Abstract: A golf system that includes a tee or other area for striking a golf ball; and a golf green having a concave surface with a ball receptacle located at the lowest point in the surface so that a ball landing and remaining on the green will roll into the ball receptacle. The green includes a resiliently compressible layer coinciding with the concave surface. The resiliently compressible surface may include at least one layer of corrugated plastic material and may be covered with an artificial turf surface. The golf system may be used to play a unique game, wherein a plurality of balls are rolled on the green and travel in a spiral manner into the ball receptacle. The golf green may be mounted on a portable frame.

Abstract: Sports shooting target assembly that electronically detects successful shots through the aperture of the target frame. One or more target assemblies are attached to a goal post or crossbar in desired practice locations. The target assemblies are electronically controlled by a central unit to form a sports shooting practice system. In one embodiment, a microcontroller is programmed to control the target assemblies and provide a number of entertaining games. Other embodiments add lights to each target assembly and a siren to provide feedback on successful shots through the target assembly's aperture.

Abstract: A full-sized outdoor golf course is described with any number of holes, usually 18 or 36 holes. Each hole is made up of a tee, a fairway, and a green. The holes are laid out in a pattern that makes it practical for each group of players on the golf course to play the holes in random order. This is accomplished by organizing the holes in a pattern that greatly increases the number of tees that are available to pick from after leaving any green on the course. All tees and greens, and only tees and greens, but no fairways, are located along special cart paths (44, 46, 48, 49, 50), that run roughly perpendicular to the normal cart paths that usually run along each fairway, so that when finishing play on any green, several tees are reachable by golf cart in a relatively short predetermined time, preferably 1½ minutes or less, using the special cart paths (44, 46, 48, 49, 50).

Abstract: A bat and a method of making a bat for use in sports, such as baseball. The bat includes a one-piece, hollow bat frame formed by injection molding a durable polymer, such as acrylonitrile butadiene styrene. The bat frame includes a barrel portion, an intermediate portion, and a handle portion, with at least one of the portions having a polygonal cross-section on an interior surface of the bat.

Abstract: A screen net includes a front member with an opening, a base member, a catch member and a wall member. The base member is placed on the ground. The catch member is adapted to catch a ball that passes through the opening of the front member. The wall member is positioned above the opening of the front member. The wall member comprises a wall fabric member and a wall pole member. The wall fabric member comprises a sleeve through which the wall pole member passes. The wall fabric member is attached to the front member. The ends of the wall pole member are supported by the base member. The screen net further comprises straps that connect the front member and the base member. The straps are under tension provided by the elastic pole segments.

Abstract: A chipping net comprising a resilient but flexible rod formed into a figure eight and folded at a crossing of the figure eight, thereby forming a base loop for placement on a surface below the crossing and a main loop above the crossing. The main loop and the base loop are angled relative to each other, with the angle being less than 90 degrees. The chipping net also includes a net connected to the main loop for receiving golf balls. The force of the rod trying to expand into a circle out of the figure eight forces the main loop away from the base loop.

Abstract: A golf practice system including a containment structure and a mechanically driven golf ball-return unit coupled to the containment structure, with a sloped portion or channel directing a struck golf ball to the return unit such that the golf ball is mechanically projected back to the golfer. A berm device for chipping practice and other uses also is disclosed.

Abstract: A modular set of elements are nondestructively assemblable into and disassemblable out of a plurality of configurations of a system for supporting targets and signs on a hard surface or on soft ground. These elements include an upright, a base that upholds the upright and is disposable in a stable manner on a hard surface or on soft ground, a horizontal arm from which to suspend a target or sign, and a brace slidable on the outer surface of the upright that includes a tubular shoulder capable of receiving an end of the horizontal arm. A hanger of unitary molded construction is capable of suspending from a horizontal support a clay target of the type cast by trap or skeet shooting equipment.

Abstract: A dart projectile game and its associated method of play. A launcher is provided that has a base and a lever suspended above the base by a fulcrum connection. The lever has a first end and an opposite second end that can teeter up and down. Magnetic material is coupled to the base below the first end of the lever. A projectile is provided that contains a magnet tip. Furthermore, a target is provided that has at least one magnetic section. The projectile is placed on the first end of the lever, wherein the magnet in the projectile attracts the magnetic material under the first end of the lever and biases the first end of the lever downwardly. A person presses down on the second end of the lever with enough force to overcome the magnetic attraction and accelerate the projectile into flight toward the target.

Abstract: Firearm targets and methods for manufacturing firearm targets are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a target includes a substrate, a release layer on the substrate, and an ink layer on the release layer such that the release layer is positioned between the ink layer and the substrate. The ink layer at least partially defines a target image. The ink layer has a first section with a first color and a second section with a second color different than the first color.

