Title:
GOLF CLUB GRIP GUIDE
United States Patent 3648292
Abstract:
In a pair of golf gloves cooperating protuberances are formed respectively on the thumb stall of the left-hand glove and palm portion of the right-hand glove for identically positioning the golfer's hands in a desired gripping position each time he addresses the ball.
US Patent References:
Golf player's glove
Nunn - October 1941 - 2258999
Golf glove
Antonious - June 1966 - 3255462
Pair of golf gloves
Bush - July 1968 - 3394408
Golf player's glove
Nunn - October 1941 - 2258999
Golf glove
Antonious - June 1966 - 3255462
Pair of golf gloves
Bush - July 1968 - 3394408
Application Number:
05/092095
Publication Date:
03/14/1972
Filing Date:
11/23/1970
View Patent Images:
Export Citation:
Primary Class:
Other Classes:
473/205
International Classes:
A63B71/14; A63B71/08; A41D19/00
Field of Search:
273/54B,64,91 2/158,159,160,161A,169,161R,16,20
Primary Examiner:
Franklin, Jordan
Assistant Examiner:
Larkin, Geo V.
Claims:
1. A golfer's grip guide in combination with a pair of golf gloves, each having a palm portion and a thumb stall, the improvement comprising:
2. The combination according to claim 1 in which said knob comprises:
3. The combination according to claim 2 in which said protrusion comprises:
4. The combination according to claim 1 in which said protrusion comprises:
2. The combination according to claim 1 in which said knob comprises:
3. The combination according to claim 2 in which said protrusion comprises:
4. The combination according to claim 1 in which said protrusion comprises:
Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to golf gloves and more particularly to guide means forming a part of the glove material for identically positioning the golfer's hands each time he grips a golf club handle.
One of the principal problems in golf instruction, as well as improving one's skill in playing golf, resides in properly positioning the hands in gripping relation with respect to the golf club handle each time the player addresses the ball. It is well understood that a slight rotation of either or both hands in either direction around the axis of the golf club handle affects the direction of the ball when struck. This invention provides a guide means for identically positioning both hands in gripping relation each time a golf club handle is gripped.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The prior art generally disclose guide means attached to or forming a part of golfing golves as an aid in positioning the golfer's hands on a golf club. The most pertinent prior art being U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,258,999; 2,270,882 and 2,456,678 disclosing protuberances formed in the palm portion of one or both gloves which contact a peripheral portion of the golf club handle when gripping the latter. This invention is distinctive over these patents by the grip guide means being formed in cooperating relation on the thumb stall of the left-hand glove and palm portion of the right hand glove so that the guide means are tactually engaged cooperatively in combination with the club gripping portion of the hands and with each other.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
At least one protuberance forming a part of the glove material is formed on the left hand glove thumb stall in that portion of the stall overlying the large joint of a golfer's thumb which cooperatively contacts one or more protuberances similarly formed in the palm area of the right-hand glove which overlies that area of a golfer's palm adjacent but spaced forwardly of his wrist. These protuberances may be elongated ridge-shaped or prong and socket members permitting an identical position of the hands each time a golfer grips a golf club handle and addresses a ball. This grip guide means thus permits the positioning of the left thumb of the player parallel with the club shaft and insures the longitudinal axis of the first phalange of the left index finger being directed toward the player's right shoulder and promotes pronation or turning of the left-hand underneath the club shaft during the up swing of the club so that at the top of the swing the player's left wrist is underneath the shaft with the toe of the club face pointing toward the earth in accordance with the accepted practice and theories of expert golf players. This desired positioning of the golfer's hands further promotes maintaining a straight left arm during the swing and the maintenance of the pressure of the grip on the shaft at all times during the swing that preceeds the stroke.
The principal object of this invention is to provide guide means formed on one or both of a pair of golf gloves which will permit identical placement of the golfer's hands in gripping relation with respect to a golf club shaft each time he addresses the ball.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a plan view of a pair of golfer's gloves in place on a golfer's hands in open palm position;
FIGS. 2 and 3 are fragmentary vertical cross-sectional views, to a larger scale, taken substantially along the lines 2--2 and 3--3, respectively, of FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a golfer's gloved left hand shown in club gripping position;
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a fragmentary portion of a golf club handle being properly gripped by the gloved hands of a golfer;
FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 1 illustrating an alternative golf club grip guide means formed on or attached to the gloves;
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a golf club grip guide device, per se; and,
FIG. 8 is a fragmentary perspective view of the device of FIG. 7 in place on a golfer's left thumb.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Like characters of reference designate like parts in those figures of the drawings in which they occur.
