Abstract: An illuminated golf cup is internally lighted by a light source disposed within the cup. The light source is suspended in the bottom of the cup by being secured to the underside of an insert in the cup. The light source is directed upward from the bottom of the cup to cast light up and out of the cup. The light illuminates the opening of the cup and the flag in the cup, making the golf cup more visible from a distance and in low light.

Abstract: A game in which game pieces in the form of acrobats are launched toward a target. The game pieces include magnets at the distal end of the extremities of the stylized acrobat game pieces.

Abstract: Articles for automotive, manufacturing and industrial applications including shafts or tubes used, for example, as golf club shafts, ski and hiking poles, fishing rods or bicycle frames, skate blades and snowboards are at least partially electroplated with fine-grained layers of selected metallic materials. Parts with complex geometry can be coated as well. Alternatively, articles such as conical or cylindrical golf club shafts, hiking pole shafts or fishing pole sections, plates or foils and the like can also be electroformed of fine-grained metallic materials on a suitable mandrel or temporary substrate to produce strong, ductile, lightweight components exhibiting a high coefficient of restitution and a high stiffness for use in numerous applications including sporting goods.

Abstract: A baseball or softball bat having improved restitution characteristic and preventing degraded hitting feeling caused by vibration or impact at the time of hitting can be provided. The baseball or softball bat including a ball hitting portion, a tapered portion and a grip portion is provided with an outer circumferential member, an inner circumferential member and a non-adhesive portion. The outer circumferential member is a cylindrical member forming at least the ball hitting portion. The inner circumferential member is arranged on the inner circumferential side of the outer circumferential member. The inner circumferential member has a tip end of the inner circumferential member positioned opposite to a taper side end as an end portion on the side of the tapered portion, fixed to the outer circumferential member.

Abstract: An archery target including a rigid frame including a target side, a sheet secured to the frame on a target side to create an interior compartment bounded by the sheet and the frame, a compressed density material in the compartment and a backing. The sheet can be a filtration screen constructed from synthetic polymers, optionally polyamide fibers, and can have a weight of 13 to 16 ounces per square yard, and can include parallel warp yarns formed from three pairs monofilament polyamide fibers, the three pairs of fibers twisted together to form a cable yarn, as well as parallel fill yarn formed from a single monofilament polyamide fiber. A related method includes: providing a rigid frame; securing a sheet to the frame to create an interior compartment; compressing a density material; and securing a backing to the frame.

Abstract: Bats that aid in bunting are disclosed herein. The bats generally include a rounded elongate shaft having a handle end and a contact end, and the handle end may have a diameter that is smaller than a diameter of the contact end. In an embodiment, at least one indicator is between the handle and contact ends to designate where and how a user should hold the bat while bunting. In an embodiment, first and second indentations are in a surface of the shaft between the handle and contact ends to designate where a user should hold the bat while bunting. In an embodiment, at least one indicator selected from the group consisting of an indentation, a marking, and a bump is between the handle and contact ends to designate where and how a user should hold the bat while bunting.

Abstract: A dart board game with a rotatable target for magnetic darts may include an target skin easily replaceable or reversible by a game player. Controls for an electric motor for rotating the target may be operable during game play by the magnetic darts when properly thrown may be include buttons for changing speed or direction or doing so randomly. A button may cause the changes to apply for a subsequent player.

Abstract: A bat preferably is formed of a single, hollow tube of composite material, wherein tubular “ports” extend through the hollow tube. The ends of the ports are bonded to the walls of the hollow tube. The ports improve the stiffness, strength, aerodynamics and comfort of the bat.

Abstract: A hand grip for training a batter such that both hands of the batter are properly positioned for impact with a baseball is provided. The bat grip includes a generally cylindrical member having an inner surface configured for receiving a lower portion of a bat, the member including an upper portion and a lower portion; the upper portion including a first plurality of finger grooves and a first protrusion disposed diametrically opposite the first plurality of finger grooves, the first protrusion configured to provide tactile information to a first hand of a batter; and the lower portion including a second plurality of finger grooves and a second protrusion disposed diametrically opposite the second plurality of finger grooves, the second protrusion configured to provide tactile information to a second hand of the batter, wherein the first protrusion is angularly offset from the second protrusion by a first predetermined angle.

