JP2001046568A - Golf club - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To stabilize gripping of a golf club to improve swing stability by forming a reverse taper part with the outer diameter gradually reduced toward the grip end on the grip part. SOLUTION: The grip part 4 is formed by placing a grip member comprising a resilient member such as rubber, urethane resin, etc., on the outer periphery of a shaft 2. The grip part 4 is formed including a reverse taper part 5 with the outer diameter gradually reduced toward the grip end. It is also allowed to form the grip part by only a reverse taper part 5. Thus the diameter of the grip is made larger to the head 3 side and smaller to the grip end side to improve the engaging grade of the little finger and the holding power, and slippage between the grip part 4 and fingers can be suppressed. Because the diameter to the head 3 side is relatively larger the club can be held tightly to obtain stable swing.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a golf club which can improve grip.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 8 shows a conventional iron type golf club. In the figure, a golf club a is configured such that a head c is provided on the distal end side of a shaft b, and a grip portion d that a player grips is provided on the hand side. Further, the grip portion d is, as shown in the figure,
The outer diameter is formed so as to gradually increase toward the hand side.

[0003] By the way, as shown in FIG.
Both hands A and B hold the grip portion d and swing the golf club a to perform a swing. Therefore, in order to maintain the stability of the shot, it is necessary to minimize the deviation between the grip portion d and the hands A and B of the player during the swing. The inventors have conducted intensive research on minimizing such a deviation between the grip portion d and the player's hand.

First, in a general swing, as shown in FIG. 9, a player's hand A (a left hand for a right-handed person, a right hand for a left-handed person) is mainly used by the player holding the grip portion d. Is known to be. When the distribution of the gripping force of the hand was examined using a pressure sensor or the like, it was found that the hand A was particularly strongly gripped by the little finger of the hand A near the hand. However, in the conventional grip portion d, since the outer diameter of a portion where the little finger of the hand A on the hand side touches is relatively large,
The degree of engagement of the little finger tends to be small and the gripping force is small,
During a high-speed swing, a gap may occur between the grip portion d and the hand A, and the swing may be unstable. Conversely, since the grip portion d has a relatively small outer diameter on the head c side, the hand B on the head side of the player holding the grip portion d (right-handed in the case of right-handed, left-handed In this case, the left hand) tends to have a gap with the grip d.
A so-called “blur” may occur during a swing.

The present invention has been devised in view of the above problems, and is based on the fact that the grip portion includes a reverse taper portion whose outer diameter gradually decreases toward the hand side.
When the player grasps, it can be wrapped evenly between the fingers and palm without gaps, effectively preventing the gripping force between the gripping part and the hand from dropping and creating a gap, and thus stabilizing the swing The goal is to provide a useful golf club.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a golf club provided with a head at a tip end of a shaft and a grip portion at a hand side for a player to grip. The portion includes an inverted tapered portion whose outer diameter gradually decreases toward the proximal side. The grip portion can be formed by arranging a grip member made of rubber, urethane, leather material, cork, or another elastic member on the outer peripheral surface of the shaft. Further, in the section including the axis center line of the shaft, the inverted tapered portion has an angle θ between the surface of the inverted tapered portion and the axis center line of the shaft.
Is set to 0.5 to 3 ° and the axial length L is set to 30 to 300.
mm is desirable.

[0007] Further, the grip portion can be constituted only by the reverse taper portion. Further, the grip portion may include at least one portion of an equal diameter portion having a constant outer diameter or a positive taper portion whose outer diameter gradually increases toward the hand side. At this time, in the normal address posture, it is desirable that the reverse taper portion is provided at a position where at least the little finger or the middle finger of the hand on the hand side of the player holding the grip portion can contact. The shaft itself is described in, for example,
Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 155951 discloses that an inverted tapered portion is provided on the proximal side. However, it is naturally expected that a normal grip member will be attached to the hand side of the shaft, and in the case of a "golf club", the provision of an inverted tapered portion in the grip portion is completely described in the above publication. There is no disclosure.