IN THE DRAWINGS
The reference numerals 10 and 12 respectively indicate a pair of golf gloves in place on a golfer's hands. The gloves 10 and 12 are shown with finger and thumb stalls, however, they may be formed with severed or cutoff finger and thumb stalls, as is conventional in some types of golf gloves, if desired. A relatively small knob or protrusion 14 is formed on the thumb stall of the left hand glove 10 in overlying position with respect to the first or large knuckle of the golfer's hand. The protrusion 14 is preferably radially positioned, with respect to the user's thumb joint, slightly to the right with respect to the back surface of the thumb and in substantial alignment with the right edge of the user's left thumbnail, however, this position of the protrusion 14 may be varied slightly in either radial direction, as indicated by the dotted line positions 14'.
The other or right-hand glove 12 is provided with a recess or socket 16 attached to or formed in the surface of the glove at the rearward portion of the palm in substantially overlying relation with respect to the juncture of the middle finger metacarpus bone with the carpis bones so that the protrusion 14 will be positioned within the socket 16 when the hands are in proper golf club gripping position, as illustrated in FIG. 5.
An alternative embodiment of the grip guide is illustrated in FIG. 6, formed on the gloves 10A and 12A, which comprises an elongated ridgelike protrusion 14A similarly positioned on the glove in overlying relation with respect to the golfer's large joint of his left thumb. The ridge 14A is relatively short and is longitudinally aligned with the axis of the glove thumb stall. The right-hand glove 12A is provided with a plurality, three in the example shown, of similarly formed elongated ridge members or protrusions 18 arranged transversely of the glove substantially parallel with the finger stalls and extending transversely of the position of the above described socket 16 and forming a pair of recesses or spaces 20 between the ridges. The recesses or spaces 20 are cooperatively received by the ridge 14A when the player's hands are in the club golf gripping position of FIG. 5. After a little practice, the golfer will learn which of the recesses or spaces 20 the ridge 14A is to be disposed within, when gripping the golf club to achieve the desired results. This permits the golfer to reposition his hands in substantially the identical position with respect to the golf club handle each time he addresses the ball.
An alternative manner of forming the golf club guide is illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8, comprising a tubular ringlike section of rubber 30 or other flexible material having open ends and dimensioned for surrounding a golfer's left hand thumb 32 at the position of the first or large joint of the thumb. The tube is provided with an elongated narrow outstanding rib 34 parallel with the axis of the tube 30. The tube 30 is positioned on the player's thumb so that the rib 34 is disposed in the position of the ridge 14A of the glove 10A. This rib 34 is similarly received by one of the recesses or spaces 20 of the glove 12A when gripping the golf club. Obviously, after a little practice, the player will learn, by tactile sensation the proper location or position of the rib 34 in the rearward palm portion of his right hand and thus may eliminate the use of the right hand glove 12A, if desired. Similarly, after the player has conditioned himself for the proper placing of his hands by using the golf grip guides he may thereafter position his hands in proper gripping relation with respect to the club each time he addresses the ball.
While a preferred position for the guides has been shown and described it seems obvious that they may be altered some. For example, those guides on the left thumb stall may be placed over the last joint of the thumb and those on the right hand glove placed on or near the forward limit of the thenar eminence of the right thumb position.
Obviously the invention is susceptible to changes or alterations without defeating its practicability, therefore, I do not wish to be confined to the preferred embodiment shown in the drawings and described herein.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to golf gloves and more particularly to guide means forming a part of the glove material for identically positioning the golfer's hands each time he grips a golf club handle.
One of the principal problems in golf instruction, as well as improving one's skill in playing golf, resides in properly positioning the hands in gripping relation with respect to the golf club handle each time the player addresses the ball. It is well understood that a slight rotation of either or both hands in either direction around the axis of the golf club handle affects the direction of the ball when struck. This invention provides a guide means for identically positioning both hands in gripping relation each time a golf club handle is gripped.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The prior art generally disclose guide means attached to or forming a part of golfing golves as an aid in positioning the golfer's hands on a golf club. The most pertinent prior art being U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,258,999; 2,270,882 and 2,456,678 disclosing protuberances formed in the palm portion of one or both gloves which contact a peripheral portion of the golf club handle when gripping the latter. This invention is distinctive over these patents by the grip guide means being formed in cooperating relation on the thumb stall of the left-hand glove and palm portion of the right hand glove so that the guide means are tactually engaged cooperatively in combination with the club gripping portion of the hands and with each other.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
At least one protuberance forming a part of the glove material is formed on the left hand glove thumb stall in that portion of the stall overlying the large joint of a golfer's thumb which cooperatively contacts one or more protuberances similarly formed in the palm area of the right-hand glove which overlies that area of a golfer's palm adjacent but spaced forwardly of his wrist. These protuberances may be elongated ridge-shaped or prong and socket members permitting an identical position of the hands each time a golfer grips a golf club handle and addresses a ball. This grip guide means thus permits the positioning of the left thumb of the player parallel with the club shaft and insures the longitudinal axis of the first phalange of the left index finger being directed toward the player's right shoulder and promotes pronation or turning of the left-hand underneath the club shaft during the up swing of the club so that at the top of the swing the player's left wrist is underneath the shaft with the toe of the club face pointing toward the earth in accordance with the accepted practice and theories of expert golf players. This desired positioning of the golfer's hands further promotes maintaining a straight left arm during the swing and the maintenance of the pressure of the grip on the shaft at all times during the swing that preceeds the stroke.
