Abstract: A sports racquet and removable wrist strap system may include a head, a handle coupled to the head, a flexible tether extending from an end of the handle, a wrist strap, and a wrist strap connector releasably connecting the wrist strap to the flexible tether. The wrist strap connector includes a collar and an insert. The collar is connected to one of the wrist strap and the flexible tether and has an interior having a side opening and a side slot extending from the side opening. The insert is connected to the other of the wrist strap and the flexible tether. The insert is insertable into the interior through the side opening while portions of the wrist strap or the flexible tether are insertable into the interior through the side slot.

Abstract: A golf club includes a face coupled to a body. A composite axis extends from a heel to a toe of the club and parallel to ground. The face is formed of a fiber composite material including at least first and second sets of ply arrangements. Each of the ply arrangements includes a pair of plies having first and second pluralities of fibers defining first and second angles with respect to the composite axis, respectively. The face has a ball contact surface, an rear surface, and a mid-zone positioned equidistant between the contact and rear surfaces. A majority of the first and second pluralities of fibers of the ply arrangements between the mid-zone and the contact surface are formed of glass fibers, and a majority of the first and second pluralities of ply arrangements between the mid-zone and the rear surface are formed of carbon fibers.

Abstract: A protective headwear liner may include an encasement and a moldable and hardenable material within the encasement. The encasement is deformable to a U-shape while containing the material prior to hardening of the material. The U-shape may have a flat front and two flat sides corresponding to a front and sides of a person's head, respectively, wherein the two flat sides are joined to the flat front by curves. The material is configured to retain the U-shape following hardening of the material.

Abstract: An adjustable knee wedge may include a wedge shaped first compressible block, a wedge shaped second compressible block releasably coupled to the wedge shaped first compressible block and a leg guard mounting interface coupled to at least one of the first compressible block and the second compressible block.

Abstract: A ball bat configured for impacting a ball. The ball bat extends along a longitudinal axis and includes a bat frame and a pivot joint. The bat frame includes a handle portion coupled to a barrel portion. The barrel portions has a distal region. The pivot joint is coupled to the distal region of the barrel portion. The pivot joint movably supports the barrel portion relative to the longitudinal axis such that the distal region of the barrel portion may pivot towards and away from the longitudinal axis about the pivot joint.

Abstract: A sports upper body protective gear may include a padded chest portion to extend over a chest of a sport participant and shoulder portions extending from the padded chest portion over shoulders of the sport participant. Each of the shoulder portions may include a shoulder pocket to removably receive a moldable and hardenable protective insert panel.

Abstract: An example ball glove ball catch system includes a ball glove and a ball catch. The ball glove may comprise webbing and a hand opening. The ball catch may be located between the hand opening and the webbing.

Abstract: A racquet including a frame including a head portion, a handle portion, and a throat portion. The head portion is a tubular structure including inner and outer peripheral walls, each having inner and outer surfaces. The head portion of the racquet being formed of a fiber composite material. The fiber composite material includes a plurality of ply arrangements. Each includes a pair of plies defining first and second angles with respect to a composite axis. A section of the outer peripheral wall from the inner surface to the outer surface includes at least three ply arrangements overlaying each other, and the first and second angles of at least two of the at least three ply arrangements being at least 35 degrees. When the racquet is tested under a racquet torsional stability test, the racquet has an angular deflection of less than 5.5 degrees about a longitudinal axis.

Abstract: A racquet including a tubular frame formed of a fiber composite material, a pallet and a butt cap. The frame includes first and second end regions and a mid-region. The handle portion includes a distal region, proximal region and a central region positioned between the distal and proximal regions of the handle portion. The central and proximal regions of the handle portion have outer surfaces that define first and second transverse cross-sectional areas, respectively. The second transverse cross-sectional area is larger than the first transverse cross-sectional area. The pallet is coupled to and longitudinally extends over the central region but not over the proximal region of the handle portion. The butt cap is secured to the proximal region and includes a peripheral wall and less than half of the length of the peripheral wall extends over the pallet.

Abstract: A knob sleeve assembly for a ball bat extending along a longitudinal axis and having a tubular handle portion and a knob attached the handle portion. The knob sleeve assembly includes a plurality of annular bodies formed of a resilient material. Each of the bodies defines a central opening for receiving the handle portion of the bat. Each of the bodies has an annular body height within the range of 0.25 to 1.0 inch, and a maximum annular body outer diameter within the range of 1 to 3 inches. The plurality of annular bodies varies from one another according to at least one annular body characteristic. The knob sleeve characteristic is selected from the group consisting of annular body height, maximum annular body outer diameter, weight, color, material durometer value, annular body draft angle and combinations thereof.

Abstract: A tennis ball including a spherical core. The spherical core including an outer surface and a raised wall integrally molded as part of the outer surface.

Abstract: A racquet extending along a longitudinal axis and including a frame including a head portion, a handle portion, and a throat portion. The head portion forms a hoop that defines a string bed plane. At least the head portion and the throat portion of the frame are formed at least in part of a fiber composite material. When the racquet is tested under the racquet lateral bending test, the racquet has a lateral deflection of at least 6.0 mm when measured in a direction that is parallel to the string bed plane and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

Abstract: A racquet including a frame including a head portion, a handle portion, and a throat portion. The head portion forms a hoop that defines a string bed plane. The head portion of the racquet being formed of a fiber composite material. When the racquet is tested under a racquet forward/rearward bending test, the racquet has a forward/rearward deflection with respect to the longitudinal axis of at least 8.5 mm when measured in a direction that is perpendicular to the string bed plane and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. When the racquet is tested under a racquet torsional stability test, the racquet has an angular deflection of less than 5.5 degrees about a longitudinal axis.