Abstract: An automated objective American-football evaluation system may include an American-style football, at least one sensor carried by the football, and electronics. The electronics arranged to: (a) receive strings of sensor signals from the at least one sensor, wherein the characteristic of the throw of the football determined by the electronics; and (b) output throw quality. The throw quality is based upon a combination of at least two throw characteristic determined based upon the received string of sensor signals associated with a throw of the football. The at least two throw characteristics are selected from a group of throw characteristics consisting of: velocity; spin rate; time-of-flight; angle of attack; release angle; cone angle; nutation angle; spiral efficiency; and spiral decay.

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 variable stiffness striking implement, such as, for example, a ball bat typically used in baseball, softball, or rubber ball. The striking implement, preferably has a separate barrel and handle. A wedge and joint attached directly to the handle or indirectly to the handle using an interface portion engage the interior surface of the barrel. Most preferably, the wedge and joint are molded about the interface portion and a handle preform is then inserted into the intention of the interface portion and the handle is then molded. Wedge hardness is selectable and a stiffness member may also be employed. Stiffness member hardness may be selectable or may be adjustable by varied adjustment of a cap in relation to the barrel. Alternatively, the cap may not be adjustable in relation to the barrel so that a selected stiffness member hardness is fixed.

Abstract: An adjustable knob assembly for a ball bat having a tubular handle portion extending about a longitudinal axis. The assembly includes a base and an annular knob. The base includes an end wall and a cylindrical outer wall extending from the end wall. The outer wall is configured to be fixedly coupled to a proximal end of the handle portion of the bat. The outer wall includes a first set of interlocking structure. The annular knob includes an inner radial surface defining a central opening. The inner radial surface includes a second set of interlocking structure. The first and second sets of interlocking structure are positionable between at least a first locked knob position and a second locked knob position.

Abstract: An endcap assembly for a bat may include a body across an open end of a bat barrel and a core received by the body. In one implementation, the body and the core may be retained relative to one another by a bayonet connector radially spaced from interior sides of the bat barrel by at least 0.3 inch. In one implementation, the body may include a cup having a mouth and receiving the core. In one implementation, the cup is to be radially spaced from interior sides of the bat barrel by at least 0.3 inch. In one implementation, the mouth is axially recessed. In one implementation, the cup and the core are joined by a bayonet connector having a U-shaped slot facing away from a mouth of the cup.

Abstract: A tennis ball comprises a hollow elastic circumferential core defining a primary outer surface pattern, and a textile outer layer extending over and about the core.

Abstract: A game ball configured for direct contact with a user's hands includes a cover formed of a natural leather and having an outer surface. The outer surface of the cover includes a pebbled texture. The pebbled texture includes a plurality of spaced apart pebble-like projections extending from a base region. Each of the pebble-like projections has a pebble height measured from the base region adjacent to the pebble-like projection to a top surface of the pebble-like projection. At least a first portion of the cover includes alphanumeric and/or graphical indicia applied by a laser ghosting process, and a second portion of the cover is formed without the indicia. The average pebble height of a plurality of the pebble-like projections in the first portion of the cover is at least 80 percent of the average height of a plurality of the pebble-like projections in the second portion of the cover.

Abstract: A ball bat extending along a longitudinal axis. The bat includes a handle portion, a barrel portion and an end cap. The barrel portion includes a proximal region and a distal region. The proximal region of the barrel portion is coupled to the handle portion by a first pivot joint. The distal region of the barrel portion is coupled to the end cap by a second pivot joint. The first and second pivot joints movably support the barrel portion relative to the longitudinal axis.

Abstract: A tennis ball may include a spherical hollow core having an inner surface including material shift lines and a textile outer layer over and about the core.

Abstract: A knob sleeve for a ball bat extending along a longitudinal axis and having a tubular handle portion and a knob attached to the handle portion. The knob sleeve includes a tubular body having a distal end and a proximal end. The body defines a central bore for receiving the handle portion. The body includes at least first and second regions positioned adjacent the distal and proximal ends of the body, respectively. The first and second regions have first and second maximum outside diameters, respectively. The second maximum outside diameter is greater than the first maximum outside diameter. Each of the first and second regions has a height measured with respect to the longitudinal axis of at least 0.4 inch.

Abstract: An American-style football having a major longitudinal dimension extending about a longitudinal axis and including an inflatable prolate spheroidal shaped bladder, a lining positioned about the bladder, a cover assembly, a lacing and a thin electronic tag. The cover assembly includes at least first, second, third and fourth cover panels collectively positioned over the bladder and the lining. The lacing extends along a longitudinal plane extending through the longitudinal axis and is coupled to the first and fourth cover panels. The tag is positioned between the lining and the cover assembly. The tag is covered by at least one of the first and fourth cover panels but not covered by the second and third cover panels. The tag is configured to enable at least one characteristic of the football to be monitored during use. In another example implementation, the tag is positioned between the lining and the bladder.

Abstract: A game ball supports electronics. In one implementation, the electronics sense motion of the game ball and are encapsulated by potting compound which forms an encapsulating body sized and shaped to fit within a cavity of the game ball. In one implementation, a game ball comprises an inflatable body which supports the electronics, wherein an electrical conductive line is electrically connected to electronics extends along a surface of the inflatable body at least 60 degrees about the inflatable body.

Abstract: An iron-type golf club head includes a body having a wall extending about an opening, a faceplate coupled to the body across the opening, a first set of apertures, and at least one second aperture. The wall has an outer peripheral surface, a sole, a toe and a topline. The wall and the faceplate define a rearward-facing cavity. The first set of apertures extends through the wall from the peripheral outer surface to the cavity. The first set of apertures extends about a first plane. The at least one second aperture extends through the wall from the peripheral outer surface to the cavity. The at least one second aperture extends about a second plane.

Abstract: A golf ball includes a core, a mantle and a cover layer. The core includes polybutadiene and has a diameter of less than 1.45 inches. The core has a deflection of at least 0.225 inches under an applied static load of 200 pounds. The mantle includes at least one fully neutralized ionomer terpolymer comprising ethylene, carboxylic acid and an acrylate. The mantle composition has a flexural modulus of less than 10,000 psi. The core and the mantle form a core-mantle assembly having a diameter of between 1.540 inches and 1.580 inches with a deflection of greater than 0.210 inches under an applied static load of 200 pounds. The cover layer includes one or more ionomer materials and has a Shore D hardness of greater than 62.

Abstract: A bat customization method includes the steps of capturing images of a batter's swing, determining a swing plane angle of the batter's swing at ball impact at a middle elevation of a strike zone of the batter based upon the captured images, and providing a bat for the batter. The bat has circumferentially spaced launch angle boosters. Each of the launch angle boosters extends along the axis at an angle based upon the determined swing plane angle.

Abstract: A football sensing system may include an American-style football extending along a longitudinal axis and having a maximum transverse dimension defining a transverse axis and at least one accelerometer. The football has a bladder and a cover about the bladder. The accelerometer is carried by the football between the bladder and the cover to sense acceleration 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.