Golf club

Abstract

A golf club (1) according to the present disclosure comprises: a shaft (5) formed in an axial shape; a head (3) provided at one end of the shaft (5) and having a striking face (2) for striking a golf ball; and a grip (6) provided at the other end of the shaft (5) and grasped by a user. In the golf club (1), the grip (6) includes an impact vibration emphasis mechanism (6A) that emphasizes vibration generated when the golf ball is struck by the striking face and transmitted through the shaft (5) and conveys the emphasized vibration to the user.

Description

Golf club

[0001] The present invention relates to a golf club for hitting a golf ball.

[0002] Generally, a golf club is composed of a head, a shaft, and a grip. Also, a golf club having a hosel that connects the head and the shaft between the head and the shaft is also known. The vibration generated in the head when hitting a golf ball is transmitted to the palm of the user (golfer) who holds the grip through the shaft. Conventionally, it has been studied to improve the grip feeling or suppress the influence of the hitting vibration transmitted to the palm of the user by devising the material, structure, shape, etc. of the grip (for example, Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 below).

[0003] Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 06-039040, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2012-125285

[0004] By the way, the vibration generated in the head when hitting a golf ball is recognized as part of the hitting feeling of the golf club when it is transmitted to the palm of the user (golfer) who holds the grip through the shaft. Here, the hitting feeling means the feeling and shot feeling that the user has when hitting a golf ball. General hitting feelings include not only physical vibrations but also the pleasant feeling (feeling) of sensory operations such as hitting comfort, moderation, and a sense of accomplishment. However, conventional grips do not consider a structure for efficiently transmitting vibration to the palm, and there is room for improvement in improving the hitting feeling.

[0005] One of the objects of the present case was devised in view of the above problems, and it is to provide a golf club with an improved hitting feeling. Also, not limited to this object, the operational effects derived from each configuration shown in the "Mode for Carrying Out the Invention" described later, which are operational effects not obtained by the conventional technology, can also be positioned as other objects of the present case.

[0006] This can be realized in the embodiments or applications disclosed below. The disclosed golf club solves at least part of the above problems. (1) The disclosed golf club comprises a shaft formed in an axial shape, a head provided on one end of the shaft and having a striking surface for striking a golf ball, and a grip provided on the other end of the shaft and held by the user, wherein the grip has a striking vibration enhancement mechanism that amplifies the vibrations generated when the golf ball is struck by the striking surface and transmitted through the shaft and transmits them to the user.

[0007] According to the disclosed golf club, by incorporating a vibration amplification mechanism into the grip, the vibrations generated when hitting the golf ball can be amplified and transmitted to the user's palm, thereby improving the feel of the shot.

[0008] (A) and (B) are perspective views illustrating a golf club as an embodiment. (A) is a cross-sectional view (vertical end view) taken along the line A-A showing the grip according to the first embodiment, and (B) is an enlarged view of the inner part shown in Figure 2(A). (A) is a vertical cross-sectional view of the grip according to the second embodiment, and (B) is a cross-sectional view showing a modified example of the grip according to the second embodiment. (A) is a vertical cross-sectional view of the grip according to the third embodiment, and (B) is an explanatory diagram of the inner part (honeycomb structure) of Figure 4(A) viewed from arrow B. (A) is a vertical cross-sectional view illustrating a modified example of the grip according to the third embodiment, and (B) is a cross-sectional view taken along the line C-C in Figure 5(A). (A) to (C) are vertical cross-sectional views of the grip according to the fourth embodiment. (A) to (C) are vertical cross-sectional views of the grip according to the fifth embodiment. (A) is a vertical cross-sectional view of the grip according to the sixth embodiment, and (B) is a perspective view of the inner part (thin plate piece) of Figure 8(A). (A) is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the grip according to the seventh embodiment, (B) is a cross-sectional view taken along the line D-D in Figure 9(A), and (C) is an explanatory diagram of a modified example of the grip according to the seventh embodiment. (A) is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the grip according to the eighth embodiment, and (B) is a cross-sectional view taken along the line E-E in Figure 10(A). (A) is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the grip according to the ninth embodiment, and (B) is a cross-sectional view taken along the line F-F in Figure 11(A). (A) to (E) are longitudinal cross-sectional views of the grip to explain modified examples of the vibrating member. (A) is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the grip according to the tenth embodiment, (B) is a cross-sectional view taken along the line G-G in Figure 13(A), and (C) is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing a modified example of the grip according to the tenth embodiment. This is an explanatory diagram of the grip according to the eleventh embodiment. (A) to (C) are explanatory diagrams of a configuration for housing electrical components. This is an explanatory diagram of a sheet-like sensor. This is an explanatory diagram of a weight. This is an explanatory diagram of a configuration example in which an adhesive layer is provided around the shaft. This is an explanatory diagram of a module for mounting electrical equipment. This is an explanatory diagram of an example configuration in which electrical equipment is attached to a sheet-like member that forms the outer perimeter.

[0009] Figures 1(A) and 1(B) are perspective views illustrating an embodiment of a golf club 1 (putter). This golf club 1A or 1B comprises at least a head 3, a shaft 5, and a grip 6. The golf club 1B shown in Figure 1(B) has a hosel 4 between the head 3 and the shaft 5, while the golf club 1A shown in Figure 1(A) is identical to the golf club 1A except that it does not have a hosel 4. Hereafter, unless otherwise specified, golf clubs 1A and 1B will be collectively referred to as "golf club 1" without distinguishing between those with and without a hosel 4. Note that the golf club 1 in this embodiment is not limited to a putter, but may be any type, such as a driver or an iron.

[0010] The shaft 5 is formed in an axial shape (a long, slender rod), and one end of it (the lower end in Figure 1) is connected to the head 3. In golf club 1A, the lower end of the shaft 5 is directly connected to the head 3, while in golf club 1B, the lower end of the shaft 5 is indirectly connected to the head 3 via the hosel 4. The side of the head 3 is provided with a striking surface 2 (face) for striking the golf ball.

[0011] A grip 6 is provided at the other end of the shaft 5 (the upper end in Figure 1). The grip 6 is the part that is held by the user. The vibrations generated in the head 3 when a golf ball is struck are transmitted through the shaft 5 to the user's palm, which holds the grip 6. The user perceives these vibrations as part of the feel of the golf club 1. Here, "feel" refers to the sensation or shot feel that the user experiences when striking a golf ball. A typical feel includes not only physical vibrations but also sensory pleasures (feelings) of operation such as the feel of the strike, the sense of control, and the sense of accomplishment. The golf club 1 of this embodiment is characterized by having a striking vibration enhancement mechanism 6A (shown by a dashed line in Figure 1) on the grip 6. The striking vibration enhancement mechanism 6A is a structure for enhancing and transmitting to the user the vibrations (striking vibrations) generated in the head 3 when a golf ball is struck on the striking surface 2 and transmitted through the shaft 5. Here, the "vibration" amplified by the impact vibration amplification mechanism 6A includes not only the vibration of the structure constituting the impact vibration amplification mechanism 6A itself, but also the vibration of the air surrounding the structure constituting the impact vibration amplification mechanism 6A (air vibration). In the following explanation, the axial direction of the shaft 5 is indicated by the symbol D1, and the radial direction of the shaft 5 is indicated by the symbol D2.

[0012] In the golf club 1 of this embodiment, the shape of the grip 6 is not limited. The shape of the grip 6 can be any shape, such as a tapered type in which the diameter D2 is thicker towards the upper end (grip end side) and thinner towards the lower end (head side), a non-tapered type in which the diameter D2 is constant, or a pistol type in which a part of the grip end side protrudes. In Figure 1, the grip 6 is shown as an example of a non-tapered type.

[0013] Furthermore, the shape and structure of the shaft 5 and hosel 4 are not limited. For example, the cross-sectional shape of the shaft 5 and hosel 4 may be circular, elliptical, or polygonal. Here, the cross-section is the cross-section obtained by cutting the shaft 5 in the radial direction D2. Also, for example, the shape of the shaft 5 may be any shape, such as a rod shape extending linearly along the axial direction D1 as shown in Figures 1(A) and (B), or a shape in which the lower end on the head 3 side is bent in a crank shape. Similarly, the shape of the hosel 4 may be any shape, such as a crank shape with a bent portion as shown in Figure 1(B), a straight shape without a bent portion, or a rectangular flat plate.