The principal object of this invention is to provide guide means formed on one or both of a pair of golf gloves which will permit identical placement of the golfer's hands in gripping relation with respect to a golf club shaft each time he addresses the ball.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a plan view of a pair of golfer's gloves in place on a golfer's hands in open palm position;
FIGS. 2 and 3 are fragmentary vertical cross-sectional views, to a larger scale, taken substantially along the lines 2--2 and 3--3, respectively, of FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a golfer's gloved left hand shown in club gripping position;
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a fragmentary portion of a golf club handle being properly gripped by the gloved hands of a golfer;
FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 1 illustrating an alternative golf club grip guide means formed on or attached to the gloves;
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a golf club grip guide device, per se; and,
FIG. 8 is a fragmentary perspective view of the device of FIG. 7 in place on a golfer's left thumb.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Like characters of reference designate like parts in those figures of the drawings in which they occur.
IN THE DRAWINGS
The reference numerals 10 and 12 respectively indicate a pair of golf gloves in place on a golfer's hands. The gloves 10 and 12 are shown with finger and thumb stalls, however, they may be formed with severed or cutoff finger and thumb stalls, as is conventional in some types of golf gloves, if desired. A relatively small knob or protrusion 14 is formed on the thumb stall of the left hand glove 10 in overlying position with respect to the first or large knuckle of the golfer's hand. The protrusion 14 is preferably radially positioned, with respect to the user's thumb joint, slightly to the right with respect to the back surface of the thumb and in substantial alignment with the right edge of the user's left thumbnail, however, this position of the protrusion 14 may be varied slightly in either radial direction, as indicated by the dotted line positions 14'.
The other or right-hand glove 12 is provided with a recess or socket 16 attached to or formed in the surface of the glove at the rearward portion of the palm in substantially overlying relation with respect to the juncture of the middle finger metacarpus bone with the carpis bones so that the protrusion 14 will be positioned within the socket 16 when the hands are in proper golf club gripping position, as illustrated in FIG. 5.
An alternative embodiment of the grip guide is illustrated in FIG. 6, formed on the gloves 10A and 12A, which comprises an elongated ridgelike protrusion 14A similarly positioned on the glove in overlying relation with respect to the golfer's large joint of his left thumb. The ridge 14A is relatively short and is longitudinally aligned with the axis of the glove thumb stall. The right-hand glove 12A is provided with a plurality, three in the example shown, of similarly formed elongated ridge members or protrusions 18 arranged transversely of the glove substantially parallel with the finger stalls and extending transversely of the position of the above described socket 16 and forming a pair of recesses or spaces 20 between the ridges. The recesses or spaces 20 are cooperatively received by the ridge 14A when the player's hands are in the club golf gripping position of FIG. 5. After a little practice, the golfer will learn which of the recesses or spaces 20 the ridge 14A is to be disposed within, when gripping the golf club to achieve the desired results. This permits the golfer to reposition his hands in substantially the identical position with respect to the golf club handle each time he addresses the ball.
An alternative manner of forming the golf club guide is illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8, comprising a tubular ringlike section of rubber 30 or other flexible material having open ends and dimensioned for surrounding a golfer's left hand thumb 32 at the position of the first or large joint of the thumb. The tube is provided with an elongated narrow outstanding rib 34 parallel with the axis of the tube 30. The tube 30 is positioned on the player's thumb so that the rib 34 is disposed in the position of the ridge 14A of the glove 10A. This rib 34 is similarly received by one of the recesses or spaces 20 of the glove 12A when gripping the golf club. Obviously, after a little practice, the player will learn, by tactile sensation the proper location or position of the rib 34 in the rearward palm portion of his right hand and thus may eliminate the use of the right hand glove 12A, if desired. Similarly, after the player has conditioned himself for the proper placing of his hands by using the golf grip guides he may thereafter position his hands in proper gripping relation with respect to the club each time he addresses the ball.
While a preferred position for the guides has been shown and described it seems obvious that they may be altered some. For example, those guides on the left thumb stall may be placed over the last joint of the thumb and those on the right hand glove placed on or near the forward limit of the thenar eminence of the right thumb position.
Obviously the invention is susceptible to changes or alterations without defeating its practicability, therefore, I do not wish to be confined to the preferred embodiment shown in the drawings and described herein.