9, in which like numerals identify like features as described above, to fabricate a grip section 23 according to the third embodiment, polymer is fed through vias 46 to fill depressions 42 defined in outer shell 36. Due to the intimate contact between outer shell 36 and the surface of mold cavity 52, a closed space is defined by each depression 42 and the wall of mold cavity 52. Consequently, the curable material received in each depression 42 is trapped to form a filling 48 upon curing.
The first three embodiments disclosed above have a grip section 23 that is generally an elongated frustoconical body having an exterior grip surface that slopes upwardly relative to horizon (when axis 32 is parallel to horizon) between a proximal end 24 and a distal end 26 at first angle. While the end section 25 may have any shape, preferably end section 25 would also be symmetrical about its central axis that coincides with axis 32. End section 25 may also be frustoconical and may have an exterior surface that slopes upwardly relative to the horizon (when axis 32 is parallel to horizon) at a second angle larger than the first angle.
Referring to FIGS. 10A-10D, in which like numerals identify like features as described above, a grip 60 according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention may not be symmetrical about central longitudinal axis 32 of its grip section 23, and may not have a uniform cross-section (e.g. a circular cross section) along a plane that is normal to its central longitudinal axis. Instead, as illustrated in FIG. 10D, the cross-section of grip section 23 of grip 60 along a plane that is normal to its central axis 32 may have mirror symmetry along a mirror plane 62. In this embodiment, one portion of exterior surface 28 may be provided with a plurality of dimples 64. The dimples may be provided on the portion of the surface having a larger radius of curvature (i.e. relatively flatter) than the other portions of surface 28 of grip 60.
In this embodiment, instead of depressions 42, exterior surface 28 of outer shell 36 may be provided with regions 66, which are flush with the surface of the outer shell or slightly raised or slightly recessed relative to feedback regions 30. Raised regions 66 may be produced by adhering a thin layer of plastic, rubber or the like material on outer shell 36 to provide a different feel to the touch than at the feedback regions 30. Thus, regions 66 could serve the same function as fillings 48 or leather provided in depressions 42. Regions 66 are thin and vary in thickness depending on the insert or filler material inserted into or filled into the depressions in a range of 0.030 inches to 0.125 inches.
FIGS. 12 and 13 illustrate an alternative connection between the grip and the golf club shaft to accommodate the rigidity of the outer shell 36, e.g. of metal or rigid plastic. The shaft 14 is rigid and is to be pushed or pressed into the bore of the grip. The shaft is held there in part by the inner sleeve 34 engaging the shaft. But, a rigid outer shell will prohibit the normal radial expansion of the grip sleeve to receive the shaft. So, ribs formed in the more compliant inner sleeve opening, as in FIG. 12, are sized radially, so that they deform under the force of the shaft insertion to permit the shaft to be received in the grip and to press on the inserted shaft and hold it in the grip opening, along with any other adhesive, etc. that may hold the shaft in the grip.
A grip according to the present invention will be received at the end of a golf club shaft. A feedback region 30 will deliver a higher quality vibration into the golfer's hands to serve as a more accurate and specific feedback allowing the golfer to make corrections to swings and thereby obtaining improved shot quality. The rigidity of that region prevents depression of the grip by the golfer's hands.
The positioning of feedback region(s) 30, the thickness of outer shell 36, the type of material used to make outer shell 36, the thickness of the inner sleeve 34 can be adjusted to optimize the quality of feedback delivered to the golfer as well as the cosmetic appearance or design appeal of the product.
The elastomeric sleeve may be comprised of urethane, silicone rubber, EPDM rubber, thermoplastic elastomer, or other elastomeric materials.
Although the present invention has been described in relation to particular embodiments thereof, many other variations and modifications and other uses will become apparent to those skilled in the art. It is preferred, therefore, that the present invention be limited not by the specific disclosure herein, but only by the appended claims.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A grip for a golf club, comprising:

an inner sleeve comprised of a more compliant material, an outer shell disposed on the inner sleeve, the outer shell comprised of a less compliant material and including an exterior surface having a stiffer, less compliant region located on an exterior surface where at least a portion of a golfer's hand gripping the grip for golf play will contact the region; and

a longitudinally extending channel in the inner sleeve and that is open at one end of the inner sleeve, the channel being dimensioned to receive an end of the golf club shaft.

2. A grip according to claim 1, wherein the inner sleeve is comprised of an elastomer.

3. A grip according to claim 2, wherein the outer shell is comprised of a rigid material.

4. A grip according to claim 3, wherein the outer shell is comprised of a rigid plastic, a rigid material plated with metal or having a metal appearing plating.

5. A grip according to claim 2, wherein the outer shell is comprised of a rigid plastic, a rigid material plated with metal or having a metal appearing plating.

6. A grip according to claim 1, wherein the outer shell is shaped to define the less compliant region as not covering the entire inner sleeve for exposing the inner sleeve, such that the golfer's hands and/or fingers would contact both of the less compliant region of the outer sleeve and the exposed inner sleeve during a normal golf stroke.

7. A grip according to claim 1, wherein the outer shell includes at least one depression in its exterior surface.

8. A grip according to claim 3, wherein the at least one depression has a filling in it that is connected through a via with the inner sleeve.

9. A grip according to claim 1, wherein the outer shell of the grip does not extend over the golf club shaft below the grip on the shaft.

10. A grip according to claim 1, wherein the outer shell of the grip extends partially over the golf club shaft below the grip on the shaft.

11. A grip according to claim 1, wherein the grip includes a grip section that is gripped by the golfer and an end section located at an end of the grip section opposite the open end of the channel, the grip section having a central longitudinal axis that coincides with a central longitudinal axis of the channel.

12. A grip according to claim 7, wherein the grip section is symmetrical about the central longitudinal axis thereof.

13. A grip according to claim 7, wherein the grip section is asymmetrical about the central longitudinal axis.

14. A grip according to claim 1, wherein the outer shell extends from a proximal end to a distal end of the grip.

15. A grip according to claim 14, wherein the proximal end coincides with the one end of the inner sleeve.

16. A grip according to claim 1, wherein the grip includes a grip section having a proximal end and having an end section located at a distal end of the grip section opposite the proximal end, the grip section having a central longitudinal axis that coincides with a central longitudinal axis of the channel, the exterior surface of the grip outer shell sloping at a first angle relative to horizon from the proximal end to the distal end, and the end section sloping at a second angle relative to horizon that is larger than the first angle.

17. A grip according to claim 1, wherein the channel is dimensioned to frictionally couple to a golf club shaft when the shaft is received in the channel.

18. In combination, a grip according to claim 1, and a golf club shaft to be received in the channel of the grip and which is of greater cross-section than the channel; and

ribs in and of the inner sleeve extending along the channel at least from the open end a distance along which the shaft of a golf club is expected to be received in the channel, wherein the ribs are of such elastomeric material of the inner sleeve and are separated by voids in the inner sleeve such that the ribs can deflect at the voids to receive a golf club shaft in the channel.

19. A grip according to claim 1, wherein the inner sleeve is directly adhered to the outer shell.

20. A golf club having a club head and a golf club shaft extending from the club head and a grip according to claim 1 having the channel in which the shaft is received.