[0014] Next, an example of the configuration of the impact vibration amplification mechanism 6A will be described. In the golf club 1 shown in Figure 1, the grip 6 includes a grip member 60. The grip member 60 is attached to the outer circumference (reference numeral 5A in Figure 2) of the upper end (other end) of the shaft 5 and is a member that is held in the user's hand. In the golf club 1 shown in Figure 1, the grip member 60 has the impact vibration amplification mechanism 6A.

[0015] <Ultra-fine resin fiber layer> Figure 2(A) is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A to illustrate an example of the grip 6 (first embodiment), and shows the grip 6 of Figure 1 in a cross-sectional view (longitudinal section) along the axis of the shaft 5. As shown in Figure 2(A), the shaft 5 is formed in a hollow cylindrical shape having a hollow portion 5B. As shown in Figure 2(A), the grip member 60 is provided with an inner portion 61 as a striking vibration amplification mechanism 6A. The inner portion 61 is disposed between the outer circumference 62 of the grip member 60 and the outer circumference 5A of the shaft 5, and is the part that transmits vibration from the outer circumference 5A of the shaft 5 to the outer circumference 62 of the grip member 60. Specifically, the inner portion 61 is provided such that a part of it (the outer part) contacts the outer circumference 62 and the other part (the inner part) contacts the outer circumference 5A. The outer circumference 62 is the part of the grip member 60 that is held by the user's hand, and is the part that is located radially outward D2 from the inner portion 61.

[0016] The inner portion 61 according to the first embodiment is composed of a fiber layer in which ultrafine resin fibers are intertwined in a three-dimensional manner. The fiber layer forming the inner portion 61 is wound around the entire circumference 5A of the outer circumference 5 of the shaft 5 and is a layer (mat, cushion) with thickness in the radial direction D2 of the shaft 5, and extends in the axial direction D1 at the upper end of the shaft 5. The axial dimension D1 of the inner portion 61 is set to overlap with the area that the palm of the user can come into contact with when the user is gripping the grip 6.

[0017] The inner portion 61 is positioned such that its inner circumferential surface 61A, located on the inside in the radial direction D2, contacts the outer circumference 5A of the shaft 5, and its outer circumferential surface 61B, located on the outside in the radial direction D2, contacts the inner circumferential surface 62A of the outer circumference 62 of the grip member 60. The inner portion 61 forms a transmission path that transmits vibrations from the shaft 5 to the user's palm when a golf ball is struck. That is, vibrations generated in the head 3 when a golf ball is struck are transmitted from the outer circumference 5A of the shaft 5 through the inner portion 61 to the outer circumference 62 of the grip member 60. The inner portion 61 is attached to the shaft 5 by known methods such as adhesive or fitting. The inner portion 61 may be detachably attached to the shaft 5, or it may be fixed in a non-detachable state.

[0018] Figure 2(B) is an enlarged view showing a part of the inner portion 61 enclosed by the dashed circle 61C in Figure 2(A). As shown in Figure 2(B), the inner portion 61 is formed by the irregular entanglement of numerous ultrafine resin fibers 61D. Each ultrafine resin fiber 61D is a resin fiber, for example, a fine fiber with a small diameter and short fiber length. By intertwining these ultrafine resin fibers 61D three-dimensionally and irregularly, a fiber layer forming the inner portion 61 is created. Well-known techniques can be applied to form the fiber layer using ultrafine resin fibers 61D. Such a fiber layer formed by the three-dimensional entanglement of ultrafine resin fibers 61D can be called an "Airweave®" type inner portion 61. Each ultrafine resin fiber 61D is made of a material that can enhance vibration transmission performance. To enhance vibration transmission performance, it is preferable that the ultrafine resin fibers 61D be made of a resin with high rigidity (firmness), such as polyethylene fibers, nylon fibers, metal fibers, or plant fibers.

[0019] <Regarding the outer periphery> The outer periphery 62 of the grip member 60 shown in Figure 2(A) is formed from a separate material from the inner part 61. The outer periphery 62 consists of, for example, a member (outer part) that encloses the outer circumferential surface 61B of the inner part 61. The outer part forming the outer periphery 62 is composed of, for example, a sheet-like member wrapped around the outer circumferential surface 61B of the inner part 61. As another example, the outer part forming the outer periphery 62 may be composed of a molded member (cover member) formed in a shape that encloses the outer circumferential surface 61B of the inner part 61. It is preferable to use a material for the outer periphery 62 (outer part) that has good grip (ease of gripping) when held by the user and does not hinder the transmission of vibrations from the inner part 61 to the palm. Furthermore, it is preferable that the outer periphery 62 (outer part) is breathable from the viewpoint of ensuring good grip. The materials used for the outer periphery 62 (exterior) may include, but are not limited to, rubber (natural rubber), synthetic rubber, TPR (thermoplastic rubber) compound, elastomer (resin material), polyurethane, leather, artificial leather (PU leather), EVA foam, plant fibers, animal fibers, ceramics, cork, metal fibers, felt, cellulose nanofiber, cellulose, biomass plastic, metal, or composite materials of multiple types of materials including the above-mentioned materials. Wires (such as metal) may also be arranged within the outer periphery 62 (exterior). Furthermore, the outer periphery 62 (exterior) may be composed of multiple layers. For example, the outer periphery 62 (exterior) can be constructed by providing a rubber layer (sheet) around a metal layer.

[0020] As another example, the outer periphery 62 of the grip member 60 may be composed of a coating layer applied to the outer periphery 61B of the inner portion 61. The coating layer is formed by applying a coating agent to the entire outer periphery 61B of the inner portion 61. The coating agent can be one that has gripping properties and physical properties that do not hinder the transmission of vibrations from the inner portion 61 to the palm. For example, a polyurethane coating can be used for the coating layer.

[0021] The outer periphery 62, which is the exterior part or coating layer, can be surface-treated to improve grip and breathability. Surface treatments may include soft mucosal polymer treatment, adhesive treatment, uneven texture treatment, dot-shaped embossing, perforation, slit formation, and anti-slip treatment (such as application of an anti-slip agent).

[0022] By adjusting the material and thickness of the outer casing or coating layer that makes up the outer perimeter 62, the vibration transmission performance and grip feel can be adjusted. Grip feel refers to, for example, the "hardness" or "softness" that the user feels in their palm when gripping the club. Furthermore, the color and design of the outer perimeter 62 can be freely set. Since the outer perimeter 62 constitutes part of the appearance of the golf club 1, it is desirable that each user be able to freely set the color and design of the outer perimeter 62 to suit their own preferences. The outer perimeter 62 may also be constructed by wrapping it with tape (grip tape).

[0023] The grip member 60 described above has an inner portion 61 made of a fiber layer in which ultrafine resin fibers 61D are intertwined in a three-dimensional manner, which serves as a striking vibration enhancement mechanism 6A. Therefore, vibrations generated in the head 3 when a golf ball is struck are amplified in the inner portion 61 and transmitted to the outer peripheral portion 62 of the grip member 60. Thus, in the golf club 1 having the grip 6 according to the first embodiment, vibrations transmitted through the shaft 5 when a golf ball is struck on the striking surface 2 can be amplified by the inner portion 61 (striking vibration enhancement mechanism 6A) and transmitted to the user's palm. As a result, the feel of the golf club 1 is improved. Furthermore, since the inner portion 61 has an outer peripheral portion 62 that encloses the outer peripheral surface 61B, the vibration transmission performance and grip feel can be adjusted by setting the material and thickness of the outer casing or coating layer that makes up the outer peripheral portion 62.

[0024] <Truss Type> Figure 3(A) is a longitudinal cross-sectional view illustrating another example of the grip 6 (second embodiment). The grip 6 according to the second embodiment has a configuration common to the grip 6 of the first embodiment, except that the grip member 60 has an inner portion 63 that forms a striking vibration amplification mechanism 6A, and the explanation of common elements will be omitted as appropriate. This inner portion 63 consists of a truss-type structure in which a plurality of triangular truss bodies 63A are provided along the axial direction D1 of the shaft 5, forming a transmission path that transmits vibration from the outer circumference 5A to the outer circumference 62 of the shaft 5.

