Many occupations, hobbies and sports require that the handle or support of an article is gripped correctly. One such sport in the sport of golf, whereby having the correct grip is the key to good golf.

Training aids for teaching golfers how to hold a golf club correctly are well known. One such device comprises a plastics tube or sleeve which is slid onto the grip of the golf club and which comprises external markings or profiles which show the golfer where the hands should be placed.

One disadvantage of this is that the device increases the overall diameter of the grip and thereby provides a different feel to that which would be experienced when the club is used normally.

Another disadvantage is that the relative position of the left and right hand positions cannot be adjusted.

Accordingly, the device is unsuitable for golfers who require their right and left hands to be placed in different relative positions to that provided on the device.

We have now devised a device for training persons how to grip the handle or support of an article such as a golf club correctly.

In accordance with this invention, there is provided a training device for training persons how to grip the handle or support of an article, the device comprising a collar arranged to embrace the handle or support, the edge of one axial end of the collar being profiled to provide an axially-extending cut away portion which defines a position for receiving one of the person's fingers.

In use, the device is fitted around the handle or support and is correctly positioned so that the cut-away lies where the user should place one of their fingers: if necessary a skilled person may assist in the correct positioning of the

device.

The user then grips the handle or support ensuring that the relevant finger extends into the cut-away.

Since only the user's finger is extending into a cut- away in the device, the handle or support can be gripped in the normal way and thus there is no difference in the feel of the handle or support between when the device is fitted and when it is not.

Two such devices may be provided at axially separated portions on the handle or support, respectively indicating where the user should place a finger of the right and left hand.

Thus, also in accordance with this invention there is provided an article having a handle or support, and a collar embracing the handle or support, the edge of one axial end of the collar being profiled to provide an axially extending cut- away portion which defines a position for receiving one of the persons fingers.

The article may be a golf club, fishing rod, cricket bat or any other article which has to be held correctly.

Preferably the handle or support is elongate, two of said devices being provided at spaced apart axial locations on the handle or support for respectively indicating where the user should place the relevant finger of their right and left hands.

The position of the cut-away portion of the two devices can be independently adjusted both axially and circumferentially of the handle or support and thus the relative positioning of the user's hand is adjustable.

Preferably the collar is C-shaped and is formed of a resiliently flexible material such as plastics.

Preferably the edge of said end of the collar curves axially and circumferentially towards the opposite end of the collar and then axially and circumferentially away from the opposite end of the collar to provide a cut-away which has a

profile substantially corresponding to the outline of the end of the finger which it is intended to receive.

Preferably the wall thickness of the collar tapers inwardly towards the cut-away, preferably over a region adjacent said edge.

Preferably an index mark is provided on an edge of the collar for aligning with a mark or line on the handle or support.

Golf clubs, for example, generally comprise a reference line running axially of the front of the handgrip, in line with the head of the club. Thus, the index mark can be aligned with this line to bring the cut-away to approximately the correct position for the hand. Some persons grip may need to deviate from this, and thus a group of circumferentially spaced reference markings may be provided on opposite sides of the index mark.

In order that the user can replace the device at the correct position after it has been removed, axially-extending grooves are preferably formed at circumferential points around one end of the collar, the user being able to draw in the groove to provide an indication point for aligning with a corresponding point provided on the handle or support.

The grooves preferably provide said circumferentially spaced reference markings.

In golf, when using two devices, it is normal for right handed players to have the cut-away of the lower device (which defines the position for the thumb of their right hand) slightly to the left of the line on the hand grip and the cut- away of the upper device (which defines the position for the thumb of their left hand) slightly to the right of the line.

Accordingly, preferably two index marks are provided at circumferentially spaced positions for use depending on whether the device is being used for the left or right hand.

Also in accordance with this invention, there is provided a method of training persons how to grip the handle

or support of an article, the method comprising providing a collar profiled at one end to form a cut-away portion, engaging the collar onto the handle or support with said end facing towards the point where the handle or support should be gripped, and adjusting the axial and rotational position of the collar on the handle or support to a position where the cut- away defines the desired position for a finger of the user's hand on the handle or support.

Preferably two collars are engaged onto the handle, each collar being positioned as described above for receiving the fingers of respective hands.

Preferably said end of each collar faces in the same direction on the handle or support.

An embodiment of this invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a golf grip training device in accordance with this invention; Figure 2 is a side view of the device of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a top view of the device of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a front view of the device of Figure 1; and Figure 5 is a perspective view showing the device of Figure 1 when fitted to a golf club.

Referring to Figures 1-4 of the drawings, there is shown a device for training persons how to grip a golf club correctly, the device consisting of a C-shaped collar formed as one-piece moulding of plastics material.

The collar comprises a lower axial end edge 10, which lies in a plane extending normal to the longitudinal axis of the collar, and an upper axial end edge 11, which curves inwardly and then outwardly between two points P circumferentially separated by approximately 150°.

The profile of the upper end edge 11 of the collar defines a cut-away 13 which lies at the front of the device, diametrically opposite the longitudinally-extending slot 14 in

the collar. A similar cut-away 15 may be provided in the upper end edge, diametrically opposite the cut-away 13, although this is not essential.

The outer surface of the collar converges towards the inner surface of the collar over a region 16 extending around the edge of the cut-away 13, so as to provide a chamfered edge to the cut-away 13.

A pair of notches on the lower end edge 10 of the collar define index marks 17. The index marks 17 are disposed on respective opposite sides of a line which extends axially of the collar from the innermost portion of the cut-away 13.

A plurality of groups 19 of ridges 18 extend axially of the external surface of the front of the collar, with the index marks 17 lying between adjacent groups 19.

Referring to Figure 5 of the drawings, in use, a pair of devices are snap-engaged onto the handgrip H of a golf club at spaced-apart locations. The devices are each arranged with their upper edges directed towards the upper end of the handgrip H.

Most golf clubs comprise a line L extending axially of the handgrip H at the front of the club. However, when this is not provided the user can mark their own line.

For right-handed players, the lowermost collar on the handgrip is rotated to line up the right-hand index mark 17R with the line L, as shown in Figure 5. The upper collar is rotated to line up the left-hand index mark 17L.

The player then grips the club ensuring that the thumbs of their right and left hands respectively seat in the cut-away 13 in the lower and upper collars: with the collars positioned as described the player should hit the ball correctly. However, some players may need to compensate their grips if they are hooking or slicing the ball. This can be done by rotating one or both collars in the appropriate direction, with the ridges 18 acting as a gauge to show how far the collars have been turned.

It is preferable that the collars are positioned by a golf professional during a training session. It may however be necessary for the golfer to remove the collars after the session and in order that they can be replaced correctly, a pen mark can be made in the grooves between the ridges 18, in line with the line L on the club. The golfer then has to merely line the pen mark up with the appropriate point the line L again.

A training device in accordance with this invention is simple and inexpensive in constitution, yet provides a reliable way of independently positioning both hands of a golfer in the correct position on the club.