Abstract:
A golf grip training apparatus for resisting finger and thumb flexion and for counteracting grip forces is disclosed. The apparatus assists the golfer in achieving a lighter grip pressure than would be exerted on the club without its use by providing a golf glove adapted with means for actively counteracting grip pressure by creating forces in opposition to those required for gripping the club handle. The apparatus is used to teach the golfer to relax the hands and fingers and to hold the club handle more lightly.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The subject invention relates generally to training devices for the game of golf, and more particularly to a golf glove adapted to actively promote a reduction in grip pressure on a golf club. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Grip pressure (i.e., the force applied by the thumb, fingers and hands around the grip portion of a golf club shaft) is a critical factor in the execution of a successful golf swing. Grip pressure should be as light on the club as possible without sacrificing control of the club. The golfer must have a firm enough grip to prevent axial slippage and rotation of the club relative to the golfer&#39;s hands, and yet have a light enough grip to deliver the clubhead accurately and squarely into the ball. A proper grip therefore should generate a feeling of controlling the club without sacrificing the ability to sense the weight of the club head. Grip pressure should remain constant at all times during the set-up, back-swing and follow-through. 
         [0003]    The average golfer tends to grip the club too tightly, exerting excessive force on the club which is detrimental to accuracy and distance that the golf ball travels. The golfer&#39;s desire to achieve greater shot distance is a primary cause of overgripping the club. When addressing the ball, there is often a great deal of anticipation, stress and build up of energy, making it difficult to relax various parts of the body, especially the arms and hands. It is a human instinct under such circumstances to close the hands tightly. This occurs, therefore, in the absence of conscious awareness or thought. The tendency is often compounded during the golf swing when the desire to achieve greater shot distance results in a conscious effort to swing the golf club faster and strike the ball harder. When doing so, the centrifugal force of the faster moving golf club (i.e., the force acting from the grip in the direction of the clubhead) will require the golfer to grip the club even more firmly to prevent axial slippage. A conscious or unconscious fear of losing hold of the golf club results in the tendency to grip the club more than necessary. Ironically, over gripping the club impedes necessary forearm and wrist movement which in turn results in diminished clubhead speed, power loss and inability to deliver the club head to the ball squarely. By contrast, lighter grip-pressure encourages more wrist-hinge, which creates a stronger release and increased swing speed during the downswing. 
         [0004]    Heretofore, there have been various attempts in the art for creating golf grip pressure training devices to improve a golfer&#39;s play of the game. A first category of inventions are golf club centric, meaning they involve modification of the golf club rather than the golf glove. Many of these training aids involve measuring the golfer&#39;s grip. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,138,118 to Lorang, 4,103,896 to Budney, and 3,323,367 issued Searle, are illustrative. The Budney reference teaches a golf grip employing strain gauges fixedly mounted on selected locations of the handle. The strain gauges are connected to a remote recorder which provides a series of graphs which can be compared to the graphs produced by an expert golfer. Lorang teaches a golf grip training apparatus having a switch lever mounted on one side of the golf club handle. Excessive pressure exerted by the middle fingers of the off-target hand causes the lever to close a circuit to activate a signaling device mounted on the club. Searle teaches a plurality of pressure sensitive sensors mounted on the handle of a golf club to respond to the grip pressure of both hands. The sensors are part of a bridge circuit which indicates grip pressure information on a meter attached to the club. While these innovations do teach the golfer to be consciously aware of excessive grip pressure through visual or audible feedback, they do not actively counteract grip pressure. 
         [0005]    A second category of inventions, and that to which the subject invention is directed, are golf glove centric, meaning they involve modification of the golf glove rather than the golf club. These innovations are primarily in the form of training gloves which include a sensory feedback mechanism such as an electronic pressure pad or other sensory measurement device. Some prior art pressure recognition devices are connected to an output signaling device such as a light-emitting lamp or sound alarm. Here again, these training aids do not actively counteract grip pressure on a golf club handle, but instead provide the golfer with visual or audible feedback. 
         [0006]    In view of the shortcomings and limitations of the above described prior art, it is desirable to have a training device which will not only cause the golfer to be consciously aware of his or her grip pressure while holding a golf club, but which also actively assists the golfer in achieving a lighter grip by counteracting the golfer&#39;s gripping force. 
