Abstract: An apparatus for use with a sports racquet. The apparatus including a sensor to be carried by the racquet and an indicator in communication with the sensor to output a notification based on the number of hits by the racquet based on signals from the sensor.

Abstract: A player training apparatus for use with a portable performance system. The portable performance system includes a processor, a memory and a display. The training apparatus includes an American-style football, at least one sensor coupled to the football, at least one transmitter coupled to the football and operably coupled to the sensor, and a non-transient computer-readable medium containing code. The code directs the processor to: receive input pertaining to motion of the football; derive at least one football motion parameter from the input pertaining to the motion of the football; and display information relating to the input. The at least one football motion parameter includes spiral efficiency.

Abstract: A bat including a barrel, a barrel taper, a first connector portion carried by the barrel taper, a handle, and a second connector portion extending from the handle portion. The barrel has a distal portion, a proximal portion and an internal bore. The barrel taper axially engages the proximal portion of the barrel from within the internal bore. The second connector portion cooperates with the first connector portion to axially draw the barrel taper against the internal bore to connect the barrel to the handle.

Abstract: A player training apparatus for use with a portable performance system. The portable performance system includes a processor, a memory and a display. The training apparatus includes an American-style football, at least one sensor coupled to the football, at least one transmitter coupled to the football and operably coupled to the sensor, and a non-transient computer-readable medium containing code. The code directs the processor to: receive input pertaining to motion of the football; determine a target accuracy based upon the input; and display the determined target accuracy.

Abstract: A method including the steps of receiving signals indicating movement of a physical ball relative to a strike zone during a pitch, retrieving a batting characteristic of a simulated batter corresponding to the indicated movement of the physical ball relative to the strike zone during the pitch, and displaying on a computing device a simulated pitch result for the pitch based on the retrieved batting characteristic of the simulated batter for the indicated movement.

Abstract: A football having a prolate spheroidal shape including longitudinally spaced apart first and second ends. The football is capable of being analyzed under computational fluid dynamics analysis, and includes upper and lower central regions. Each positioned between first and second upper and lower end regions, respectively. The football further includes a bladder, a cover, a plurality of boundary layer trip mechanisms coupled to the upper and/or lower central regions, and a lacing coupled to the upper central region. The analysis includes first and second configurations. The first configuration is conducted on the football with the trip mechanisms, and the second configuration is conducted on the football without the trip mechanisms. The first and second configurations provide first and second drag coefficients, respectively. The first coefficient is at least 3 percent lower than the second coefficient. The length of the upper and lower central regions is defined by the lacing.

Abstract: A racquet includes polyester, monofilament racquet string and a frame extending along a longitudinal axis and including a head portion coupled to a handle portion. The head portion includes a hoop having inner and outer peripheral walls. The hoop defines a head size having maximum longitudinal and transverse dimensions, a, and, b, respectively. The dimension a is at least 1.2 times the dimension b. The inner peripheral wall includes string holes. The string has a diameter within the range of 1.10 to 1.55 millimeters. The string forms a string bed of interlaced main and cross string segments. Each of the cross segments transversely extends from one of the string holes to another, and each of the main segments longitudinally extends from one of the string holes to another. The string bed has at least one more main segment than cross segment. At least one of the main segments contacting the tennis ball exhibits a snap back velocity of at least 1 meter per second.

Abstract: A sports racquet extends along an axis and is configured for use with a quantity of racquet string forming a string bed about a string plane. The racquet includes a frame formed of a thermoplastic material, and including first and second halves including first and second spaced apart hoop regions, and first and second handle regions, respectively. The hoop regions includes projections extending from hoop regions in a direction orthogonal to the string plane. At least one of the hoop regions defines a set of bores. The projections are configured to matably engage the bores. The projections extend through the string plane and define curved bearing surfaces configured for engaging and supporting the racquet string. The projections include first and second projections having first and second radii of curvature, respectively. The first radius of curvature being at least 0.5 mm greater than the second radius of curvature.

Abstract: A ball bat barrel has an interior surface and a luminescent layer on the interior surface. The luminescent layer, upon being charged, emits light that indicates tampering with the interior surface.

Abstract: An apparatus including a computing device to receive signals indicating movement of a physical ball relative to a strike zone during a pitch, retrieve a batting characteristic of a simulated batter corresponding to the indicated movement of the physical ball relative to the strike zone during the pitch, and output a simulated pitch result for the pitch based on the retrieved batting characteristic of the simulated batter for the indicated movement.

Abstract: A apparatus for use with a portable performance system. The portable performance system includes a processor, a memory and a display. The training apparatus includes an American-style football, at least one sensor coupled to the football, at least one transmitter coupled to the football and operably coupled to the sensor, and a non-transient computer-readable medium containing code. The code directs the processor to: determine at least one football event by comparing the at least one attribute of the football to one or more predetermined signature characteristics of different football events; and an output device to present output to a person based on the determination of the at least one football event.