[0008]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 illustrates a front view of the golf club of the present embodiment. In the figure, golf club 1
Is an iron type in which a head 3 is provided on the distal end side of the shaft 2 and a grip portion 4 which is gripped by a player is provided on the opposite hand side. In addition, the golf club 1 can of course be configured as various clubs such as a wood type, a putter type, and a utility type other than the iron type.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the grip portion 4 shown in FIG. 1 including the axial center line C of the shaft 2. The grip portion 4 can be formed by arranging a grip member 6 made of rubber, urethane, leather material, cork, or another elastic member on the outer peripheral surface 2a of the shaft 2. When rubber or urethane or the like is used for the grip member 6, it can be configured as a cord-containing grip member having a cord exposed on its surface,
In addition, irregularities and patterns for preventing slippage can be appropriately formed.

In this embodiment, the grip 4
Is characterized in that it includes a reverse taper portion 5 whose outer diameter gradually decreases toward the hand side. In the embodiment of FIGS. It consists only of: Such a reverse tapered portion 5 can have a relatively large diameter on the head 3 side of the grip portion 4 and a small diameter on the hand side. For this reason, the outer diameter of the portion of the hand A (shown in FIG. 9) on the hand side where the little finger touches can be made relatively small, the degree of engagement of the little finger is increased, the gripping force is increased, and the grip portion 4 and the hand A Can be suppressed. Further, since the outer diameter of the grip portion 4 on the side of the head 3 becomes relatively large, a gap is hardly generated between the grip B and the hand B (shown in FIG. 9) on the head side of the player holding the grip portion 4. Can be improved. As described above, the grip portion 4 of the present embodiment includes the reverse taper portion 5 so that when the player grips the grip portion, the grip portion 4 can be uniformly wrapped by the finger and the palm without any gap, and the grip portion 4 and the finger or the palm It is possible to effectively prevent a decrease in gripping force or a gap therebetween, thereby stabilizing a swing.

Here, in the section including the axis center line C of the shaft 2, the reverse taper portion 5 is formed by an angle θ between the surface 5a of the reverse taper portion 5 and the axis center line C of the shaft 2.
Is preferably 0.5 to 3 °, more preferably 0.5 to 2 °. If the angle θ is less than 0.5 °, it tends to be difficult to obtain the effect of the substantial reverse taper. Conversely, if the angle θ exceeds 3 °, the degree of the reverse taper becomes too strong, making it difficult to grip. There is a tendency for a gap to be easily formed between the hand and the hand when grasped. While having these angles θ,
For example, from the end 4e on the hand side of the grip portion 4 to the head 3 side,
The outer diameter (maximum diameter in the case of an ellipse) D at a position separated by an axial distance X of 5 mm is, for example, 8 to 35 mm, more preferably 10 to 35 mm.
It is desirably about 30 mm, more preferably about 12 to 28 mm.

The optimal axial length L of the reverse tapered portion 5 is such that at least the little finger or the middle finger of the hand A on the hand side of the player holding the grip portion 4 can contact in a normal address posture, for example. It is particularly desirable to set the length so that the entire hand A on the hand side can be in contact with the entire hand, and more preferably to set the length so that both hands A and B of the player can contact. is there.
More specifically, it is desirable that the length L in the axial direction of the reverse taper portion 5 is approximately 30 to 300 mm, preferably 60 to 300 mm, and more preferably 130 to 300 mm.

