Abstract: A basketball including a carcass, cover panels, and cover strips. The carcass has an outer surface defining a first set of channels and cover panels regions between the first set of channels. The panels are respectively positioned over the panel regions and are spaced apart from each other. The strips are positioned over the channels. The strips have inner and outer surfaces extending between first and second sidewalls. The strips have a thickness that is measured radially from a centerpoint from the inner to the outer surface, and a width that is measured from the first to the second sidewall. At least one groove is formed into the outer surface. The groove has a width that extends between 20 to 70 percent of the width of the strip and has a maximum depth from the outer surface that is at least 50 percent of the maximum thickness of the strip.

Abstract: A basketball including a carcass, cover panels, and cover strips. The carcass has an outer surface defining a first set of channels and cover panels regions between the first set of channels. The panels are respectively positioned over the panel regions and are spaced apart from each other. The strips are positioned over the channels. The strips have inner and outer surfaces extending between first and second sidewalls. The strips have a thickness that is measured radially from a centerpoint from the inner to the outer surface, and a width that is measured from the first to the second sidewall. At least one groove is formed into the outer surface. The groove has a width that extends between 20 to 70 percent of the width of the strip and has a maximum depth from the outer surface that is at least 50 percent of the maximum thickness of the strip.

Abstract: A racquet including a frame having a head portion coupled to a handle portion, and a string bed of interlaced cross and main string segments. The head portion includes a hoop having inner and outer peripheral walls. The hoop defines a head size having a 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 cross segments transversely extend from one of the string holes to another, and the main segments longitudinally extend from one of the string holes to another. The cross segment closest to the handle portion and the end point of the longitudinal dimension, a, closest to the handle portion define a second longitudinal dimension, c. The ratio of dimension a to dimension c is at least 6.5. The string bed has at least one more main segment than cross segment.

Abstract: A football sensing system including an American-style football extending along a longitudinal axis and having a maximum transverse dimension defining a transverse axis and at least one accelerometer carried by the football to sense acceleration of the football along at least a first axis. The accelerometer is sized to sense a predetermined maximum value of acceleration in the first axis. The accelerometer is positioned within the football in a first position with the first axis of the accelerometer angled with respect to the longitudinal axis of the football. The accelerometer in the first position is capable of measuring acceleration values in a direction in line with or parallel to the longitudinal axis of the football that are greater than the predetermined maximum value of acceleration in the first axis.

Abstract: A golf ball sensing apparatus for use with a portable electronic device including a data acquisition device and a processing unit, and in association with a golf club and a cup. The apparatus includes a golf ball, at least one sensor carried by the ball and a non-transitory computer-readable medium. The sensor senses at least one attribute of the ball. The medium directs a processing unit to identify the initiation of a first stroke of the ball towards the cup, obtain a first final location after the first stroke, obtain the at least one attribute of the first stroke, store a set of associated data regarding the first stroke, obtain a second initial location of the ball prior to a subsequent second stroke, and output portions of the stored set of data in response to the second initial location being within a predetermined zone of the first initial location.

Abstract: An apparatus including a golf ball comprising an internal sensor, and an internal wireless communicator. The internal wireless communicator adapted to communicate parameters sensed by the sensor to external electronics, wherein the external electronics are configured to determine if the golf ball went into a cup based upon the parameters.

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: 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 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: An apparatus for engagement with a barrel of a bat includes a cup and at least one cover. The cup is secured for securement to a distal end of the barrel of the bat. The cup defines a cavity and includes a first connector portion. The at least one cover has a second connector portion cooperating with the first connector portion to releasably secure the cover to the cup over the cavity.

Abstract: A bat customization system for use with a processing unit of an electronic device. The system includes a first sensing bat, at least one sensor carried by the first sensing bat, and a wireless transmitter for transmitting signals from the sensors. The at least one sensor is configured to detect characteristics of at least one test swing of the first sensing bat. The signals represent the detected characteristics. A non-transient computer readable medium containing computer readable programming is configured to direct the processing unit to identify a recommended bat based on the characteristics detected by the at least one sensor carried by the first sensing bat. The programming is configured to direct the processing unit to generate data relating to the at least one test swing.

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 ball including a core, at least one layer of yarn surrounding the core, a cover assembly comprising panels joined by stitching and surrounding the at least one layer of yarn, a sensor to sense motion of the ball, a data output device carried by the ball and in communication with the sensor, and a light emitter coupled to the sensor.

Abstract: An apparatus configured for selectable use with an external electronic device. The apparatus comprises a ball including a core, a cover assembly comprising panels joined by stitching and surrounding the core, a sensor to sense motion of the ball, and a data output device. The data output device is carried by the ball and in communication with the sensor, the data output device to transmit data signals to the external electronic device.

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: 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 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: An apparatus includes a non-transitory computer-readable medium to direct a processor to: receive signals indicating a made basketball shot or a missed basketball shot of a basketball by a person during a basketball shooting session, receive signals indicating a location from which each made basketball shot is made, and determine and output a user cumulative score for the person for the basketball shooting session, the cumulative score being based upon the location of each made basketball shot.

Abstract: An American style football including an inflatable bladder, a cover surrounding the bladder, a battery carried by the football, and a light emitter. The light emitter is carried by the football and is electrically connected to the battery. At least a portion of the cover transmits light from the light emitter.

Abstract: A racquet including a frame having a head portion coupled to a handle portion, and a string bed of interlaced cross and main string segments. The head portion includes a hoop having inner and outer peripheral walls. The hoop defines a head size having a 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 cross segments transversely extend from one of the string holes to another, and the main segments longitudinally extend from one of the string holes to another. The cross segment closest to the handle portion and the end point of the longitudinal dimension, a, closest to the handle portion define a second longitudinal dimension, c. The ratio of dimension a to dimension c is at least 6.5. The string bed has at least one more main segment than cross segment.