         [0007]    The following additional U.S. patents relating to sports gloves, orthopedic gloves, exercise gloves, and the like, are incorporated herein by reference: U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,830,360 Orthopedic Exercise glove; 5,453,064 Exercise Glove Incorporating Rods which Offer Resistance to Movement of Fingers, Hands or Wrists; 5,708,979 Glove with Elastic Back; 6,415,445 Sports Glove; 7,293,296 Football Glove and Method of Use; 3,918,096 Flexible Motorcycle Glove; 3,997,922 Glove; 4,146,935 Glove for Hobbling Grip; 4,675,914 Hard-grip Glove; 4,864,660 Flexible Hand-Conforming Protective Glove; 5,511,247 Sports Glove with Forefinger Stiffener; 5,628,069 Glove with Bistable Spring Element; 5,758,365 Sport Glove and Support Insert; 6,543,058 Glove with an Exoskeleton Layer; 6,625,815 Glove with an Exoskeleton Layer; 6,862,744 Athletic Glove; 6,944,884 Glove with a Web Structure; 5,669,073 Golf Glove with Grip Positioning Means; 5,742,942 Golf Glove Having Club-Gripping Strap; 6,889,389 Glove with Padding for Back of Hand; and 7,234,172 Glove with Support for Hyper-Extension Resistance. None of these references teach a golf glove designed to actively counteract grip pressure on a golf club handle. 
         [0008]    All patents, patent applications, provisional applications, and publications referred to or cited herein, or from which a claim for benefit of priority has been made, are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety to the extent they are not inconsistent with the explicit teachings of this specification. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    In order to meet the need in the art, the subject golf grip training apparatus and method have been created. Several embodiments of the invention are discussed below. 
         [0010]    The present invention relates generally to a golf glove possessing means for resisting finger and thumb flexion, that is to say movement from a substantially straight or extended position to a bent or flexed position, and for counteracting grip forces. When properly used in accordance with the methods described herein, the apparatus assists the golfer in achieving a lighter grip pressure than would be exerted on the club without its use. The subject apparatus, therefore, provides a means for bringing the golfer&#39;s attention to his or her grip pressure and for actively counteracting grip pressure by creating forces in opposition to those required for gripping the club handle. The apparatus is used to teach the golfer to relax the hands and fingers and to hold the club handle more lightly. 
         [0011]    Each embodiment of the subject golf grip training apparatus is comprised of a conventional golf glove adapted with means for counteracting grip forces produced by the wearer&#39;s fingers, thumb and hands. The glove shell is made from conventional materials such as, for example, cloth and/or supple thin natural or synthetic leather, typically two layers of material. The glove includes an access opening into which the golfer&#39;s hand is inserted and a slit extending along the back portion of the glove from access opening to permit the opening to be spread apart for ease of hand insertion. A tab is fastened, such as by sewing, or integrally formed with at least a portion of one side of the slit and extends over the slit to the second side for temporary fastening to the back portion of the glove. Cooperating hook-and-loop material is fastened in a conventional manner to the underside of the tab and across a portion of the back portion of the glove to facilitate closure. In a preferred embodiment, means for counteracting grip forces produced by the wearer&#39;s fingers, thumb and hands comprise a plurality of elastic members disposed on the back of the glove with at least one such elastic member being associated with each digit of the wearer and extending from approximately the fingertips to the back of the hand. Each elastic member is capable of reversible deformation when subjected to force applied by the underlying digits and hand (such as when gripping the golf club handle), and of storing potential energy in the process. The deformed elastic member exerts a force (called a restoring force) against the overlying digits and hand that is proportional to the amount of its deformation. When the wearer of the apparatus relaxes enough for his gripping force to be less than the restoring force, the elastic member will actively cause digital extension, moving the digits away from the golf club handle facilitating a lighter grip. Elastic members with different amounts of rebounding force may be employed to suit the needs of each user. 
         [0012]    There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important components and features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
         [0013]    Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way. 
         [0014]    It is, therefore, a primary object of the subject invention to provide a golf grip training aid and method of use that causes the user to be more aware of his or her grip pressure by exerting counteracting forces against the user&#39;s digits and hands when gripping the golf club. 
         [0015]    It is another primary object of the subject invention to provide a method and means for actively causing digital extension, moving the digits away from the golf club handle, to facilitate a lighter grip. 