[0025] The truss body 63A consists of three members assembled in a triangular shape when viewed from the radial direction D2, with the vertices 63B of the three shapes in contact with the inner surface 62A of the outer circumference 62, and the base 63C opposite the vertices 63B in contact with the outer circumference 5A of the shaft 5. The truss body 63A may be directly attached to the shaft 5, or it may be attached indirectly via a mesh member layer or fiber layer (not shown). The truss body 63A is attached to the shaft 5 by known methods such as welding, bonding, screwing, or fitting. The truss body 63A may be detachably attached to the shaft 5, or it may be fixed in a non-detachable state. Multiple truss bodies 63A are arranged side by side in the axial direction D1, and adjacent truss bodies 63A in the axial direction D1 are in contact with each other. Multiple truss bodies 63A arranged side by side in the axial direction D1 may be formed integrally, for example. As another example, multiple truss bodies 63A arranged side by side in the axial direction D1 may be formed as separate parts. Multiple truss bodies 63A, arranged in parallel along the axial direction D1, are provided around the entire circumference of the outer perimeter 5A. The truss bodies 63A are made of a suitable material that has sufficient rigidity to maintain vibration transmission and structural formability. The material of the truss bodies 63A may be, but is not limited to, plastic, fiber-reinforced plastic (FRP), metal, carbon, fiberglass, wood, fiberboard, particleboard, oriented strand board, or composite materials of multiple types of materials including the above-mentioned materials.

[0026] Figure 3(B) shows a modified example of the grip 6 according to the second embodiment described above, and has a configuration common to the grip 6 of the second embodiment except that it has an inner portion 64 that forms a striking vibration amplification mechanism 6A. This inner portion 64 has a configuration common to the inner portion 63 of the second embodiment, except that adjacent truss bodies 64A in the axial direction D1 are spaced apart from each other. Multiple truss bodies 64A arranged in parallel in the axial direction D1 are provided around the entire circumference of the outer circumference 5A. In this case, the region on the outer circumference 5A of the shaft 5 where the inner portion 64 is provided includes the contact surfaces of the truss bodies 64A and the non-contact surfaces of the truss bodies 64A. The non-contact surfaces of the truss bodies 64A are the gaps between adjacent truss bodies 64A in the axial direction D1.

[0027] According to the inner portion 63 or 64 of the second embodiment described above, vibrations generated in the head 3 when a golf ball is struck are amplified from the shaft 5 through the truss body 63A or 64A and transmitted to the outer circumference 62 of the grip member 60. Therefore, the feel of the shot is improved even with the golf club 1 having the grip 6 (inner portion 63 or 64) of the second embodiment. In addition, the same effects as the golf club 1 of the first embodiment can be obtained. The truss body 63A and the truss body 64A may be made by combining three axial members in a triangular shape, or they may be made by assembling an annular (collar-shaped) member extending around the axis of the shaft 5 so as to be triangular when viewed from the radial direction D2. Furthermore, in the inner portions 63 and 64, the above-mentioned ultrafine resin fibers may be filled in the gaps where the truss bodies 63A and 64A are not provided. The ultrafine resin fibers may be provided in contact with or without contact with the truss bodies 63A and 64A.

[0028] <Honeycomb Type> Figure 4(A) is a longitudinal cross-sectional view illustrating another example of the grip 6 (third embodiment). The grip 6 according to the third embodiment has a configuration common to the grip 6 of the first embodiment, except that the grip member 60 has an inner portion 65 which forms a striking vibration enhancement mechanism 6A, and the explanation of common elements will be omitted as appropriate. Figure 4(B) is an explanatory diagram of the inner portion 65 viewed from arrow B in Figure 4(A), with some parts omitted. This inner portion 65 has a honeycomb-type structure in which the wall portion 65A that forms a transmission path for transmitting vibration from the outer circumference 5A to the outer circumference 62 of the shaft 5 is assembled in a honeycomb shape.

[0029] The inner portion 65, which forms a honeycomb structure as shown in Figures 4(A) and (B), has a structure in which multiple hexagonal prism-shaped spaces defined by wall portions 65A are arranged without gaps. In the inner portion 65 shown in Figures 4(A) and (B), the wall portions 65A are arranged in a position along the radial direction D2, the outer edge 65B of the wall portion 65A is in contact with the inner circumferential surface 62A of the outer circumferential portion 62, and the inner edge 65C is in contact with the outer circumferential surface 5A of the shaft 5. In other words, the inner portion 65 (honeycomb structure) can be said to have hexagonal prism-shaped spaces that extend along the radial direction D2. The wall portions 65A may be directly attached to the shaft 5, or they may be attached indirectly via a mesh layer or fiber layer, etc., which are not shown. The wall portions 65A are attached to the shaft 5 by well known methods such as welding, bonding, screwing, or fitting. The wall portions 65A may be detachably attached to the shaft 5, or they may be fixed in a non-detachable state.

[0030] In the inner section 65, the honeycomb-shaped wall section 65A is formed using a suitable material that has vibration-transmitting properties to transmit impact vibrations and rigidity to maintain moldability as a structure. The material of the wall section 65A may be, but is not limited to, plastic, fiber-reinforced plastic (FRP), metal, carbon, fiberglass, wood, fiberboard, particleboard, oriented strand board, or a composite material of multiple types of materials including the above-mentioned materials. In this inner section 65, vibrations generated in the head 3 when a golf ball is struck are transmitted through the honeycomb-shaped wall section 65A to the outer periphery 62 of the grip member 60.

[0031] The inner portion 66 shown in Figures 5(A) and (B) is a modified example of the grip 6 according to the third embodiment, and has the same configuration as the inner portion 65 shown in Figures 4(A) and (B), except that the wall portion 66A forming a honeycomb structure is arranged in a position along the axial direction D1. In this case, the honeycomb structure in the inner portion 66 has a hexagonal prism-shaped space extending along the axial direction D1, with the outer edge 66B of the wall portion 66A contacting the inner circumferential surface 62A of the outer peripheral portion 62, and the inner edge 66C contacting the outer peripheral 5A of the shaft 5. The wall portion 66A may be directly attached to the shaft 5, or it may be attached indirectly via a mesh layer or fiber layer, etc., which are not shown. The wall portion 66A is attached to the shaft 5 by well known methods such as welding, bonding, screwing, or fitting. The wall portion 66A may be detachably attached to the shaft 5, or it may be fixed in a non-detachable state.

[0032] The honeycomb-shaped wall portion 66A is formed using a suitable material that has vibration-transmitting properties to transmit impact vibrations and rigidity to maintain moldability as a structure. The material of the wall portion 66A may be, but is not limited to, plastic, fiber-reinforced plastic (FRP), metal, carbon, fiberglass, wood, fiberboard, particleboard, oriented strand board, or a composite material of multiple types of materials including the above-mentioned materials. In this inner portion 66, vibrations generated in the head 3 when a golf ball is struck are transmitted through the honeycomb-shaped wall portion 66A to the outer periphery 62 of the grip member 60.

[0033] According to the inner portion 65 or 66 of the third embodiment described above, vibrations generated in the head 3 when a golf ball is struck are transmitted from the shaft 5 through the honeycomb-shaped wall portion 65A or 66A to the outer peripheral portion 62 of the grip member 60. Here, the vibrations are transmitted to the outer peripheral portion 62 in an amplified state at the wall portion 65A or 66A. Therefore, the feel of the shot is improved even with the golf club 1 having the grip 6 (inner portion 65 or 66) of the third embodiment. In addition, the same effects as the golf club 1 of the first embodiment can be obtained. Furthermore, in the inner portions 65 and 66, the above-mentioned ultrafine resin fibers may be filled in the gaps where the wall portions 65A and 66A are not provided. The ultrafine resin fibers may be provided in contact with or without contact with the wall portions 65A and 66A.

[0034] <Brush Type> Figures 6(A) to 6(C) are longitudinal cross-sectional views illustrating another example of the grip 6 (fourth embodiment). The grip 6 according to the fourth embodiment has a configuration common to the grip 6 of the first embodiment, except that the grip member 60 has inner parts 67, 67', 67'' that form a striking vibration enhancement mechanism 6A, and the explanation of common elements will be omitted as appropriate. These inner parts 67, 67', 67'' consist of a brush-type structure in which a plurality of bristle-like members 67A, 67A', 67A'' are planted on the outer circumference 5A of the shaft 5, forming a transmission path that transmits vibration from the outer circumference 5A to the outer circumference 62 of the shaft 5. Each bristle-like member 67A, 67A', 67A'' is provided around the entire circumference of the axis of the outer circumference 5A, and as shown in Figure 6(A), one end 67B contacts the inner surface 62A of the outer circumference 62, and the other end 67C contacts the outer circumference 5A of the shaft 5.

