Golf grip

Abstract

A golf grip that provides a user with tactile feedback is provided. The golf grip includes a grip body having an upper portion, a lower portion, a grip length, a proximal end, a distal end, and an exterior body surface. The exterior body surface is defined by a first octant, a second octant, a third octant, a fourth octant, a fifth octant, a sixth octant, a seventh octant, and an eighth octant. The golf grip includes at least a first tactile channel that extends longitudinally along the exterior body surface and is confined to a first tactile octant. The first tactile channel is formed with dimensions specifically tailored to harness the user's natural attributes of sensibility, proprioception, and neuromuscular memory to improve the user's ability to consistently hit a golf ball on the center of a golf club.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A golf grip ( 100 ) comprising:
 a grip body ( 101 ) having an upper portion ( 102 ), a lower portion ( 103 ), a grip length ( 110 ), a proximal end ( 120 ), a distal end ( 130 ), and an exterior body surface ( 160 ), wherein the exterior body surface ( 160 ) is defined by a first octant ( 161 ), a second octant ( 162 ), a third octant ( 163 ), a fourth octant ( 164 ), a fifth octant ( 165 ), a sixth octant ( 166 ), a seventh octant ( 167 ), and an eighth octant ( 168 );   at least a first tactile channel ( 200   a ) extending longitudinally along the exterior body surface ( 160 ) and confined to a first tactile octant, wherein the first tactile octant is selected from the group consisting of the first octant ( 161 ), the second octant ( 162 ), the third octant ( 163 ), the fourth octant ( 164 ), the fifth octant ( 165 ), the sixth octant ( 166 ), the seventh octant ( 167 ), and the eighth octant ( 168 ), the first tactile channel ( 200   a ) having a first tactile channel length ( 210   a ), a first tactile channel width ( 220   a ) of at least 2.0 millimeters and less than 5.0 millimeters, and a first tactile channel depth ( 230   a ) of at least 0.5 millimeters, wherein the only palpable indicia within a fingertip gripping region ( 104 ) of the first tactile octant is the first tactile channel ( 200   a ), and wherein the first tactile channel ( 200   a ) provides a user with tactile feedback by two-point discrimination when gripping the golf grip ( 100 );   at least a second tactile channel ( 200   b ) extending longitudinally along the exterior body surface ( 160 ) and confined to a second tactile octant, wherein the second tactile octant is selected from the group consisting of the first octant ( 161 ), the second octant ( 162 ), the third octant ( 163 ), the fourth octant ( 164 ), the fifth octant ( 165 ), the sixth octant ( 166 ), the seventh octant ( 167 ), and the eighth octant ( 168 ) that does not include the first tactile channel ( 200   a ), the second tactile channel ( 200   b ) having a second tactile channel length ( 210   b ), a second tactile channel width ( 220   b ) of at least 2.0 millimeters and less than 5.0 millimeters, and a second tactile channel depth ( 230   b ) of at least 0.5 millimeters, wherein the only palpable indicia within a fingertip gripping region ( 104 ) of the second tactile octant is the second tactile channel ( 200   b ), and wherein the second tactile channel ( 200   b ) provides a user with tactile feedback by two-point discrimination when gripping the golf grip ( 100 ).   
     
     
         2 . The golf grip ( 100 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the first tactile octant and the second tactile octant are not adjacent to one another. 
     
     
         3 . The golf grip ( 100 ) according to  claim 2 , wherein at least two octants selected from the group consisting of the first octant ( 161 ), the second octant ( 162 ), the third octant ( 163 ), the fourth octant ( 164 ), the fifth octant ( 165 ), the sixth octant ( 166 ), the seventh octant ( 167 ), and the eighth octant ( 168 ) that do not include the first tactile channel ( 200   a ) and the second tactile channel ( 200   b ), have no palpable indicia within the fingertip gripping region ( 104 ). 
     
     
         4 . The golf grip ( 100 ) according to  claim 3 , wherein the first tactile channel length ( 210   a ) is at least 50 percent of the grip length ( 110 ). 
     
     
         5 . The golf grip ( 100 ) according to  claim 4 , wherein the first tactile channel depth ( 230   a ) is twenty-five to fifty percent of the first tactile channel width ( 220   a ), and the second tactile channel depth ( 230   b ) is twenty-five to fifty percent of the second tactile channel width ( 220   b ). 
     
     
         6 . The golf grip ( 100 ) according to  claim 5 , wherein the first tactile channel depth ( 230   a ) is 0.5-1.0 millimeters, and the second tactile channel depth ( 230   b ) is 0.5-1.0 millimeters. 
     
     
         7 . The golf grip ( 100 ) according to  claim 6 , wherein the first tactile channel ( 200   a ) has distinct exterior corner edges adjacent the outermost exterior body surface ( 160 ) with a radius of curvature of 0.35 millimeters or less, and the second tactile channel ( 200   b ) has distinct exterior corner edges adjacent the outermost exterior body surface ( 160 ) with a radius of curvature of 0.35 millimeters or less. 
     
     
         8 . The golf grip ( 100 ) according to  claim 7 , wherein at least one wall of the first tactile channel ( 200   a ) includes visual indicia of a color that contrasts with the color of the exterior body surface ( 160 ). 
     
     
         9 . The golf grip ( 100 ) according to  claim 8 , wherein the first tactile channel width ( 220   a ) is 2.0-3.0 millimeters, and the second tactile channel width ( 220   b ) is 2.0-3.0 millimeters. 
     
