Like all good, marketable inventions, it is simple and user friendly. And according to John Carey, it has potential for major success internationally, which explains why he has it patented in 14 countries, including the US.

We are talking about an ingenious process for re-gripping golf clubs. From seeing it demonstrated by Carey, I have no hesitation in describing the device as clean and extremely quick. And the market will decide whether it is also as commercially attractive as he claims.

Manufactured by A J Precision Components Ltd in Tuam Graney, Scariff, Co Clare, the system comprises a disposable guide sleeve, a tube of adhesive, a snap-fitted, oneway valve and an attachment to an air supply.

The normal procedure for re-gripping a golf club involves cutting the old grip away from the shaft and removing the two-sided tape which is wrapped about the top of the shaft. New tape is then applied under the replacement grip, which has to be placed in a vice for realignment. This has become known as the cut and tape method.

Under Carey's system, however, there is no need for any tape, only a few dabs of a light adhesive. A vice is also redundant insofar as the sleeve takes care of alignment. And the old grip is removed by inserting the sleeve into the bottom of the grip, then pumping air through the top, by use of a foot-pump.

Since there is no place for the air to escape, it pushes the grip away from the shaft and lifts it clear - in a matter of seconds. By way of proving its efficiency, Carey has engaged successfully in several demonstrations with club professionals, who were using the old method.

"This is not a golf gimmick, it is a practical device which save time and money," he said. "Under the traditional method, the cost of regripping a club is estimated at 67 pence for labour only. We've reduced that to 25p. As far as time is concerned, we've proved that we can regrip 14 clubs in 15 minutes, as opposed to an hour, the traditional way."

Carey, a native of Roscrea, is a qualified accountant who became fascinated with the regripping process, to the extent of inventing his own, revolutionary method. And the initial investment for the user, including a pump and 100 guide sleeves, is between 30 and 40 £.