         [0016]    It is also an object of the subject invention to provide a golf grip training aid in the form of a golf glove which may be worn during training as well as regular play. 
         [0017]    Another object of the subject invention is to provide a golf grip training aid which is relatively simple in design and therefore capable of rapid construction at relatively low costs. 
         [0018]    Still another object of the subject invention is to provide a golf grip training aid which is customizable to the needs of the individual user. 
         [0019]    These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there is illustrated a preferred embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0020]    The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein: 
           [0021]      FIG. 1  is a back perspective view of the golf training glove of this invention with the closure tab in the open position; 
           [0022]      FIG. 2  is a back perspective view of the golf training glove with the closure tab in the closed position; 
           [0023]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of an elastic member of the subject apparatus in its neutral, non-deformed condition; 
           [0024]      FIG. 4  is a thumb side view of the subject golf glove worn by a golfer gripping a golf club handle; and 
           [0025]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of an elastic member of the subject apparatus when in its tensioned, deformed condition as in  FIG. 4 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0026]    Reference is first made to  FIG. 1  in which there is illustrated a back perspective view of the subject golf grip training aid designated generally by reference numeral  10 . Glove  10  is made from cloth and/or supple thin natural or synthetic leather, typically with two layers of material. The glove is comprised of a palm covering portion  12 , a plurality of finger covering portions  14  extending from the palm covering portion  12  to receive and cover fingers, a thumb covering portion  16  extending from the palm covering portion  12  to receive and cover the thumb, a back portion  18  associated with palm covering portion  12  to form a chamber  20 , the chamber having an access opening  22  into which the hand is slipped, the back portion  18  having a slit  24  extending from access opening  22  toward the finger covering portions  14  to permit opening  22  to be spread apart for ease of receiving a hand, at least one elastic member  26  having a variable resistance to bending and being sized and configured to extend approximately from the distal end  28  of a finger covering portion  14  (or thumb covering portion  16 ) past and over the metacarpophalangeal joint (“MPJ”) region  30  of the back portion  18  terminating at a point between MPJ region  30  and opening  22 , means for removably retaining the at least one elastic member  26  substantially in place as herein described, a tab  32  fastened, such as by sewing, at one side of slit  16  (the ulnar side) and extending over slit  24  to the second side (the radial side), and cooperating hook-and-loop material  34  fastened to the underside of tab  32  and across an area of back portion  18  of the glove to facilitate closure. 
         [0027]    In a preferred embodiment, elastic members  26  are thin elongate bodies comprised of a material capable of deformation (i.e., bending) when subjected to force applied by the underlying fingers, thumb and hand, and further capable of then returning to their original shape when the force is no longer applied. The elastic members, therefore, are subject to elastic deformation, a deformation which is reversible. Soft thermoplastics and metals have moderate elastic deformation ranges and are therefore preferred. Thermoplastics in particular are desirable because of their light weight relative to metals, their considerable longevity in terms of extension/flexion cycles and because they can be impregnated with antimicrobials. The elastic members  26  of the subject invention may be fabricated to varying dimensions to afford different flexural strengths and therefore varying resistance to finger, thumb and hand flexure. When caused to bend by forces applied by the wearer&#39;s digits and hands, elastic members deliver counteracting forces causing digital extension if the wearer reduces their gripping force such that it less than the counteracting force. It is contemplated that more than one elastic member  26  may be associated with a particular digit of the user&#39;s hand to provide increased flexural resistance and counteracting force. 