[0035] In the inner sections 67, 67', and 67'', the orientation of each bristle member 67A, 67A', and 67A'' differs. In the inner section 67 shown in Figure 6(A), each bristle member 67A is positioned so that its outer side in the radial direction D2 is inclined upwards in the axial direction D1. In the inner section 67' shown in Figure 6(B), each bristle member 67A' is positioned so that its outer side in the radial direction D2 is inclined downwards in the axial direction D1. In the inner section 67'' shown in Figure 6(C), each bristle member 67A'' is positioned so that it extends in the radial direction D2.

[0036] The material used for each bristle member 67A, 67A', and 67A'' is a suitable material that can ensure vibration transmission. The materials used for the bristle members 67A, 67A', and 67A'' include, but are not limited to, chemical fibers such as nylon, polypropylene, polyester, and polyvinyl chloride, metal fibers, animal fibers such as pig hair and horsehair, and plant fibers such as ferns, palms, and pulp.

[0037] With the inner sections 67, 67', 67'' having the brush-type structure described above, vibrations generated in the head 3 when a golf ball is struck are transmitted to the outer periphery 62 of the grip member 60 through the bristles 67A, 67A', 67A''. Here, the vibrations are transmitted to the outer periphery 62 in an amplified state by the bristles 67A, 67A', 67A''. Therefore, the golf club 1 having the inner sections 67, 67', 67'' according to the fourth embodiment described above can improve the feel of the shot. In addition, the same effects as the golf club 1 of the first embodiment can be obtained. Furthermore, the ultrafine resin fibers described above may be filled in the gaps in the inner sections 67, 67', 67'' where the bristles 67A, 67A', 67A'' are not provided. The ultrafine resin fibers may be provided in contact with or without contact with the bristles 67A, 67A', 67A''. Furthermore, each hair-like member 67A, 67A', and 67A'' may be planted on the inner circumferential surface 62A of the outer circumferential portion 62, with its tip in contact with the outer circumferential portion 5A of the shaft 5.

[0038] <Pole Type> Figures 7(A) to 7(C) are longitudinal cross-sectional views illustrating another example of the grip 6 (fifth embodiment). The grip 6 according to the fifth embodiment has a configuration common to the grip 6 of the first embodiment, except that the grip member 60 has inner parts 68, 68', 68'' that form a striking vibration enhancement mechanism 6A. The explanation of common elements will be omitted as appropriate. These inner parts 68, 68', 68'' consist of a pole-type structure in which a plurality of rod-shaped members 68A, 68A', 68A'' that form a transmission path for transmitting vibration from the outer circumference 5A to the outer circumference 62 of the shaft 5 are provided on the outer circumference 5A of the shaft 5. Each rod-shaped member 68A, 68A', 68A'' is provided around the entire circumference of the axis of the outer circumference 5A, and as shown in Figure 7(A), one end 68B contacts the inner surface 62A of the outer circumference 62, and the other end 68C contacts the outer circumference 5A of the shaft 5.

[0039] In the inner sections 68, 68', and 68'', the orientation of each rod-shaped member 68A, 68A', and 68A'' differs. In the inner section 68 shown in Figure 7(A), each rod-shaped member 68A is provided in a position where the outer side in the radial direction D2 is inclined upwards in the axial direction D1. In the inner section 68' shown in Figure 7(B), each rod-shaped member 68A' is provided in a position where the outer side in the radial direction D2 is inclined downwards in the axial direction D1. In the inner section 68'' shown in Figure 7(C), each rod-shaped member 68A'' is provided in a position where it extends in the radial direction D2.

[0040] The material used for each rod-shaped member 68A, 68A', and 68A'' is a suitable material that can ensure vibration transmission. The material used for the rod-shaped members 68A, 68A', and 68A'' may be, but is not limited to, plastic, fiber-reinforced plastic (FRP), metal, carbon, fiberglass, wood, fiberboard, particleboard, oriented strand board, or composite materials of multiple types of materials including the above-mentioned materials.

[0041] With the inner sections 68, 68', 68'' having the pole-shaped structures described above, vibrations generated in the head 3 when a golf ball is struck are transmitted to the outer periphery 62 of the grip member 60 through the rod-shaped members 68A, 68A', 68A''. Here, the vibrations are transmitted to the outer periphery 62 in an amplified state by the rod-shaped members 68A, 68A', 68A''. Therefore, the golf club 1 having the inner sections 68, 68', 68'' according to the fifth embodiment described above can improve the feel of the shot. In addition, the same effects as the golf club 1 of the first embodiment can be obtained. Furthermore, the ultrafine resin fibers described above may be filled in the gaps in the inner sections 68, 68', 68'' where the rod-shaped members 68A, 68A', 68A'' are not provided. The ultrafine resin fibers may be provided in contact with or without contact with the rod-shaped members 68A, 68A', 68A''. Furthermore, each rod-shaped member 68A, 68A', and 68A'' may be provided on the inner circumferential surface 62A of the outer circumferential portion 62, and its tip may be in contact with the outer circumferential portion 5A of the shaft 5.

[0042] <Rib-type (thin plate piece)> Figure 8(A) is a longitudinal cross-sectional view illustrating another example of the grip 6 (sixth embodiment). The grip 6 according to the sixth embodiment has a configuration common to the grip 6 of the first embodiment, except that the grip member 60 has an inner portion 69 that forms a striking vibration enhancement mechanism 6A, and the explanation of common elements will be omitted as appropriate. This inner portion 69 consists of thin plate pieces 69A that form a transmission path for transmitting vibration from the outer circumference 5A to the outer circumference 62 of the shaft 5. The thin plate pieces 69A shown in Figure 8(A) have surfaces that extend radially D2 and around the axis of the shaft 5. In the inner portion 69 shown in Figure 8(A), a plurality of thin plate pieces 69A are arranged side by side spaced apart from each other in the axial direction D1 of the shaft 5. Specifically, each thin plate piece 69A has an annular shape that extends radially D2 outward from the outer circumference 5A in a flange-like manner, as shown in the perspective view of Figure 8(B). One end 69B contacts the inner circumferential surface 62A of the outer circumference 62, and the other end 69C contacts the outer circumference 5A of the shaft 5. Note that there may be only one thin plate piece 69A, but it is preferable to provide multiple pieces to improve the efficiency of vibration transmission. Furthermore, each thin plate piece 69A is not limited to an annular shape and can be any thin plate that extends radially D2 outward from the outer circumference 5A in a flange-like manner.

[0043] Each thin plate piece 69A is formed as a separate component from the shaft 5 and can be attached (added later) to the outer circumference 5A of the shaft 5. In this case, each thin plate piece 69A is attached to the outer circumference 5A of the shaft 5 using fixing means such as screwing, welding, or adhesive. As another example, each thin plate piece 69A can be formed integrally with the shaft 5 (integral molding). The thin plate piece 69A is formed from a suitable material that can ensure vibration transmission. The material of the thin plate piece 69A may be, but is not limited to, plastic, fiber-reinforced plastic (FRP), metal, carbon, wood, fiberboard, particleboard, oriented strand board, or a composite material of multiple types of materials including the above-mentioned materials.

[0044] According to this inner part 69, when a golf ball is struck, the vibration generated in the head 3 is transmitted to the outer peripheral part 62 of the grip member 60 through the thin plate piece 69A forming the inner part 69. Here, the vibration is transmitted to the outer peripheral part 62 in a state emphasized in the thin plate piece 69A. Therefore, the golf club 1 having the inner part 69 according to the sixth embodiment described above can improve the hitting feeling. In addition, the same effects as those of the golf club 1 of the first embodiment can be obtained. Further, in the above inner part 69, an effect of further emphasizing the vibration can be obtained by resonance (sympathetic vibration) of adjacent thin plate pieces 69A due to vibration. It can be said that this inner part 69 has a resonance structure. Note that one or more through holes may be provided in each thin plate piece 69A to reduce the weight. Further, the above-mentioned ultra-fine resin fibers may be filled in the gaps in the inner part 69 where the thin plate pieces 69A are not provided. The ultra-fine resin fibers can be provided in contact or non-contact with the thin plate pieces 69A.

[0045] <Fin type (thin plate piece)> Fig. 9(A) is a longitudinal sectional view for explaining another example (seventh embodiment) of the grip 6. The grip 6 according to the seventh embodiment has the same configuration as the grip 6 of the sixth embodiment except that it has an inner part 70 forming a hitting vibration emphasizing mechanism 6A in the grip member 60, and the description of common elements will be appropriately omitted. This inner part 70 is composed of a thin plate piece 70A forming a transmission path for transmitting vibration from the outer periphery 5A of the shaft 5 to the outer peripheral part 62, and this thin plate piece 70A has surfaces extending in the axial direction D1 and the radial direction D2 of the shaft 5.

