Abstract: An archery release assembly, in an embodiment, includes a body, a trigger supported by the body, a trigger controller supported by the body, and a draw cord holder supported by the body. The trigger and trigger controller are each pivotal relative to the body. The trigger controller includes a step-shaped portion The trigger and the trigger controller are configured to cooperate to generate an output as a result of a part of the trigger striking or coming into contact with the step-shaped portion of the trigger controller.

Abstract: Basketball launching apparatus, systems, and methods providing next pass indications are disclosed. A throwing mechanism connected to a structural framework launches basketballs toward candidate locations for a player to catch and shoot towards a basketball goal. A controller receives user input indicating a subset of the candidate locations forming a practice session and causes a rendering of a basketball playing area including a representation of a basketball goal, a baseline, and a three-point arc to be generated at an electronic display connected to said structural framework. Before and/or while the controller commands the throwing mechanism to pass at least one basketball to each of the subset of the candidate locations, the controller causes a respective next pass indicator to be displayed at the representation at a location visually corresponding to a respective next one of the session passes.

Abstract: A ball-throwing machine is disclosed that includes one or more launch wheels configured to impart motion to one or more balls, a frame to which the one or more launch wheels couple, wherein a staging area is formed within the frame adjacent the one or more launch wheels, a ball-sensor, and a control circuit configured to control the one or more launch wheels. The control circuit includes a processor, and non-transitory, computer-readable medium having logic stored thereon that, when executed by the processor, cause performance of operations including: receiving ball-sensor data from the ball-sensor, and determining whether a ball is present within the staging area based on the ball-sensor data. In some instances, the ball-sensor is an optical sensor configured to project a light signal into the staging area and detect a reflected light signal when the ball is present within the staging area.

Abstract: A golf club head comprising a variable face thickness wherein the face thickness is greater in an upper faceplate portion than a lower faceplate portion. The variable face thickness provides an increased flexibility in the lower faceplate portion to increase ball speed on lower struck shots relative to a uniform thickness faceplate.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods employing dual launch and/or non-launching secondary functions configuring operation of launchers as between one of a first or a second position. Handle portions to the outer housing may be used for grasping the toy launcher with a user's hand, and a trigger may be used in launching the projectiles or amount of launchable matter. An exit aperture disposed in relation to a forward end of the outer housing, with the exit aperture being in general alignment with the chamber such that upon use of the trigger launching is provided with forward momentum through the exit aperture. A manual actuator is disposed in relation to the one or more handle portions of the outer housing for optional use to actuate a feature of the toy launcher to reconfigure, adjust, or actuate the launcher.

Abstract: A target stand is described that may comprise a frame; first and second rails; and a trolley. The frame may support the first and second rails. The trolley may comprise a base, a first wheel assembly coupled to the base and in contact with the first rail, and a second wheel assembly coupled to the base and in contact with the second rail, wherein the trolley is movable between respective lower ends of the first and second rails and respective upper ends of the first and second rails via the first and second wheel assemblies contacting the first and second rails. The base of the trolley may comprise a proximal portion and a cantilevered portion extending away from the proximal portion to a free end, wherein the first and second wheel assemblies are coupled to the proximal portion and the cantilevered portion extends over the first and second rails.

Abstract: A golf ball dimple pattern based on a square dipyramid is disclosed. In one specific aspect, the present disclosure provides for a square dipyramid dimple configuration including dimples having a catenary cross-sectional profile, and a combination of dimples having a circular plan shape and dimples having an elliptical plan shape.

Abstract: Devices and associated methods for a portable frame for a sports net are described. In one embodiment, the portable frame for the sports net can comprise a frame including first and second base members with first and second horizontally-oriented openings operable to receive a cross member connecting the first and second base members. The portable frame for the sports net can further comprise first and second vertical openings operable to receive first and second vertical posts held at an angle other than 90° relative to a horizontal plane of the cross member.

Abstract: An arrow rest device is disclosed. The example arrow rest device includes a geometrically shaped mounting bracket. The example arrow rest device also includes a coupler for connecting to the geometrically shaped mounting bracket. The example arrow rest device also includes a base of the coupler, the base having a parallel clamp with two components. The example arrow rest device also includes a plank member that is perpendicular to the base. The example arrow rest device also includes a coupling mechanism that positions the coupler relative to the geometrically shaped mounting bracket.

Abstract: An operating system of an arrow launching device utilizes the combination of a speed-limited winch together with a nock-release and passive fall away arrow rest within torsion-driven compact arrow launching devices that employ counter-acting block and tackle propulsion. The system enables a novel method of cocking, firing and de-cocking that improves safety, enhances reliability and increases efficiency.

Abstract: A ball striking device, such as a golf club head, includes a face having a ball striking surface, an inner surface opposite the ball striking surface, and a thickness defined between the ball striking surface and the inner surface, and a body connected to the face and extending rearward from the face. The face has a modulus gradient across the thickness of the face, such that the modulus of the face varies at different distances from the ball striking surface. The face may also include at least one of an insert, a composite material, a multi-layered structure, and/or a portion treated by a surface treatment to contribute to the modulus gradient.

