Polygonal Putter Grip With Thumb Alignment and Concave Rear Surface
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for an improved putter grip that promotes a natural and consistent putting stroke while adhering to equipment guidelines, and provides ergonomic comfort for the golfer's non-dominant hand.
Innovation Solution
A pistol grip with a polygonal cross-section, such as an irregular pentagon, featuring an alignment strip that widens toward the lower end, a rear-facing concave surface for ergonomic comfort, and a textured grip sleeve made of materials like polyurethane or thermoplastic polyurethane, integrated with a rigid underlisting, which can be assembled to align with the putter head for optimal grip positioning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If a pistol grip with enlarged cross-sectional area toward the butt-end is used, then the grip surface for the non-dominant hand is enlarged, but the grip complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The grip is divided into distinct functional zones: a pistol grip section with enlarged cross-sectional area for the non-dominant hand, and a handle section with reduced cross-sectional area for the dominant hand. This segmentation allows each zone to be optimized for its specific function while maintaining overall simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the grip have different cross-sectional areas tailored to their specific functions. The pistol grip portion has an enlarged area for comfort and control of the non-dominant hand, while the handle portion has a reduced area for precise control by the dominant hand.
2Ease of operation
If an irregular pentagon cross-section with alignment strip is used, then thumb placement alignment is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The grip employs an irregular pentagon cross-section with an asymmetric alignment strip that is wider at one end than the other. This asymmetric design provides visual and tactile cues for proper thumb placement while maintaining manufacturability through standard molding techniques.
3Ease of operation
If a textured grip sleeve with lower durometer is used, then grip comfort and traction are improved, but material complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The grip utilizes a composite construction with a textured grip sleeve made of a softer material (lower durometer) over a rigid underlisting. This composite approach provides both comfort through the softer outer layer and structural integrity through the rigid inner layer, while both components can be formed from common polymer materials.
Data Source
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AI summary
An improved putter grip is provided. The putter grip includes an alignment strip oriented lengthwise on the front-facing surface of the putter grip, the alignment strip widening toward the lower end of the putter grip for placement of the golfer's thumbs. The putter grip includes a polygonal cross-sectional area that increases toward the upper end of the elongated handle, and the butt end is rearwardly offset relative to the longitudinal axis of a shaft opening. In addition, the rear-facing surface of the putter grip is outwardly concave when viewed from a side direction to provide an ergonomic gripping surface for the golfer's non-dominant hand.