[0046] Fig. 9(B) is a cross-sectional view (cross-sectional view) of the inner part 70 taken along the line D-D. As shown in Fig. 9(B), a plurality of thin plate pieces 70A are arranged at intervals from each other around the axis of the shaft 5. Specifically, the plurality of thin plate pieces 70A form a thin plate shape (fin shape) extending radially from the outer periphery 5A as viewed from the axial direction D1, one end portion 70B contacts the inner peripheral surface 62A of the outer peripheral part 62, and the other end portion 70C contacts the outer periphery 5A of the shaft 5. Note that the thin plate piece 70A may be a single piece, and it is preferable to provide a plurality of them in order to improve the efficiency of vibration transmission.

[0047] Each thin plate piece 70A is formed as a separate member from the shaft 5 and can be attached (retrofitted) to the outer periphery 5A of the shaft 5. In this case, each thin plate piece 70A is attached to the outer periphery 5A of the shaft 5 using fixing means such as screwing, welding, or adhesion. As another example, each thin plate piece 70A can be integrally formed (formed integrally) with the shaft 5. The thin plate piece 70A is formed of an appropriate material that can ensure vibration transmissibility. The material of the thin plate piece 70A can be, for example, plastic, fiber-reinforced plastic (FRP), metal, carbon, glass fiber, wood, fiber board, particle board, oriented strand board, or a composite material of a plurality of types of materials including the above various materials, but is not limited thereto.

[0048] According to this inner portion 70, when a golf ball is struck, the vibration generated in the head 3 is transmitted to the outer peripheral portion 62 of the grip member 60 through the thin plate piece 70A forming the inner portion 70. Here, the vibration is transmitted to the outer peripheral portion 62 in a state where it is emphasized in the thin plate piece 70A. Therefore, the golf club 1 having the inner portion 70 according to the seventh embodiment described above can improve the hitting feeling. In addition, the same effects as those of the golf club 1 of the first embodiment can be obtained. Further, in the above inner portion 70, an effect of further emphasizing the vibration is obtained by resonance (sympathetic vibration) of adjacent thin plate pieces 70A with each other due to vibration. It can be said that this inner portion 70 has a resonance structure. In FIG. 9(B), a configuration example of the inner portion 70 in which the thin plate pieces 70A are provided one by one along the axial direction D1 of the grip 6 is shown. However, the inner portion 70' according to the modification may have a configuration in which a plurality of thin plate pieces 70A' are provided along the axial direction D1 of the grip 6 as shown in FIG. 9(C). In FIG. 9(C), some elements such as the outer peripheral portion 62 are omitted. One or more through holes may be provided in each of the thin plate pieces 70A and 70A' to reduce the weight. Further, the above-mentioned ultra-fine resin fibers may be filled in the gaps in the inner portion 70 where the thin plate pieces 70A and 70A' are not provided. The ultra-fine resin fibers can be provided in contact or non-contact with the thin plate pieces 70A and 70A'.

[0049] <Tuning Fork Type> Figure 10(A) is a longitudinal cross-sectional view illustrating another example of the grip 6 (eighth embodiment). The grip 6 according to the eighth embodiment has a configuration common to the grip 6 of the first embodiment, except that the grip member 60 has an inner portion 71 which forms a striking vibration enhancement mechanism 6A, and the explanation of common elements will be omitted as appropriate. The inner portion 71 includes a rising portion 71B that rises radially D2 from the outer circumference 5A of the shaft 5, and an extended portion 71C that is connected to the rising portion 71B and extends in the axial direction D1 of the shaft 5 and is provided to contact the outer circumference 62, and consists of a vibrating member 71A that forms a transmission path for transmitting vibration from the outer circumference 5A to the outer circumference 62.

[0050] In the vibrating member 71A shown in Figure 10(A), a rod-shaped rising portion 71B is provided on the lower end side (opposite side from the grip end) of the shaft 5, and an extension portion 71C is connected to the outer end of the rising portion 71B, which is located on the outside in the radial direction D2. The extension portion 71C is a rod-shaped part that extends from the outer end of the rising portion 71B in one direction in the axial direction D1 (in this case, the upper end side). The extension portion 71C is provided so as to be in contact with the inner circumferential surface 62A of the outer circumferential portion 62.

[0051] Figure 10(B) is a cross-sectional view (sectional plane) of the inner portion 71 taken along the line E-E. As shown in Figure 10(B), the two vibrating members 71A are arranged approximately 180° apart around the axis of the shaft 5. The two vibrating members 71A arranged in this manner are provided symmetrically (facing each other) with respect to the shaft 5, and can be said to be arranged in a tuning fork shape.

[0052] With this inner portion 71, vibrations generated in the head 3 when a golf ball is struck are transmitted to the outer circumference 62 of the grip member 60 through the vibrating members 71A that make up the inner portion 71. Here, the vibrations are transmitted to the outer circumference 62 in an amplified state by the vibrating members 71A. Therefore, the golf club 1 having the inner portion 71 according to the eighth embodiment described above can improve the feel of the shot. In addition, the same effects as the golf club 1 of the first embodiment can be obtained. Furthermore, in the inner portion 71 described above, the effect of further emphasizing the vibrations is obtained by the two vibrating members 71A resonating with each other due to vibration. This inner portion 71 can be said to have a resonant structure. Furthermore, the above-mentioned ultrafine resin fibers may be filled in the gaps in the inner portion 71 where there are no vibrating members 71A. The ultrafine resin fibers may be provided in contact with or without contact with the thin plate pieces 70A, 70A'.

[0053] <Octopus Leg Type> Figure 11(A) is a longitudinal cross-sectional view illustrating another example of the grip 6 (ninth embodiment), and Figure 11(B) is a cross-sectional view taken along the line F-F in Figure 11(A). While the inner portion 71 of the eighth embodiment described above has a tuning fork-shaped structure with two vibrating members 71A, the inner portion 72 of the ninth embodiment, as shown in Figures 11(A) and (B), has three or more (for example, eight) vibrating members 72A arranged at equal intervals from each other around the axis of the shaft 5. The multiple vibrating members 72A arranged in this way can be said to be provided from the shaft 5 in a so-called octopus leg shape. Each vibrating member 72A, similar to the vibrating member 71A described above, includes a rising portion 72B and an extension portion 72C connected to the rising portion 72B, forming a transmission path that transmits vibration from the outer circumference 5A to the outer circumference 62.

[0054] With this inner portion 72, vibrations generated in the head 3 when a golf ball is struck are transmitted to the outer circumference 62 of the grip member 60 through each vibrating member 72A that makes up the inner portion 72. Here, the vibrations are transmitted to the outer circumference 62 in an amplified state at each vibrating member 72A. Therefore, the golf club 1 having the inner portion 72 according to the ninth embodiment described above can improve the feel of the shot. In addition, the same effects as the golf club 1 of the first embodiment can be obtained. Furthermore, in the inner portion 72, the effect of further emphasizing the vibrations is obtained by the resonance (resonance) between adjacent vibrating members 72A due to vibration. This inner portion 72 can be said to have a resonant structure. Furthermore, the above-mentioned ultrafine resin fibers may be filled in the gaps in the inner portion 72 where no vibrating members 72A are provided. The ultrafine resin fibers may be provided in contact with or without contact with the vibrating members 72A.

[0055] Figures 12(A) and (B) show modified examples of the vibrating members 71A and 72A of the eighth and ninth embodiments described above. In the vibrating member 73A shown in Figure 12(A), a rising portion 73B is provided on the upper end side (grip end side) of the shaft 5, and an extension portion 73C extends from the outer end of the rising portion 73B to the other side in the axial direction D1 (in this case, the lower end side). In the vibrating member 74A shown in Figure 12(B), rising portions 74B are provided on both the upper end side (grip end side) and the lower end side of the shaft 5, and an extension portion 74C is provided to connect the outer ends of the rising portions 74B on the upper and lower ends. In addition, although not shown, both a vibrating member having an extension portion extending to the upper end side, like the vibrating member 71A, and a vibrating member having an extension portion extending to the lower end side, like the vibrating member 73A, may be provided. With these structures as well, the same effects as the golf club 1 of the eighth and ninth embodiments described above can be obtained. Furthermore, the ultrafine resin fibers may be filled into any gaps where no vibrating members are provided. The ultrafine resin fibers may be provided in contact with or without contact with the vibrating members.