     
         10 . The golf grip ( 100 ) according to  claim 9 , wherein the first tactile channel ( 200   a ) and the second tactile channel ( 200   b ) are spaced at least 90 degrees apart around the circumference of the exterior body surface ( 160 ). 
     
     
         11 . The golf grip ( 100 ) according to  claim 10 , wherein the grip body ( 101 ) has a substantially circular cross-section throughout the grip length ( 110 ). 
     
     
         12 . The golf grip ( 100 ) according to  claim 11 , wherein the golf grip ( 100 ) has a durometer value of at least 65 Shore A on the hardness scale. 
     
     
         13 . The golf grip ( 100 ) according to  claim 12 , wherein the at least two octants having no palpable indicia within the fingertip gripping region ( 104 ) are not adjacent to one another. 
     
     
         14 . A golf grip ( 100 ) comprising:
 a grip body ( 101 ) having an upper portion ( 102 ), a lower portion ( 103 ), a grip length ( 110 ), a proximal end ( 120 ), a distal end ( 130 ), and an exterior body surface ( 160 ), wherein the exterior body surface ( 160 ) is defined by a first octant ( 161 ), a second octant ( 162 ), a third octant ( 163 ), a fourth octant ( 164 ), a fifth octant ( 165 ), a sixth octant ( 166 ), a seventh octant ( 167 ), and an eighth octant ( 168 );   at least a first tactile channel ( 200   a ) extending longitudinally along the exterior body surface ( 160 ) and confined to a first tactile octant, wherein the first tactile octant is selected from the group consisting of the first octant ( 161 ), the second octant ( 162 ), the third octant ( 163 ), the fourth octant ( 164 ), the fifth octant ( 165 ), the sixth octant ( 166 ), the seventh octant ( 167 ), and the eighth octant ( 168 ), the first tactile channel ( 200   a ) having a first tactile channel length ( 210   a ) that is at least 50 percent of the grip length ( 110 ), a first tactile channel width ( 220   a ) of at least 2.0 millimeters and less than 5.0 millimeters, and a first tactile channel depth ( 230   a ) of at least 0.5 millimeters and is twenty-five to fifty percent of the first tactile channel width ( 220   a ), wherein the only palpable indicia within a fingertip gripping region ( 104 ) of the first tactile octant is the first tactile channel ( 200   a ), and wherein the first tactile channel ( 200   a ) provides a user with tactile feedback by two-point discrimination when gripping the golf grip ( 100 );   at least a second tactile channel ( 200   b ) extending longitudinally along the exterior body surface ( 160 ) and confined to a second tactile octant, wherein the second tactile octant is selected from the group consisting of the first octant ( 161 ), the second octant ( 162 ), the third octant ( 163 ), the fourth octant ( 164 ), the fifth octant ( 165 ), the sixth octant ( 166 ), the seventh octant ( 167 ), and the eighth octant ( 168 ) that does not include the first tactile channel ( 200   a ) and the first tactile octant and the second tactile octant are not adjacent to one another, the second tactile channel ( 200   b ) having a second tactile channel length ( 210   b ) that is at least 50 percent of the grip length ( 110 ), a second tactile channel width ( 220   b ) of at least 2.0 millimeters and less than 5.0 millimeters, and a second tactile channel depth ( 230   b ) of at least 0.5 millimeters and is twenty-five to fifty percent of the second tactile channel width ( 220   b ), wherein the only palpable indicia within a fingertip gripping region ( 104 ) of the second tactile octant is the second tactile channel ( 200   b ), and wherein the second tactile channel ( 200   b ) provides a user with tactile feedback by two-point discrimination when gripping the golf grip ( 100 ); and   wherein at least two octants selected from the group consisting of the first octant ( 161 ), the second octant ( 162 ), the third octant ( 163 ), the fourth octant ( 164 ), the fifth octant ( 165 ), the sixth octant ( 166 ), the seventh octant ( 167 ), and the eighth octant ( 168 ) that do not include the first tactile channel ( 200   a ) and the second tactile channel ( 200   b ), have no palpable indicia within the fingertip gripping region ( 104 ).   
     
     
         15 . The golf grip ( 100 ) according to  claim 14 , wherein the first tactile channel depth ( 230   a ) is 0.5-1.0 millimeters, and the second tactile channel depth ( 230   b ) is 0.5-1.0 millimeters. 
     
     
         16 . The golf grip ( 100 ) according to  claim 15 , wherein the first tactile channel ( 200   a ) has distinct exterior corner edges adjacent the outermost exterior body surface ( 160 ) with a radius of curvature of 0.35 millimeters or less, and the second tactile channel ( 200   b ) has distinct exterior corner edges adjacent the outermost exterior body surface ( 160 ) with a radius of curvature of 0.35 millimeters or less. 
     
     
         17 . The golf grip ( 100 ) according to  claim 16 , wherein at least one wall of the first tactile channel ( 200   a ) includes visual indicia of a color that contrasts with the color of the exterior body surface ( 160 ). 
     
     
         18 . The golf grip ( 100 ) according to  claim 17 , wherein the first tactile channel width ( 220   a ) is 2.0-3.0 millimeters, and the second tactile channel width ( 220   b ) is 2.0-3.0 millimeters. 
     
     
         19 . The golf grip ( 100 ) according to  claim 18 , wherein the first tactile channel ( 200   a ) and the second tactile channel ( 200   b ) are spaced at least 90 degrees apart around the circumference of the exterior body surface ( 160 ). 
     
     
         20 . The golf grip ( 100 ) according to  claim 19 , wherein the grip body ( 101 ) has a substantially circular cross-section throughout the grip length ( 110 ).