Abstract: Illustrative examples of a sports apparatus and methods for manufacturing a sports apparatus for sensing a scoring event, including but not limited to hockey pucks. In some examples, the sports apparatus includes a body formed of a substrate material and an additive embedded in the substrate material. The additive may be used by a sensor array to locate the position of the sports apparatus in relation to a sports goal. Example additives include an electronic object or a doping material.

Abstract: A sports racquet capable of being tested under a racquet vibration test, and including a frame extending along a longitudinal axis. The frame includes a head portion, a handle portion, and a throat portion positioned between the head portion and the handle portion. The head portion forms a hoop that defines a string bed plane. The throat portion includes a pair of throat elements. At least the head portion and the throat portion of the racquet are formed at least in part of a fiber composite material. The head portion including a forward hoop surface and a rearward hoop surface. The distance between the forward and rearward hoop surfaces defines a beam height distance. The head portion has a maximum beam height distance of at least 19 mm. When the racquet is tested under the racquet vibration test, the racquet has a vibration of no greater than 130 Hz.

Abstract: A racquet includes a frame extending along a longitudinal axis. The frame includes head and handle portions, and a throat portion positioned between the head and handle portions. The head and throat portions are formed at least in part of a fiber composite material. The material includes a plurality of ply arrangements. Each of the arrangements includes one ply having a first plurality of fibers defining a first angle with respect to a composite axis, and another ply having a second plurality of fibers defining a second angle with respect to the composite axis. The first and second angles are substantially the same except the angles have opposite polarities with respect to the composite axis. The head portion includes at least three arrangements overlaying each other, and the first and second angles of at least two of the at least three arrangements are at least 35 degrees.

Abstract: A first improvement to racket stringing machines, for the sport racquets in badminton, tennis, racquetball, and squash/etc. sports, includes a tensioning of two opposite strings with one string tensioning mechanism. A movable base for the racket mounting mechanism is used to link the two ends of tensioning mechanism together and achieve the object to string two strings with one action of string tensioning mechanism. A second improvement is specific for the drop weight tensioning method and includes a moving of the support frame of the drop weight, instead of the rotating the drop weight. A third improvement includes a cross-stringing aid for weaving the cross string during the stringing process. Each of these improvements, either alone or together, are believed to speed up the stringing process so that it is much faster than convention stringing equipment.

Abstract: Sports training apparatus. The sports training apparatus is used to counter and overcome the condition known as focal dystonia, more commonly referred to as ‘yips.’ One end of the apparatus comprises a mouthpiece that is sized to accommodate insertion into the mouth of an athlete. The opposite end of the apparatus is shaped to be rotatably attached onto a container with a screw top, such as a water bottle or sports drink container. An athlete, such as a golfer, may practice a sporting technique, such as swinging a golf club, while focusing on keeping liquid within the container still, which minimizes stress and anxiety caused by performance expectations. The sports training apparatus may optionally contain a centerline pointer that acts as a visual aid to inform a user where the centerline of the athlete is currently positioned.

Abstract: A ball holder for a table tennis table designed for non-intrusive mounting under a corner of a table tennis table. The ball holder can be manufactured in two parts for ease of sale and construction, with the two halves being easily assembled and secured by the user. The two halves can connect using a set of male and female tabs, and secure using a set of bolts. The full assembly can attach to the table tennis table through the use of four screws. Properly assembled, the ball holder can contain multiple table tennis balls in an easily accessible position, but without obstructing the players' range of motion or creating a hazard.

Abstract: Disclosed is system and method for measuring the tension of a tennis net, and, alternatively or in addition, for determining if a service let occurs via the measuring of the net tension. The disclosed embodiments measure a force exerted on the center-strap or the singles stick by the net. In these embodiments, the measured force provides an accurate reflection of the tension of the net.

Abstract: Provided is a racket frame on which design change can be easily performed by simple processing. The racket frame includes a head formed in a ring shape along a face. On the head, a gut groove in which a base portion for connecting grommets is to be inserted is formed in a radially outer region of the head so as to be recessed toward a radially inner side, and a deformation promotion groove is formed in the radially outer region of the head so as to be recessed toward the radially inner side.

Abstract: Provided is a method of evaluating stability of a golf swing. The method comprises calculating a force indicator that represents a force that acts on a body of a golfer during the golf swing and evaluating stability of the golf swing according to a magnitude of the force indicator. In the calculating, the force indicator may be calculated during the golf swing made with a specific golf club, and in the evaluating, the stability of the golf swing may be evaluated as a characteristic of the specific golf club, in accordance with the magnitude of the force indicator.

Abstract: An illuminated beer pong assembly includes a tripod, a box that is pivotally coupled to the tripod and a lid that is hingedly coupled to the box. The lid has a plurality of cup openings to receive a respective beverage cup. A plurality of game light emitters is each positioned within the box and is aligned with a respective one of the cup openings in the lid for illuminating the respective beverage cup. At least one ball, comprised of a phosphorescent material, is thrown toward a selectable one of the cup openings for playing the game of beer pong. A plurality of radiation emitters is each coupled to the box and charges the at least one ball thereby facilitating the at least one ball to glow in the dark.