[0056] Each vibrating member 71A to 74A is formed from a separate component from the shaft 5 and can be attached (added later) to the outer circumference 5A of the shaft 5. In this case, each vibrating member 71A to 74A is attached to the outer circumference 5A of the shaft 5 using fixing means such as screws or welding. As another example, each vibrating member 71A to 74A can be formed integrally with the shaft 5 (integral molding). The vibrating members 71A to 74A are formed from a suitable material that can ensure vibration transmission. The material of the thin plate piece 69A may be, but is not limited to, plastic, fiber-reinforced plastic (FRP), metal, carbon, fiberglass, wood, fiberboard, particleboard, oriented strand board, or a composite material of multiple types of materials including the above materials. The dimensions such as the thickness and length of each vibrating member 71A to 74A may be set as appropriate. The shape of each vibrating member 71A to 74A is also not limited to the illustrated example. Each vibrating member 71A to 74A is not limited to members having a circular cross-section; they may have any shape, such as a polygonal or arc-shaped cross-section. For example, Figures 12(C) to (D) illustrate various shapes of vibrating members 171 to 173 as variations in the shape of the vibrating members. Furthermore, the shape of the vibrating members is not limited to grips with a circular cross-section; it can be applied to grips with various cross-sectional shapes, such as the Odesser type, and can be formed in a shape suitable for the cross-sectional shape of the grip.

[0057] <FRP> Figure 13(A) is a longitudinal cross-sectional view illustrating another example of the grip 6 (tenth embodiment), and Figure 13(B) is a cross-sectional view (horizontal cross-section) taken along the line H-H in Figure 13(A). The grip 6 according to the tenth embodiment has a configuration common to the grip 6 of the first embodiment, except that the grip member 60 has an inner portion 75 that forms a striking vibration enhancement mechanism 6A, and the explanation of common elements will be omitted as appropriate.

[0058] The inner portion 75 is composed of a plastic layer 75A made of fiber-reinforced plastic (FRP). The plastic layer 75A is a cylindrical member made of fiber-reinforced plastic (FRP) and forms a vibration transmission path that transmits vibrations from the outer circumference 5A to the outer circumference 62. The plastic layer 75A is provided so that its inner surface 75B contacts the outer circumference 5A of the shaft 5 and its outer surface 75C contacts the outer circumference 62. The inner portion 75 is attached to the shaft 5 by known methods such as bonding or fitting. The inner portion 75 may be attached to the shaft 5 in a detachable manner, or it may be fixed in a non-detachable state.

[0059] In the grip member 60 having the inner portion 75, the outer periphery 62 can be formed from an exterior part (such as a sheet-like member, a molded member, or a coating layer) similar to that of the grip member 60 of the first embodiment described above. For the outer periphery 62 of the inner portion 75 having an FRP plastic layer 75A, a configuration using a sheet-like member or a coating layer is particularly preferable from the viewpoint of gripping properties such as feel and softness, as well as weight reduction.

[0060] With this inner portion 75, vibrations generated in the head 3 when a golf ball is struck are transmitted to the outer circumference 62 of the grip member 60 through the plastic layer 75A that makes up the inner portion 75. Here, the vibrations are transmitted to the outer circumference 62 in an amplified state in the plastic layer 75A. Therefore, the golf club 1 having the inner portion 75 according to the tenth embodiment described above can improve the feel of the shot. In addition, the same effects as the golf club 1 of the first embodiment can be obtained. Furthermore, with the inner portion 75, the effects of forming the plastic layer 75A from FRP are obtained, namely, improved vibration transmission, weight reduction, and ensured hardness. Also, as shown in the inner portion 75' in Figure 13(C), an intervening layer 75D made of a mesh member or fibers may be provided between the FRP plastic layer 75A and the shaft 5. Thus, a structure in which an intervening layer 75D made of mesh material or fibers is provided on the inside and an FRP plastic layer 75A is provided on the outside is a structure that mimics the barrier bars (opening and closing bars that open and close the entrances and exits of parking lots) at the entrances and exits of coin-operated parking lots, or in other words, a "parking lot barrier bar type structure".

[0061] Figure 14 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view illustrating another example of the grip 6 (the eleventh embodiment). This grip 6 has a large-diameter portion 76 as a striking vibration enhancement mechanism 6A, where the diameter of the other end (upper part) of the shaft 5 is formed to be thicker than the diameter of the other parts. In this case, instead of attaching a grip member to the shaft 5, the large-diameter portion 76, which is part of the shaft 5, functions as the grip 6. It can be said that the shaft 5 and the grip 6 form an integrated structure. The large-diameter portion 76 has a larger surface area than other parts of the shaft 5, making it easier to enhance vibrations. Furthermore, by making the wall thickness of the large-diameter portion 76 thinner, vibrations can be further enhanced. The size, design, and shape of the large-diameter portion 76 are freely adjustable. Therefore, a golf club 1 having the large-diameter portion 76 of the eleventh embodiment described above as a striking vibration enhancement mechanism 6A can improve the feel of the shot. Note that an outer periphery 62 (exterior part) may be provided on the large-diameter portion 76; that is, a tape member may be wrapped around the large-diameter portion 76, or it may be covered with a sheet member or cover member (sack), or a coating layer may be provided. In this case as well, the transmission characteristics of impact vibrations can be adjusted by setting the thickness of the outer circumference 62 and selecting the material.

[0062] <Electrical System> The golf club 1 according to each of the above embodiments may have electrical equipment such as sensors, computers, and batteries built into it. Figures 15(A) to (C) are longitudinal cross-sectional views illustrating an example of a configuration in which electrical equipment is built into the grip 6. Figure 15(A) is an example of a configuration in which a sensor (detection device) 80, a computer (communication device) 81, and a battery 82 are built into the hollow portion 5B of the shaft 5.

[0063] The sensor 80 includes, but is not limited to, a vibration sensor that detects vibrations amplified by the impact vibration amplification mechanism 6A, a grip strength sensor that measures the grip strength of the grip 6, a speed sensor that detects backstroke speed, follow-through speed, overall stroke speed, etc., an impact sensor that measures the impact when hitting the ball, an impact sensor that detects the shock when hitting the ball, and a vital sensor that detects various vital information such as pulse, heart rate, body temperature, water content, blood pressure, oxygen level, etc.

[0064] The computer 81 includes a sensor processing unit that processes detection signals from the sensor 80, and a communication device that communicates with external devices (e.g., a smartphone) via wired or wireless connection. The battery 82 supplies power to the sensor 80 and the computer 81. In this way, with the sensor 80, computer 81, and battery 82 built in, various information, including vibrations detected by the sensor 80 of the golf club 1, can be transmitted to an external device (e.g., a smartphone) via the computer 81. The external device can display the transmitted information and analysis results based on that information (such as impact force, vibration, swing speed, swing angle, swing trajectory, shaft trajectory, head trajectory, pendulum data, swing amplitude, stroke time, various numerical values, waveforms, number of putts, vital data, etc.) on a display device to visualize the information. The external device can manage the transmitted information (data management). In other words, the external device has an application program implemented to manage, analyze, store, and utilize the transmitted information. The functions of managing, analyzing, storing, and utilizing the various transmitted information described above can also be realized by AI functions implemented in the external device. Furthermore, the vibrations detected by the sensor 80 may be output as sound through an external speaker (e.g., a smartphone speaker) or earphones. These audiovisual outputs can be used for swing checks and impact sound checks. The connection between the computer 81 and the external device may be a wireless connection using existing technologies such as Bluetooth® or Wi-Fi, or a wired connection. Various information, including vibrations detected by the sensor 80 of the golf club 1, may be transmitted to a computer on a communication network providing a data center, cloud server, platform, etc., and managed by that computer.

[0065] Figure 15(B) shows an example configuration in which the sensor 80, computer 81, and battery 82 are built into the internal space 60B of the grip member 60. In this case, a striking vibration enhancement mechanism 6A is provided in a part of the grip member 60, and the part of the grip member 60 in which the striking vibration enhancement mechanism 6A is not provided forms the internal space 60B. The sensor 80, computer 81, and battery 82 can be housed in this internal space 60B. Figure 15(C) shows an example configuration in which an end cap 83 is provided at the upper end (so-called grip end) of the grip member 60, and the sensor 80, computer 81, and battery 82 are built into the end cap 83. Note that the configuration examples in Figures 15(A) to (C) may be combined as appropriate. That is, the sensor 80, computer 81, and battery 82 may be distributed and arranged in two or more locations inside the shaft 5, the internal space 60B of the grip member 60, and the end cap 83. Furthermore, a display unit 84 may be provided for displaying information detected by the sensor 80, etc. (see, for example, Figure 15(C)).

