Patent ID: 7407444

Claim:
A method for cushioning the grip of a golf club, comprising the steps of: providing a golf club comprising an elongated shaft, the elongated shaft defining a bore therein and having a grip at a proximal end to be grasped by a user; removing the grip from the shaft of the golf club; placing a pneumatically actuated cushioning apparatus over the proximal end of the shaft, the pneumatically actuated cushioning apparatus comprising: a bladder configured to surround the proximal end of the shaft along a desired length, the bladder comprising an elongated inner layer having an upper end and a lower end and an elongated outer layer also having an upper and a lower end, with the lower end of the outer layer being sealed with the lower end of the inner layer such that the bladder is defined between the inner layer and the outer layer, and a valve extending at least partially into the bore of the shaft for receiving a volume of air; placing the golf grip over the cushioning apparatus; inserting a nozzle of a pump into the valve of the pneumatically actuated cushioning apparatus; operating the pump in order to inject a volume of air through the valve and into the bladder, thereby cushioning the grip of the golf club; and inserting a pointed object into the valve so as to release at least some of the air from the bladder.