Abstract: A golf practice aid (10) for establishing a circular pattern about a golf cup (C) includes a disk (12) sized to fit into the mouth of the cup. Radial lines (24) formed on the disk are evenly spaced about the disk and extend from the center to an outer edge thereof. A cord (16) of a predetermined length is tethered to the disk and is extendible outwardly from the disk to be sequentially drawn along each line, with a a marker (M) placed adjacent the outer end of the cord when the cord is fully extended. By extending the cord successively along each radial line, a circular pattern of a defined radius is formed by the markers placed about the cup, the circular pattern assisting golfers in practicing their putting, chipping, pitching, and bunker pay skills in accordance with a method of the invention.

Abstract: An apparatus for a ball stowable support is provided. The apparatus includes a frame, an elastic cover secured to the frame, and at least one leg supporting the frame. Each leg of the at least one leg has an opening. The opening is configured to retain a ball.

Abstract: A lever handle includes a body portion that has a plate shape and is attached to a game machine so as to be able to rotationally move between a home position and a stroke end around a rotary shaft main body provided at one end, and a main light-show portion for causing the body portion to emit light. The main light-show portion includes a light source, and a light guide plate having a light incident face on which light from the light source is incident and a light exit face from which light from the light incident face exits, and includes, as the light guide plate, a light guide plate on which a reflection pattern for causing light in one of a character shape or a diagram shape to exit from the light exit face is formed.

Abstract: Tough, low-friction street hockey pucks are constructed as regular prismatic cylinders or prismatic cylinders having alternating side profiles. An internal chamber partially filled with a granular material such as sand, gravel or metal shot, or fluids such as water, oil, alcohol or ethylene glycol, and combinations thereof, helps deter a rolling motion of the puck and causes it to fall down and slide. The sliding motion is more similar to an ice-hockey puck traveling over ice, so practicing with the inventive street-hockey puck is more like ice-hockey practice.

Abstract: A racquet stringing machine includes a base, a clamp device for clamping a racquet frame, and a string pulling device. The clamp device has a turntable and a clamping portion. The turntable includes a rotating shaft pivotally connected to the base. The clamping portion is fixed on the turntable. The string pulling device is disposed at one side of the clamp device for tightening a string passing through the racquet frame and rotating the turntable according to a threading position. The base is provided with a sensing unit electrically connected to the string pulling device for sensing the present threading position of the string and for generating a control signal to control the string pulling device to pull the string.

Abstract: A tennis net anchoring device and method securely anchors a tennis net center strap to a recessed anchor post on a tennis court surface. The anchoring device comprises a longitudinal, double-sided, unitary body supporting a net-retention member and a ground-retention member. A top portion of the unitary body includes two arcuate T-shaped, net-retention members that retain the tennis net through grommet holes in the net. The net-retention members extend downwardly from the upper end of the middle portion to define an arcuate net-support surface. A lower portion of the unitary body includes two off-set, J-shaped ground-retention members, opposite the net-retention members. The ground-retention members have a ground-retention surface that forms an anchor post insertion channel. The insertion channel enables insertion of an anchor post recessed beneath the court surface. The ground-retention members have free ground ends that enable maneuvering of the anchor post within the anchor post insertion channel.

Abstract: A portable golf swing train apparatus which can be used on the driving range or while playing a round of golf. The apparatus includes a base which can be secured on a golf bag. When the base is positioned on the golf bag, the golf bag provides sufficient support for deploying a swing training structure in an elevated position in front of the golfer. Guiding and alignment structures are provided on the training structure for establishing a swing guiding plane, a club path guiding circle, a correct beginning stance, and correct intermediate downswing positions for the golfer's club, arms and wrists.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein relate to systems and methods for stringing a racket. In an embodiment, a system for stringing a racket includes a support structure, a mounting device, actuators, links, and a controller. Each actuator includes a selectively movable arm movable between a retracted position and an extended position. Each link is coupled to a different arm and configured to couple to a string on the racket. The controller is configured to coordinate movement of each arm between the retracted position and the extended position in a predetermined sequence. Movement of each arm in the predetermined sequence is effective to tighten the racket string on the head of racket when the racket string is woven across a head of the racket such and each link is coupled to a different portion of the racket string between two adjacent grommet holes on the head of the racket.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a game scoring and tracking system, including a playing surface, a projectile, a central unit, at least one speaker, a first corner illuminated indicia, a second corner illuminated indicia, a third corner illuminated indicia, a fourth corner illuminated indicia, a first goal, and a second goal. The first goal and the second goal are configured to receive the projectile from the playing surface. The first goal and the second goal each include an at least one sensor communicatively coupled to the central unit. The at least one sensor detects the projectile entering the applicable goal. The at least one speaker outputs various sounds and the first corner illuminated indicia, the second corner illuminated indicia, the third corner illuminated indicia, and the fourth corner illuminated indicia illuminate in numerous sequences to indicate the status of a game event.

Abstract: An easily assembled and disassembled portable golf swing training device includes plural interconnected elongated, linear rods and arms for the development of proper golf club takeaway, backswing and downswing mechanics. The position of the golf club during the swing is compared with generally accepted swing parameters, and club positions not within acceptable limits are evidenced by easily detected golf club contact with one or more of the device's arms which are all adjustable in length and position depending upon individual golfer characteristics, and which are pivotally mounted, padded and flexible to avoid injury as well as damage to the inventive device or to a golf club. The configuration of the various rods and arms is established to provide the golfer an inside-to-out club head path during the downswing to provide for a draw of the ball, or to shape the shot from right to left for a right hand golfer.