[0066] Furthermore, the sensor 80, computer 81, and battery 82 may be provided in locations other than the grip 6, or they may be distributed between the grip 6 and other locations. Also, at least one of the sensor 80, computer 81, and battery 82 may be built into the golf club 1. In addition, although not shown in detail, the grip 6 may be equipped with a camera or laser (radar) as the sensor 80. Furthermore, various electrical equipment such as a microphone, speaker, and GPS may be built into the grip 6. Information detected by the camera or laser can be used to analyze the trajectory and swing, transmit it to an external device, and use it in a virtual golf device (TrackMan function).

[0067] <Sheet-shaped sensor> Figure 16 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a grip 6 equipped with a thin sheet-shaped sensor 90 as a modified example of the sensor 80 described above. The sheet-shaped sensor 90 is provided so as to be wrapped around the grip 6 on the outer circumference 62. Any well-known method can be used to attach the sheet-shaped sensor 90 to the golf club 1. For example, the sheet-shaped sensor 90 can be attached by hook and loop fasteners. For example, the sheet-shaped member forming the outer circumference 62 may itself be configured as the sheet-shaped sensor 90. As an example, the sheet-shaped sensor 90 may be formed by weaving conductive fibers into the sheet-shaped member forming the outer circumference 62, and various information (for example, the vital information described above) can be detected by passing a weak current through the conductive fibers. Other examples of the sheet-shaped sensor 90 include a sheet-shaped sensor attached to the outer circumference 62 (tape type, bandage type, sticker type), or a small sensor attached to the outer circumference 62 with a tape member. Furthermore, if a metal wire is provided within the outer circumference 62, that metal wire may be used for transmitting electrical signals. Note that the sheet-shaped sensor is not limited to the grip 6 having the impact vibration amplification mechanism 6A, as in the golf club 1 of this embodiment, but can also be applied to grips without the impact vibration amplification mechanism 6A. The sheet-shaped sensor 90 may be wrapped around a part of the grip 6.

[0068] <Weight> Figure 17 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the grip 6 with a weight 91 built in. In the grip 6 shown in Figure 17, the weight 91 is built into the internal space 60B of the grip member 60 described in Figure 14(B). The weight 91 is a component for changing the center of gravity of the grip 6. In this case, the center of gravity can be changed by adjusting the mounting state (position, angle, and number) of the weight 91. The mounting state of the weight 91 may be manually adjustable by the user, or a weight motor 92 (drive source) may be provided to move the weight 91. The weight 91 can be moved, for example, in the axial direction D1 within the internal space 60B of the grip member 60. The weight 91 can be attached to any part of the grip 6. Furthermore, the weight 91 can be attached to any part of the golf club 1, not just the grip 6. The shape and weight of the weight 91 can also be freely set. In addition, the battery 82 may be repurposed as a weight.

[0069] <Other> In the impact vibration enhancement mechanism 6A according to the above-described embodiment, the structure of the inner part is an example and is not limited. For example, a net-like (mesh-like) net member (mesh member) made of resin fibers such as fiber-reinforced plastic or ultrafine resin fibers can be applied as the inner part. A specific example of a mesh member made of fiber-reinforced plastic or ultrafine resin fibers is a mesh member made by weaving a string made of fiber-reinforced plastic into a flat net-like (mesh-like) structure. The inner part can be formed by winding such a mesh member around the outer circumference 5A of the shaft 5 once or more times. Another example of the structure of the inner part is a structure (praying mantis egg structure) in which a sponge layer (porous layer) that combines elasticity and stiffness that can transmit vibrations is formed using, for example, rubber, polyurethane, or resin. For example, the inner part 61 may be made of a sponge layer (porous layer) made of rubber, polyurethane, or resin with many spaces (gaps) inside. Alternatively, the inner part may be constructed from a layer of microfibers formed from materials such as rubber and polyurethane, with these microfibers intertwined irregularly and three-dimensionally.

[0070] Another example of the inner structure is a structure using a hollow straw member (straw structure). Also, in the impact vibration amplification mechanism 6A according to each embodiment, the inner part may be configured so that the outer periphery 62 is not provided, and the user directly grips the outer periphery surface of the inner part. Another example of the inner part is that it may be composed of a bag filled with air or liquid. Another example of the inner part is a rigid frame structure in which a pair of columnar bodies erected from the shaft 5 are provided spaced apart in the axial direction D1, and beam bodies are erected on the ends of these columnar bodies opposite to the shaft 5 (the ends on the radial side D2). In this case, the columnar bodies and beam bodies form a transmission path that transmits vibrations transmitted to the shaft 5 to the palm.

[0071] Furthermore, the inner part of the impact vibration enhancement mechanism 6A may be formed integrally with the shaft 5, or it may be formed separately (added later) from the shaft 5 and be detachably attached to the shaft 5. If the inner part is formed separately (added later) from the shaft 5, the inner part can be fixed to the shaft 5 by welding, screwing, adhesive, adhesive tape, etc. Also, as shown in Figure 18, an adhesive layer 102 for bonding the impact vibration enhancement mechanism 6A (inner part) to the shaft 5 may be provided on the outer circumference 5A of the shaft 5. By providing the adhesive layer 102, the work of attaching the inner part to the shaft 5 is made easier, and the ease of attachment of the inner part to the shaft 5 (ease of attachment, difficulty of coming off after attachment) is improved. The adhesive layer 102 can be provided in the impact vibration enhancement mechanism 6A (inner part) according to each of the above embodiments.

[0072] Users can select the impact vibration enhancement mechanism 6A according to their preference based on each embodiment described above. That is, the vibration transmission characteristics (waveform of transmitted vibrations) may differ depending on the structure of the inner part of the impact vibration enhancement mechanism 6A according to each embodiment. Therefore, it is best for users to use a grip 6 that exhibits vibration transmission characteristics according to their own preference. Furthermore, the detailed structure of the inner part of the impact vibration enhancement mechanism 6A according to each embodiment described above can be personalized (tuned for each individual) according to each user's feel for hitting and how they receive impact vibrations. In addition, the combination of each component of the grip 6 is completely flexible. For example, users can freely choose the material, design, shape, etc.

[0073] Furthermore, in the impact vibration enhancement mechanism 6A according to each embodiment described above, the inner part may have a multi-layer structure of two or more layers. In this case, the inner part may have multiple layers of the same structure, or inner parts of different structures may be combined. Another example of the impact vibration enhancement mechanism 6A is an impact vibration enhancement mechanism in which a part of the hollow shaft 5 (the upper end portion) is formed with a thinner wall thickness than the rest of the shaft 5. In this case, the vibration can be enhanced by the thinner wall thickness of the shaft 5. In this case, the transmission characteristics of the impact vibration can be adjusted by adjusting the wall thickness of the shaft 5. Furthermore, an outer periphery 62 (exterior part) may be provided on a part of the shaft 5 that forms the grip 6 (the upper end portion), that is, a tape member may be wrapped around the part of the shaft 5 that forms the grip 6 (the upper end portion), covered with a cover member, or a coating layer may be provided. In this case as well, the transmission characteristics of the impact vibration can be adjusted by setting the thickness of the outer periphery 62 and selecting the material.

[0074] The golf club 1 in this embodiment is not limited to a putter, but can be any type, such as a driver or iron. The materials used for each part of the golf club 1 (head 3, hosel 4, shaft 5, grip 6) can be any material, such as stainless steel, titanium, soft iron, bronze, aluminum, aluminum alloy, aluminum, copper, carbon, plastic, nanocellulose, carbon nanofiber, Japanese paper, leather, polyacetal, PET, glass, aluminum fiber, chemical fiber, resin, polypropylene, nanocellulose, polyester, wood, cork, FRP, etc. The materials used for the inner and outer parts are not limited to those mentioned above. For the inner part, it is preferable to use a material that can enhance vibration transmission, and for the outer part, it is preferable to use a material that does not hinder vibration transmission and has good grip (comfort).