The shape, material, and the like of the shaft 2 are not particularly limited as long as the golf club 1 of the present embodiment includes the grip portion 4 including the inverted tapered portion 5. The shaft 2 shown in FIG. 2 is formed of a hollow member having an outer diameter gradually increasing toward the hand, which is conventionally generally used. In this case, for example, the grip member 6 is formed so that its thickness t gradually increases from the hand side toward the head 3 side. It is desirable that the thickness t be set to, for example, about 0.5 mm at the thinnest part and about 10 mm at the thickest part. For example, the grip member 6
By winding an adhesive tape or the like between the shaft and the shaft 2, a lower winding portion having a reverse taper shape is formed, and a grip member 6 having a substantially uniform thickness is mounted thereon to form a reverse taper portion 5. It is also possible.

FIG. 3 illustrates another embodiment of the shaft 2. In the present example, the shaft 2 is illustrated as having a reverse tapered shape in which the outer diameter gradually decreases toward the proximal side. In the case of the present embodiment, since the shaft 2 also has a reverse tapered shape, the thickness t of the grip member 6 is
Can be made substantially constant. For this reason,
Compared to the embodiment of FIG. 2 in which the thickness of the grip member 6 changes in the axial direction, there is an advantage that the grip feeling when gripping is substantially constant regardless of the axial position of the grip portion 4.

The grip portion 4 can include at least one portion of a constant diameter portion 7 having a constant outer diameter or a positive taper portion 9 whose outer diameter gradually increases toward the hand side. FIG. 4 (A)
FIG. 1 illustrates an example in which the grip portion 4 includes the reverse tapered portion 5 and the equal diameter portion 7. In this example, an equal-diameter portion 7 is formed on the near side of the reverse taper portion 5. The equal diameter part 7 may be formed on the head 3 side of the reverse taper part 5, or may be formed on both sides of the reverse taper part 5.

FIG. 4B illustrates still another embodiment. In the present example, the grip portion 4 is the reverse taper portion 5
And the same tapered portion 9 and the positive tapered portion 9. The positional relationship among the constant diameter portion 7, the forward taper portion 9, and the reverse taper portion 5 can be arbitrarily determined, but in a normal address posture (shown in FIG. 9), the reverse taper portion 5
Is provided at a position where at least the little finger or the middle finger of the hand A on the hand side of the player holding the grip portion 4 can abut.
More preferably, the hand A on the hand side has such a length that the entire hand A can contact, and more preferably both hands A and B of the player.
Is desirably provided at a position where it can abut. More specifically, at least 10 m from the end 4 e on the hand side of the grip 4
It is desirable to provide an area of not less than 40 mm and not less than 40 mm, more preferably an area of not less than 10 mm and not more than 70 mm from the end 4 e, more preferably an area of not less than 10 mm and not more than 140 mm from the end 4 e.

Further, in order to eliminate a sense of incongruity when grasping, the front taper portion 9 has a surface 9a of the front taper portion 9 and a shaft center line Is desirably 3 ° or less.

[0018]

EXAMPLE A wood type golf club having a grip portion 4 (unit: mm, length common to 270 mm) shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 and having a shaft (unit: mm) shown in FIG. 7 is prototyped. At the same time, a test was conducted to determine the degree of deviation of the middle finger, ring finger, and little finger of the hand A on the hand side during the golf swing. In the test, a subject (n = 10) was asked to swing in a normal address posture using a golf club having a tactile sensor sheet attached to a grip portion. The tactile sensor sheet has a structure in which square sensors each having a side of 5 mm are regularly arranged and can detect pressure for each cell. Swings can be divided into normal, backswing, top, downswing, impact, and follow. In this test, the ratio of the deviation between the hand (A) and the grip portion is calculated from the following equation (1) using the area where the pressure is detected at the time of top and the area where the pressure is detected at the time of impact. Calculated. Deviation ratio (%) = {(Area where pressure is detected at top and no pressure is detected at impact) / (Area where pressure is detected at top)} × 100 (1) Shows the test results It is shown in FIG.

[0019]

[Table 1]

As a result of the test, it was confirmed that in the example club having the reverse tapered portion of the present invention, the ratio of the deviation was suppressed to a small value. In particular, it was confirmed that the effect was remarkable when the angle θ was 0.5 to 3 °.

