Golf glove and method of forming same

Abstract

A method of fitting a golf glove which includes the steps of: measuring a golfer's hand and retrieving measurement data; constructing a glove according to the measurement data, the glove including a glove portion having finger and thumb portions, dorsal and palm portions and a wrist portion. The dorsal and palm portions being designed to meet along a conjoining lateral edge to define a pocket for receiving the eminence of a golfer's hand. The glove also includes a pad made from a elastomeric, non-flowing gel-like polymer. The method also includes the step of positioning and dimensioning the pad adjacent the palm portion of the glove according to the measurement data such that the pad closely abuts a golf club grip which is held by the golfer during play. The pad is preferably positioned and dimensioned to protect the various aspects of the golfer's hand from shock and the translation of detrimental shock-related forces due to ball-to-club impact.

1 - 8 . (canceled).  
     
     
         9 . A method of fitting a golf glove to protect a golfer from injury, the method comprising the steps of: 
 measuring a golfer's hand and retrieving measurement data;    placing at least one bio-feedback sensor on or proximate a golfer's hand;    allowing a golfer to swing a golf club to make contact with an object;    retrieving information from the at least one bio-feedback sensor relating to shock forces associated with the impact of the golf club on the object;    mapping the shock forces associated with the golf club on the object; and    constructing a glove according to said measurement data and information received from said at least one bio-feedback sensors and positioning at least one pad relevant to a golfer's hand to reduce the shock forces associated with the golf club on the object.    
     
     
         10 . A method of fitting a golf glove to protect a golfer from injury according to  claim 9  wherein after said mapping step the method includes the step of: 
 comparing the received information with a database of known injuries and relative placement of a pad relevant to a golfer's hand to protect a golfer from the onset of such injuries.  
 
     
     
         11 . A method of fitting a golf glove to protect a golfer from injury according to  claim 9  wherein the glove of said constructing step includes: 
 a glove portion having finger and thumb portions, dorsal and palm portions and a wrist portion, said dorsal and palm portions meeting along conjoining lateral edges to define a pocket for receiving the eminence of a golfer's hand;  
 a pad positioned in accordance with the information received from said at least one bio-feedback sensor, said pad being made from an elastomeric, non-flowing gel.  
 
     
     
         12 . A method of fitting a golf glove to protect a golfer from injury according to  claim 9  wherein said measuring step includes using a computer program to retrieve said measurement data.  
     
     
         13 . A method of fitting a golf glove to protect a golfer from injury according to  claim 9  wherein said at least one pad is positioned to substantially cover the palmar side of the hypothenar eminence of the golfer's hand.  
     
     
         14 . A method of fitting a golf glove to protect a golfer from injury, the method comprising the steps of: 
 a) measuring a golfer's hand and retrieving measurement data;    b) placing at least one bio-feedback sensor on or proximate a golfer's hand;    c) allowing a golfer to swing a golf club to make contact with an object;    d) retrieving information from the at least one bio-feedback sensor relating to shock forces associated with the impact of the golf club on the object;    e) mapping the shock forces associated with the golf club on the object;    f) positioning a pad on or proximate a golfer's hand and repeating step b through step e until the shock forces associated with the impact of the golf club on the object are reduced to a predetermined level; and    g) constructing a glove according to said measurement data and information received from said at least one bio-feedback sensors and positioning at least one pad relevant to a golfer's hand to reduce the shock forces associated with the golf club on the object.