[0075] The impact vibration enhancement mechanism 6A according to each embodiment described above can be used not only for golf clubs, but also for other sports equipment such as baseball bats, tennis rackets, and table tennis rackets. Furthermore, as shown in Figure 19, a module 100 for attaching electrical equipment such as sensors, computers, batteries, cameras, lasers, radars, microphones, and speakers may be attached to the grip 6 on the opposite side (head side, lower side) from the upper end (grip end). The module 100 incorporates various electrical equipment including sensors, computers, batteries, cameras, lasers, radars, microphones, speakers, and GPS. By attaching this module 100 to the grip 6, the electrical equipment can be mounted on the grip 6. The module 100 may be detachable from the grip 6. The placement of the module 100 is not limited to the figures and can be any location. It is preferable that the camera, laser, and microphone included in the module 100 are provided so as not to interfere with the area gripped by the grip 6. Some of the above-mentioned electrical equipment may be provided outside the module 100.

[0076] Furthermore, various electrical equipment, including sensors, computers, batteries, cameras, lasers, radars, microphones, and speakers, may be incorporated into the sheet-like member forming the outer periphery 62 of the grip 6. Figure 20 shows an example configuration in which electrical equipment 101, including a battery for supplying power and a computer for processing the output signal of the sheet-like sensor 90, is incorporated into a sheet-like sensor 90, which is an example of a sheet-like member forming the outer periphery 62 of the grip 6. The arrangement of the electrical equipment 101 is not limited to the figure and may be at any location. It is preferable that the camera, laser, and microphone included in the electrical equipment 101 incorporated into the sheet-like member are provided so as not to interfere with the area gripped by the grip 6. The above-mentioned modules and sheet-like members (detection devices) for attaching various sensors, including vibration sensors, and electrical equipment such as computers, batteries, cameras, lasers, radars, microphones, and speakers to the golf club 1 may be deployed at any location on the golf club 1, such as any location on the shaft 5, rather than just on the grip 6 (including the grip 6 according to this embodiment and other existing grips). In other words, the detection device described above is installed near the grip 6 on the shaft 5.

[0077] 1, 1A, 1B Golf club 2 Hitting surface 3 Head 4 Hosel 5 Shaft 5A Outer circumference 5B Hollow section 6 Grip 6A Impact vibration enhancement mechanism 60 Grip member 60B Internal space 61 Inner section 61A Inner surface 61B Outer surface 61D Ultrafine resin fiber 62 Outer surface 62A Inner surface 63 Inner section 63A Truss structure 63B Apex 63C Base 64 Inner section 64A Truss structure 65, 66 Inner section (honeycomb structure) 65A, 66A Wall section 65B Outer edge 65C Inner edge 67 Inner section (brush structure) 67A Bristle member 67B One end 67C Other end 68 Inner section (pole structure) 68A Rod-shaped member 68B One end 68C Other end 69 Inner part 69A Thin plate piece 69B One end 69C Other end 70 Inner part 70A Thin plate piece 70B One end 70C Other end 71, 72 Inner part 71A-74A Vibrating member 71B-74B Rising part 71C-74C Extending part 75 Inner part 75A Plastic layer 75B Inner surface 75C Outer surface 76 Large diameter part 80 Sensor (detection device) 81 Computer (communication device) 82 Battery 83 End cap 84 Display 90 Sheet-shaped sensor 91 Weight 92 Motor for weight 100 Module 101 Electrical equipment 102 Adhesive layer

Claims

1. A golf club comprising a shaft formed in an axial shape, a head provided on one end of the shaft and having a striking surface for striking a golf ball, and a grip provided on the other end of the shaft for being held by the user, wherein the grip has a striking vibration enhancement mechanism that amplifies the vibrations generated when the golf ball is struck by the striking surface and transmitted through the shaft, and transmits them to the user.

2. The golf club according to claim 1, wherein the grip includes a grip member provided on the outer circumference of the other end of the shaft and held by the user, and the grip member has the impact vibration amplification mechanism.

3. The golf club according to claim 2, wherein the grip member is provided as the impact vibration amplification mechanism between the outer circumference held by the user and the outer circumference of the shaft, such that a part of it contacts the outer circumference and the other part contacts the outer circumference, and has an inner part that transmits the vibration from the outer circumference to the outer circumference.

4. The golf club according to claim 3, characterized in that the inner part is composed of a fiber layer in which ultrafine resin fibers are intertwined three-dimensionally and irregularly.

5. The golf club according to claim 3, characterized in that the inner portion consists of a truss-type structure in which a plurality of triangular truss bodies forming a transmission path for transmitting the vibration from the outer circumference to the outer circumference are provided in the axial direction of the shaft.

6. The golf club according to claim 3, characterized in that the inner portion consists of a honeycomb structure in which the wall portion forming a transmission path for transmitting the vibration from the outer circumference to the outer circumference is assembled in a honeycomb shape.

7. The golf club according to claim 3, characterized in that the inner portion consists of a brush-type structure in which a plurality of hair-like members forming a transmission path for transmitting the vibration from the outer circumference to the outer circumference are provided on the outer circumference of the shaft.

8. The golf club according to claim 3, characterized in that the inner portion consists of a pole-type structure in which a plurality of axial members forming a transmission path for transmitting the vibration from the outer circumference to the outer circumference are provided on the outer circumference of the shaft.

9. The golf club according to claim 3, wherein the inner portion consists of a plurality of thin plate pieces forming a transmission path for transmitting the vibration from the outer circumference to the outer circumference, and the thin plate pieces have surfaces extending in the radial direction of the shaft and around the axis of the shaft, and are arranged spaced apart in the axial direction of the shaft.

10. The golf club according to claim 3, wherein the inner portion consists of a plurality of thin plate pieces forming a transmission path for transmitting the vibration from the outer circumference to the outer circumference, and the plurality of thin plate pieces have surfaces extending in the axial direction and radial direction of the shaft, and are arranged spaced apart around the axis of the shaft.

11. The golf club according to claim 3, wherein the inner portion comprises a vibrating member including a rising portion that rises from the outer circumference in the radial direction of the shaft and an extended portion that is connected to the rising portion, extends in the axial direction of the shaft, and is provided to contact the outer circumference, and the vibrating member forms a transmission path for transmitting the vibration from the outer circumference to the outer circumference.

12. The golf club according to claim 11, characterized in that the two vibrating members are arranged at a distance of approximately 180° from each other around the axis of the shaft.

13. The golf club according to claim 11, characterized in that a plurality of the vibrating members are arranged radially at equal intervals around the axis of the shaft when viewed from the axial direction.

14. The golf club according to claim 3, characterized in that the inner part is composed of a plastic layer made of fiber-reinforced plastic.

15. The golf club according to claim 3, characterized in that the outer periphery consists of an outer casing that encloses the outer periphery of the inner portion.

16. The golf club according to claim 15, characterized in that the exterior portion includes a sheet-like member wrapped around the outer circumferential surface of the inner portion.

17. The golf club according to claim 15, characterized in that the exterior portion consists of a coating layer applied to the outer surface of the inner portion.

18. The golf club according to claim 1, wherein the grip is a part of the shaft and is composed of a large-diameter portion formed such that the diameter of the other end of the shaft is thicker than the other part, and the large-diameter portion constitutes the impact vibration enhancement mechanism.

19. The golf club according to claim 1, characterized in that it is provided with a detection device that includes at least a vibration sensor for detecting the vibration amplified by the impact vibration amplification mechanism.

20. The golf club according to claim 19, characterized in that the detection device further includes a vital sensor for detecting the user's vital information.

21. The golf club according to claim 19, characterized in that it is provided with a communication device for transmitting information detected by the detection device to an external device.

22. The golf club according to claim 19, characterized in that it is provided with a display that displays information detected by the detection device.

23. The golf club according to claim 19, characterized in that the detection device is built into the hollow shaft.

24. The golf club according to claim 2, characterized in that a detection device including at least a vibration sensor for detecting the vibration amplified by the impact vibration amplification mechanism is built into the grip member.

25. The golf club according to claim 19, characterized in that the detection device is a sheet-shaped sensor wound around the outer circumference of the grip.

26. The golf club according to claim 25, characterized in that the sheet-like sensor is composed of conductive fibers.

27. The golf club according to claim 2, characterized in that a weight is incorporated into the grip member.

28. The golf club according to claim 27, characterized in that the weight is movable in the axial direction of the shaft inside the grip member.

29. The golf club according to claim 1, characterized in that the impact vibration enhancement mechanism is composed of a portion of the hollow upper end of the shaft that is thinner in wall thickness than the rest of the shaft.

30. The golf club according to claim 19, characterized in that the detection device is provided on the shaft near the grip.

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