Abstract: A disc catching device for catching a thrown disc, having a canopy structure, a basket structure, an assembly coupled to the canopy structure and the basket structure, and a pole to which the canopy structure and the basket structure may be attached. The assembly may engage a thrown disc, and for some embodiments, may comprise chains. When the disc catching device is deployed in its upright position for the sport of disc golf, the assembly hangs from the canopy structure, and is coupled to a ring that surrounds the pole. The basket structure comprises a set of basket arms, and when the disc catching device is deployed upright, the ring hangs below the set of basket arms. For some embodiments, the canopy structure and the basket structure may be foldable, like an umbrella. For some embodiments, the basket arms may be basket support arms, where each basket support arm supports a basket arm. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: A moving target system for efficiently improving the accuracy of a shooter. The moving target system generally includes a first outer support, a second outer support, wherein the second outer support is distally spaced from the first outer support and a conveyor system supported by the first outer support and the second outer support, wherein the conveyor system is adapted for movement in an endless loop. A power supply is connected to the conveyor system, wherein the power supply is adapted to move the conveyor system. At least one target is also attached to the conveyor system, wherein the at least one target moves with the conveyor system along the endless loop.

Abstract: A golf putting practice device comprising a disc, the disc having an annular top portion and an annular bottom portion, the annular top portion having a top edge and the annular bottom portion having a bottom edge, the annular top and bottom portions forming an outer annular peripheral edge, the disc optionally provided with a central opening extending through from the top edge to the bottom edge, the central opening at the top edge having a diameter substantially greater than the central opening at the bottom edge and the outer annular peripheral edge projecting between the bottom edge and the top edge and spaced a substantial distance from said top and bottom edges.

Abstract: A moving target practice apparatus adapted to be used in the home or easily portable by a user, and increasing the challenge to a user by creating unpredictable and moving targets, including moving target areas disposed on the front of the apparatus comprising a series of apertures that align to create an opening at various intervals in time to receive a projectile and/or a series of moving toppling targets traveling around the apparatus which are automatically resetable to an upright position once hit by a projectile.

Abstract: A sports goal comprises a plurality of struts interconnected to form nodes, with netting optionally attached thereto. The struts comprise: one or more struts defining a crossbar; two or more struts defining respective goal posts; a plurality of ground struts adapted to lie along the ground to define the bottoms of respective left and right sides and a rear of the goal; bracing struts interconnecting ground struts with the nodes at which crossbar struts and goal post struts are connected to form a corner of the goal; and struts defining one or more bracing structures interconnecting ground struts defining the rear of the goal with the crossbar at one or more points intermediate the length of the crossbar. The struts are formed of a tubular material adapted to be pneumatically filled from a pneumatic pump via one or more valves provided in the struts or in means connecting respective struts at the nodes.

Abstract: Included herein is a bat for striking a ball. The bat comprises a barrel portion, transition portion attached to the barrel portion, and a handle portion attached to the transition portion. The handle portion includes a longitudinal axis and a plurality of planes substantially parallel to the axis. The adjacent planes of the plurality of planes are positioned to define apertures substantially parallel to the axis. The planes and apertures are positioned to vary the flexibility of the handle and improve bat performance for a given swing speeds.

Abstract: A corn toss game consisting of a foldable weatherproof game apparatus having a top portion with a hole in the center and longer a rear leg pivotally affixed to the top portion, a bottom portion hingedly affixed to the top portion, a net underneath the hole to catch tossed corn-filled bags, and a fastening means for locking the game apparatus into a folded, closed position for easy transport, as well as a separate scoreboard having a hanging means rotatably secured to which scorecards are slidably affixed and having at least one integral cup holder and a plurality of corn-filled bags. The game winner is the first person or team to score a predetermined number of points, such as 21 points, by tossing corn-filled bags into the hole on the game apparatus. An alternate embodiment has a wedge-shaped game apparatus having a hole with a net.

Abstract: A bat having interchangeable sections comprising a handle section and a hollow striking section. The handle section includes a first end and a second end, while the hollow striking section includes a tapered portion and a barrel portion. The second end of the handle section is removably attached within the tapered portion. Additionally, the barrel portion includes a length having a mid-point wherein the second end of the handle section terminates before the midpoint of the length of the barrel portion.

Abstract: A multi-sports ball return net system and a method thereof that consistently returns a ball hit, kick, thrown or strike into it directly to a user and is portable, easy to assemble and disassemble. The multi-sports ball return net system has a frame and a net mounted across the frame. The net forms an upper U-shape forward bulging pillow and a lower U-shape channel or hammock. A ball propelled into the U-shape pillow drops down to the U-shape channel, which funnels the ball to the lowest and central point of the U-shape channel for discharge toward the user.

Abstract: A sports stick portion includes a pin secured to a stick portion. The pin can have a male threaded region for engaging a mating stick portion and a distal end. A collar can concentrically surround the male threaded region and the distal end of the pin.