Abstract: The disclosed technology includes a semi-automatic crossbow having a stock, a plurality of limbs, a drawstring, a bolt feeder, a barrel, a draw assembly, and a release. The draw assembly can be configured to automatically move the drawstring to a cocked position and the release can include a trigger and be configured to release the drawstring when the trigger is actuated. The disclosed technology can further include a truck configured to engage the drawstring and a bolt such that the bolt can be propelled forward by the truck when the drawstring is released by the release.

Abstract: A throwing weapon (100) is described as comprising: a central portion (105) mainly ex-tending along a predetermined longitudinal axis (Y), a pair of first sharp portions (130, 135), which respectively extend from the opposite axial ends (110, 115) of the central portion (105) in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis (Y), and a pair of second sharp portions (150, 155), which protrude transversely from the central portion (105), wherein said second sharp portions (150, 155) extend from opposite parts of the central portion (105), in directions orthogonal to the longitudinal axis (Y), and are mutually off-set along the longitudinal axis (Y) itself.

Abstract: A basketball practice device for training a player to shoot with hir or her arms up includes a base member. The basketball practice device also includes a vertical member coupled to the base member. The vertical member has a lower end coupled to the base and an upper end. The basketball practice device further includes a horizontal member coupled to the upper end of the vertical member. Vertical guideposts may be coupled to the horizontal member.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an EPP modular splicing based golf simulator framework which, through the core connection method of “rod insertion”, enables any two module boards form a stable connection directly through steel pipes, allowing users to freely and continuously adjust the length, width, height, and depth of framework like building blocks, without using specific tools, merely by increasing or decreasing the number of standard modules and changing the insertion path of connecting rods, making it perfectly fit limited spaces, and the use of lightweight EPP material as the main structural component, along with the completely discrete design, allows the entire frame to stack and store module boards and bundle connecting rods after disassembly, greatly reducing transportation volume and weight, and enabling convenient personal handling and storage, and the standardized module design and minimalist installation process reduce the dependence on professional installers and save installation time and labo

Abstract: A golf ball has a first hemisphere and a second hemisphere and a plurality of dimples arranged in a pattern divided into dimple segments separated by n longitudinal lines. Within each hemisphere, the plurality of dimples consists of shared dimples that are intersected by the longitudinal lines and segment dimples that are each wholly within one of the n number of dimple segments. The arrangement of the shared dimples on each of the longitudinal lines is identical. The n number of dimple segments comprise at least two segments, S1 and S2, in each hemisphere that have a different longitudinal angle from each other. The S1 segment has a first value for a segment parameter and the S2 segment has a second value for the segment parameter. The first value is different than the second value.

Abstract: A motion platform comprises a base portion and an occupant carrier portion. The occupant carrier portion is linearly moveable along, and rotationally moveable about, first, second, and third orthogonal axes. The base portion comprises first, second, and third control pillars each extend along the third axis with a predetermined height. The control pillars are linearly moveable in a plane defined by the first and second axes and are mechanically constrained to move only in that plane. The occupant carrier portion comprises first, second, and third guide portions that are pivotally connected to the first, second, and third control pillars respectively by a respective coupling member. Each of the guide portions is angled with respect to the plane defined by the first and second axes such that they are not parallel to the plane. The guide portions are also angled with respect to each other such that they are not parallel with each other.

Abstract: The present teachings generally include flexible pickleball paddles and/or frames thereof. In an aspect, a frame of a paddle includes a region adjacent to a throat portion of the paddle that is thinner than other regions of the frame, e.g., thicker regions disposed along its sides, top, and/or handle. The lack of material in this portion of the frame—e.g., disposed directly above the handle—may provide advantageous flexing of the paddle during play (e.g., how fast the paddle can return to the original shape after being flexed), improving power characteristics, control, feel, responsiveness, and/or the like. Moreover, a gap formed by the lack of material in this portion of the frame can provide a region for enhanced weight control (e.g., by filling the gap with a weighted material), and/or for enhanced sound or vibration control (e.g., by filling the gap with a sound dampening and/or vibration dampening material).

Abstract: Systems and apparatus for receiving golf balls include an apparatus including: a body having an ingress and an egress for golf balls passing through the body, wherein each of the golf balls includes a radio frequency identification tag; at least one antenna of a radio frequency identification reader, the at least one antenna arranged with respect to the body to receive information from the golf balls for identification of the golf balls; and multiple protrusions located within the body, the multiple protrusions being positioned with respect to each other in a Galton configuration that both (i) impedes the golf balls from passing through the body without being read by the radio frequency identification reader, and (ii) allows the golf balls to pass through the body without jamming therein.

Abstract: A basketball training system includes a user interface and a ball delivery machine for delivering basketballs to selected ball delivery locations. The user interface presents a visual representation of a portion of a basketball court and a graphical ball delivery machine icon that is user movable to modify a location of the graphical ball delivery machine icon with respect to the visual representation of the portion of the basketball court.