Athletic equipment shaft protective heat-shrink sheath

A golf club comprising:

• a shaft;
• a grip overlapping a first portion of the shaft at a first end of the shaft;
• a club head extending from the shaft at a second end of the shaft;
• a sheath overlapping a second portion of the shaft between the grip and the club head, wherein the sheath comprises:
• a base sheet having an interior surface overlapping and joined with an exterior surface forming a cylindrical structure around the shaft and having a longitudinal length, wherein the base sheet is formed from thermoplastic composition,
• wherein the base sheet having a first thickness between the interior surface measured at a first location along the longitudinal length and a second thickness at a second location along the longitudinal length, wherein the second location is more proximate the club head than the first location, wherein the first thickness is less than the second thickness;
• and
• a print layer, the print layer on the interior surface of the base sheet, wherein the print layer is omitted from the interior surface at a portion of the interior surface overlapping the exterior surface.