         [0028]    Elastic members  26  are preferably but not essentially oriented relative to back portion  18  of glove  10  in substantial alignment with the extensor tendons of the wearer&#39;s hand when inserted into the glove in conventional fashion. This coaxial alignment between the levers of the hand and finger (or hand and thumb) on the one hand, and the elastic member  26  on the other hand, assures that all muscles that work these levers for extension and flexion are uniformly counteracted by the resisting force of the overlying elastic member  26 . Note that the elastic members  26  that are associated with the index finger, middle finger and ring finger substantially converge at their proximal ends  36 . The elastic member  26  associated with the pinky finger, by contrast, is oriented so that its proximal end  38  is at a distance from the proximal end  36  of the elastic member  26  associated with the ring finger sufficient to accommodate slit  24  there between. Note further that the length of elastic members  26  associated with the index, middle and ring fingers will naturally be longer than those associated with the pinky finger and thumb. Accordingly, it is contemplated that elastic members  26  be provided in different lengths ranging from approximately 3 inches to 6 inches, or be provided in the maximum desired length, but capable of being trimmed as needed. Elastic members  26  may be scored, preferably on their palmer facing side, to facilitate trimming. Elastic members  26  will have a width of approximately 5-10 mm. Thickness will depend on such characteristics as tensile strength, yield strength and breaking strength of the material selected. A Thickness of approximately 24 mm is preferred. The elastic members may be tapered in proportion to the size of the underlying bone (and corresponding muscle strength) having wider and/or thicker dimensions proximate to the MPJ and tapering down in size distally. 
         [0029]    Means for retaining elastic members  26  in the above described orientations relative to the back portion  18  of glove  10  are preferably comprised of a plurality of sleeves  40  within which at least one elastic member  26  may be inserted. Each finger portion  14  and thumb portion  16  includes a sleeve  40  associated therewith and attached via stitching, for example. Each sleeve  40  extends approximately from the distal end  28  of a finger covering portion  14  (or thumb covering portion  16 ) past and over the metacarpophalangeal joint (“MPJ”) region  30  of back portion  18  and terminates at a point between MPJ region  30  and opening  22 . A sleeve opening  42  is associated with each sleeve  40  for insertion of elastic members  26 . That portion of each sleeve  40  underlying tab  32  when in its closed position may include Those skilled in the art will recognize other means for retaining elastic members  26  in place such as by adhering them to glove  10  using suitable adhesives or attaching them via other mechanical means such as elastic bands or rivets. 
         [0030]    By way of mechanics, each elastic member  26  when in a neutral, unbent condition biases the wearer&#39;s finger (or thumb) into a substantially extended position. When acted upon by gripping forces exerted by the fingers and thumb as they grasp the golf club handle  100  ( FIG. 4 ), the elastic members resist deformation in the form of bending. With regard to the method of the instant invention, therefore, each elastic member  26  is capable of reversible deformation when subjected to force applied by the underlying digits and hand (such as when gripping the golf club handle), and of storing potential energy in the process. Each deformed elastic member  26  exerts a restoring force against the underlying digits and hand that is proportional to the amount of its deformation. This restoring force may be sensed by the wearer of the apparatus thereby causing consciousness of grip pressure and encouraging the wearer to reduce same through relaxation of the hands. When the wearer of the apparatus relaxes enough for his gripping force to be less than the restoring force, the elastic member will actively cause extension of the wearer&#39;s digits, causing them to move away from the golf club handle  100  as illustrated by the directional arrows of  FIG. 4 , thereby facilitating a lighter grip. 
         [0031]    Elastic members  26  with different amounts of rebounding force may be employed to suit the needs of each user. For example, grip pressure from the last three fingers of the non-dominant hand control the golf swing during the transition from backswing to downswing. It is the primary controlling part of the grip for substantially the entire swing, and these three fingers grip the club slightly more firmly than the rest of the fingers. There is a natural tendency for the dominant side to try to hit the ball harder than the non-dominant side is capable of controlling. A common problem encountered by golfers is they allow the dominant hand to overpower those three fingers on the non-dominant hand. To counteract this occurrence, it may be helpful to use more (or stronger) elastic members  26  on the dominant hand to compensate. The increase in restoring force exerted by such additional or stronger elastic members  26  will make it more difficult for the dominant hand to over grip the club handle. 
         [0032]    In another example, individual digits may require more or less restoring forces to act on them in order to achieve a more uniform grip. Some golfers may tend to apply excessive or inadequate force with one or more digits. The golf grip training glove of the subject invention may be customized to compensate for these deviations by assigning elastic members with greater or lesser flexural strength to each digit of the hand. By making these corrections, the amount of golf grip pressure needed to swing the club while still maintaining control may be achieved. 
         [0033]    Although the present invention has been described with reference to the particular embodiments herein set forth, it is understood that the present disclosure has been made only by way of example and that numerous changes in details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus, the scope of the invention should not be limited by the foregoing specifications, but rather only by the scope of the claims appended hereto.