Golf club having weighted handle

A golf club having a head at one end and a hollow shaft at the opposite end, a grip secured to said golf club adjacent said opposite end, and a balance point at a location intermediate the ends of said golf club, solid weight means inserted in said golf club at said opposite end and extending toward said location, said solid weight means incorporating flexible sleeve means affixed to the surface thereof, the outer surface of said solid weight means being in intimate contact with the inner surface of said hollow shaft over the length of said solid weight means, and having an enlarged head portion abutting said opposite end of said club, whereby said weight means is fixedly retained in place in said shaft without movement and shifts the balance point of said golf club from said location to a point between said location and said opposite end of said club.

An athletic implement having a head portion at one end and hollow shaft means extending from said head portion to an opposite end, said shaft means being secured to said head portion, grip means adjacent said opposite end for holding the implement, said athletic implement having a balance point at a location intermediate the ends thereof, and solid weight means inserted in said hollow shaft adjacent said opposite end, the outer surface of said solid weight means being in intimate contact with the inner surface of said hollow shaft over the length of said solid weight means, said solid weight means incorporating flexible sleeve means affixed to the surface thereof for absorbing thermal and mechanical stresses when said athletic implement is used, whereby said weight means is retained in place against movement and damage during use thereof, said solid weight means having an enlarged head portion abutting said opposite end of said shaft means for fixedly retaining said weight means in place without axial movement thereof along said shaft means, whereby said weight means shifts the balance point of said athletic implement from said location to a point between said location and said opposite end.

A method of improving the weight distribution of a golf club to enable a person to more accurately control the swing of the golf club, said golf club having a head and a hollow shaft with one end secured to the head and an opposite free end having a grip adjacent thereto, said golf club having a balance point at a location intermediate the ends thereof, comprising the steps of inserting weight means in said hollow shaft from said free end until an enlarged head portion of said weight abuts said free end thereby retaining said weight against movement relative to said shaft, and

• encasing said weight means in a flexible sleeve prior to insertion into said shaft, whereby any noise resulting from the presence of said weight means is minimized and movement of said weight in said shaft is further precluded.