Next, the feeling when the player actually swings while holding the grip portion was subjected to a sensory evaluation by a five-point method. The higher the value, the better. The results of the test are shown in Table 2, and it was confirmed that the grip portion having the reverse taper portion, particularly the one having an angle θ of 0.5 to 3 °, had a very good feeling.

[0022]

[Table 2]

[0023]

As described above, according to the first and second aspects of the present invention, the grip portion includes a reverse taper portion whose outer diameter gradually decreases toward the hand side, so that the grip portion can be relatively formed. The diameter of the head side can be made large while the diameter of the hand side can be made small. For this reason, the degree of engagement of the little finger of the hand on the hand side with the grip portion can be improved to increase the gripping force, and the displacement between the grip portion and the hand can be suppressed. Further, since the outer diameter of the grip portion on the head side is relatively large, a gap between the hand on the head side of the player holding the grip portion and the grip portion is less likely to occur, and the adhesion can be improved.
For this reason, the player can wrap the grip portion uniformly between the finger and the palm without discomfort and without any gaps, and effectively prevent the gripping force between the grip portion and the fingers or the palm from being reduced or a gap from being generated. In addition, the swing can be stabilized. In addition, when the grip member is provided on the grip portion, the grip feeling can be further improved, and the anti-slip function can be effectively achieved.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the angle θ between the surface of the reverse tapered portion and the axis of the shaft is sandwiched.
In addition, by limiting the length L in the axial direction to a certain range, it is possible to more reliably prevent the hand from being displaced during the swing, and the effect can be further improved.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, since the grip portion includes only the reverse taper portion, both hands of the player can be reliably positioned at the reverse taper portion at the time of addressing, and the swing can be further stabilized. sell.

Further, in the invention according to claim 5, the grip portion includes at least one portion of a constant diameter portion having a constant outer diameter or a positive taper portion whose outer diameter gradually increases toward the hand side. However, in the normal address posture, since the reverse taper portion is provided at a position where at least the little finger or the middle finger of the hand on the hand side of the player holding the grip portion can contact, The contact with the reverse taper portion can be ensured.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view illustrating a golf club according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the grip portion.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a grip portion showing various examples of different shaft shapes.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are enlarged views showing another embodiment of the grip portion.

FIGS. 5A to 5D are specific examples of a grip portion (Comparative Example 1).
FIG. 3 is an enlarged view showing the first to third embodiments and Example 1).

FIGS. 6A to 6C are specific examples of a grip portion (Example 2);
It is an enlarged view which shows 4).

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a specific example shaft.

FIG. 8 is a front view illustrating a conventional golf club.

FIG. 9 is a front view showing a normal address.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 golf club 2 shaft 3 head 4 grip portion 5 reverse taper portion 6 grip member 7 equal diameter portion 9 forward taper portion

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A golf club having a head provided on a tip end side of a shaft and a grip portion gripped by a player at a hand side, wherein the grip portion has an outer diameter gradually decreasing toward the hand side. A golf club characterized by including a reverse tapered portion. 2. The grip portion has a rubber on an outer peripheral surface of a shaft.
2. The golf club according to claim 1, wherein a grip member made of urethane, leather material, cork, or another elastic member is arranged. 3. The cross section including the axis center line of the shaft, wherein the angle .theta. Between the surface of the reverse taper portion and the axis center line of the shaft is 0.5-3.degree. 3. The golf club according to claim 1, wherein the length L is 30 to 300 mm. 4. The golf club according to claim 1, wherein said grip portion comprises only said inverted tapered portion. 5. The grip portion includes at least one portion of a constant diameter portion having a constant outer diameter or a positive taper portion having an outer diameter gradually increasing toward a hand side, and in a normal address posture, The reverse taper portion,
The golf club according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein at least a little finger or a middle finger of a hand on a hand side of the player holding the grip is provided at a position where the finger can be abutted.