Abstract: A racquet includes polyester, monofilament racquet string and a frame extending along a longitudinal axis and including a head portion coupled to a handle portion. The head portion includes a hoop having inner and outer peripheral walls. The hoop defines a head size having maximum longitudinal and transverse dimensions, a, and, b, respectively. The dimension a is at least 1.2 times the dimension b. The inner peripheral wall includes string holes. The string has a diameter within the range of 1.10 to 1.55 millimeters. The string forms a string bed of interlaced main and cross string segments. Each of the cross segments transversely extends from one of the string holes to another, and each of the main segments longitudinally extends from one of the string holes to another. The string bed has at least one more main segment than cross segment. At least one of the main segments contacting the tennis ball exhibits a snap back velocity of at least 1 meter per second.

Abstract: A basketball configured for organized, competitive play and having a total mass. The basketball includes an inflatable, generally spherical bladder, a set of winding surrounding the bladder, an elastomeric layer surrounding the set of windings and the bladder, and a plurality of cover panels positioned over the elastomeric layer. The bladder has a bladder mass that is greater than 25 percent of the total mass. The elastomeric layer and the set of windings have a collective mass that is less than 55 percent of the total mass.

Abstract: An apparatus for releasable attachment to a handle of a ball bat includes a base fixedly coupled to a proximal end of the handle of the bat, and at least one knob releasably coupled to the base. The base includes knob-engaging structure. The knob includes base-engaging structure to cooperate with the knob engaging structure to inhibit rotation of the knob with respect to the longitudinal axis of the bat.

Abstract: A pitch monitoring system for use with a portable electronic device. The system includes a processor, a ball having a core and a cover assembly, at least one sensor for sensing movement of the ball, a data output device in communication with the sensor, and a non-transient computer-readable medium containing code. The cover assembly includes comprising panels joined by stitching and surrounding the core. The output device transmits the signals to the portable electronic device. The code directs the processor to receive signals indicating movement of the ball relative to a strike zone during a pitch of the ball by a first user, retrieve a batting characteristic of a simulated batter corresponding to the indicated movement of the ball relative to the strike zone during the pitch, and output a simulated pitch result for the pitch based on the retrieved batting characteristic of the simulated batter for the indicated movement.

Abstract: A player training apparatus for use with a portable performance system. The portable performance system includes a processor, a memory and a display. The training apparatus includes an American-style football, at least one sensor coupled to the football, at least one transmitter coupled to the football and operably coupled to the sensor, and a non-transient computer-readable medium containing code. The code directs the processor to: receive input pertaining to motion of the football resulting from the player performing an act with the football; store information related to the input into the memory; compare the received input with previously stored celebrity information regarding similar football acts performed by a celebrity; and display information relating to the input and the comparison to the celebrity information.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a sensor to be carried by a piece of sporting equipment and a non-transitory computer-readable medium containing program logic that operates different operational modes. The program logic receives signals from the sensor, determines from the signals whether the piece of sporting equipment is in a sport action state or a mode input state, records a sport action result in response to determination that the piece of sporting equipment is in a sport action state, and switches the program logic to a different operational mode in response to determination that the piece of sporting equipment is in a mode input state.

Abstract: A racquet includes polyester, monofilament racquet string and a frame extending along a longitudinal axis and including a head portion coupled to a handle portion. The head portion includes a hoop having inner and outer peripheral walls. The hoop defines a head size having maximum longitudinal and transverse dimensions, a, and, b, respectively. The dimension a is at least 1.2 times the dimension b. The inner peripheral wall includes string holes. The string has a diameter within the range of 1.10 to 1.55 millimeters. The string forms a string bed of interlaced main and cross string segments. Each of the cross segments transversely extends from one of the string holes to another, and each of the main segments longitudinally extends from one of the string holes to another. The string bed has at least one more main segment than cross segment. At least one of the main segments contacting the tennis ball exhibits a snap back velocity of at least 1 meter per second.

Abstract: A sports racquet extending along a longitudinal axis and configured for supporting a quantity of racquet string generally about a string plane. The racquet includes a frame formed of a thermoplastic material and including a head portion and a handle portion. The head portion is formed of first and second hoop regions. At least one of the first and second hoop regions includes a first set of projections extending from one of the first and second hoop regions across the string plane and engaging the other of the first and second hoop regions. The first set of projections space apart the first and second hoop regions by a first predetermined dimension to define a plurality of through-hoop region openings. The handle portion is formed of first and second handle regions directly coupled together without defining either a plurality of handle openings.

Abstract: A racquet extending along a longitudinal axis includes a frame formed of a thermoplastic material. The frame includes two halves having two spaced apart hoop regions, two handle regions and two mating surfaces. One of the halves includes a set of projections extending from one of the mating surfaces. At least one of the halves defines a set of bores. The projections are configured to engage the bores. At least two of the projections are stepped projections having a proximal section and a distal section. The transverse cross-sectional area of the proximal section is greater than the transverse cross-sectional area of the distal section. Two of the bores are configured to receive the corresponding distal sections, but not the proximal sections, of the two stepped projections, such that the projected height of the proximal section of the two stepped projections substantially defines the spacing between the hoop portions.