Golf club and golf club grip assembly

#This invention relates to golf clubs and to grip assemblies for golf clubs.

#In my earlier U.S. Pat. No. 6,110,054, there is described a golf club grip assembly for stabilizing and improving the swinging of a golf club. The grip assembly described therein includes a pistol grip body adapted to be fixed to the upper end of a golf club shaft for gripping by the dominant hand of a golf player. Such grip assembly also includes a forearm stabilizer blade affixed to the upper end of the pistol grip body and extending upwardly for engaging the dominant forearm of a golf player gripping the pistol grip body.

#The grip assembly described in my earlier patent has been found to provide the desired results. It has been found to greatly improve the swinging of a golf club and to improve the accuracy and consistency of the shots made with the golf club.

#Referring to the drawings:

#FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a golf club constructed in accordance with the present invention being held by a golf player in a position to strike a golf ball;

#FIG. 2 is a perspective view taken from the side opposite the one shown in FIG. 1;

#Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a perspective view of a golf club 10 constructed in accordance with a representative embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, golf club 10 is shown as being held by a right-handed golf player in a position to strike a golf ball 11. The golf player's right forearm is identified by reference numeral 12, while the lower part of his left arm is identified by reference numeral 13. As will be discussed later, the construction of the golf club can be easily modified to accommodate a left-handed player. As used herein, the term “dominant hand” means the right hand of a right-handed player and the left hand of a left-handed player. In a similar manner, the term “dominant forearm” refers to the right forearm of a right-handed player and the left forearm of a left-handed player.

#The golf club 10 includes a club head 14 for striking or hitting the golf ball 11. Golf club 10 further includes a golf club shaft 15 attached to the club head 14 and extending upwardly therefrom. Golf club 10 also includes a grip assembly 16A having an elongated forearm stabilizer blade 16 attached directly to the upper end of the golf club shaft 15 and extending upwardly in line with the golf club shaft 15. In use, stabilizer blade 16 is pressed snugly against the right forearm 12 by the left hand 17 of the golf player. In particular, the left thumb 18 is placed over the right forearm 12 and left fingers 19-22 are placed under the right forearm 12. The grip of the left hand 17 is tightened so as to press the stabilizer blade 16 firmly against the inner side of the right forearm 12. As shown, stabilizer blade 16 extends a substantial distance up the right forearm 12, nearly to the right elbow of the player.

#The right hand 24 of the player is placed on the club 10 in pretty much the normal manner. The right thumb 25 is placed partially over the stabilizer blade 16 with the right index finger 26 placed against the stabilizer blade 16 and extending in a downwardly direction. The remaining right fingers 27-29 are placed under and around the stabilizer blade 16 so as to form a cradle for the stabilizer blade 16.