Abstract: A multi-piece ball bat includes a first section including a hitting portion, and a second section including a handle portion. A flexible joint connects the first section to the second section. The flexible joint may be a structural joint, such as a spring member, a mechanical locking joint, or a pneumatic or hydraulic joint, or it may be a non-uniform and/or non-continuous elastomeric joint.

Abstract: A stable fire retardant mixture for use in a backstop for decelerating and trapping projectiles. The backstop generally includes a support structure having an inclined surface and the stable fire retardant mixture serving as a projectile trapping medium disposed on the inclined surface. The projectile trapping medium is a resilient granular material intimately mixed with a hydrated super absorbent polymer (SAP) gel and additives. Preferably, the support structure is made of a shock absorbing, foamed, fiber-reinforced concrete, such as SACON®. In embodiments, the support structure also includes an enclosure. The additives control alkalinity, chemically stabilize the mixture, prolong life of the mixture, retard mold formation and bacterial growth and prevent leaching of heavy metals.

Abstract: A hockey stick having an angled shaft extension comprises an elongate shaft having an upper end and a lower end and defining a shaft longitudinal axis, and is graspable by a hockey player. The upper end has a substantially hollow central portion. A blade is securely connected to the elongate shaft at its lower end and is for contacting a hockey puck. A shaft extension has a grippable portion having a lower end and an upper end, and defining a grip longitudinal axis extending between the lower end and the upper end, and an insert portion securely connected to the grippable portion at the lower end thereof. The insert portion is insertable into the substantially hollow central portion of the upper end of the elongate shaft, to thereby securely connect the shaft extension to the elongate shaft such that the grip longitudinal axis is angled below the shaft longitudinal axis.

Abstract: A cue tip tool is a cylindrical jig having a longitudinal bore forming its body into a tube that accepts a cue being tipped. The jig body has three equally positioned slots cut through the tubular wall, and the outer surface of the jig has a collar that squeezes the jig against the cue ensuring that the axis of the cue is aligned with the jig. The end of the jig is a cylindrical surface stepped to a larger diameter, and the stepped cylinder is coaxial with the axis of the jig and the axis of the cue. Three auxiliary units configured to separately engage the jig provide for burnishing the end of the cue's ferrule, positioning the cue tip being installed during gluing, and cleaning the cue tip of accumulated chalk debris, while maintaining accurate alignment of the cue tip with the cue's axis.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a golf putting training apparatus comprising a reaction panel (2); a personal computer that computes detected data; a body having a display portion (3) that displays the output data; two triangular detection areas (A, B) that symmetrically crisscross each other in a plane space between the two side panels (4, 4?) of the body (1); light emitting elements (L, R) of detection sensors (S1, S2) installed at the vertex positions of said triangular detection areas (A, B) on side panels (4, 4?); light receiving elements (L1, L2, R1, R2) of detection sensors (S1, S1) provided at the corner positions of the bottom lines of said triangular detection areas (A, B) in such a way as to face said light emitting elements (L, R).

Abstract: A portable training device is used for improving putting skills of a player by putting a ball. A plurality of sections are removably connected with one another to define an upper section and a lower section presenting an inclined axis. At least one compartment is defined in each of the sections for receiving the ball. A channel defined in at least one of the sections extends parallel the inclined axis and communicates with the at least one compartment to receiving the ball and returning the ball trough at least one of the channels.

Abstract: A cue stick including a butt shaft having a proximal end and a distal end. A first vibration damping insert can be secured within the distal end of the butt shaft and can be formed of vibration damping material. A first joint member can be secured within the first vibration damping insert. The first joint member is for securing to a mating cue stick portion.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a portable putting practice device, which is constructed so that a mat 30 is wound up in a roll to be stored in a box 20, and is unwound and pulled out of the box for use. The device includes foldable flexible guide walls which are provided on both side ends of the mat in a longitudinal direction thereof and prevent a golf ball from escaping from the mat when it is in use. When a user desires to store the mat in the box, the guide walls 40, 50 are unfolded outwards relative to left and right ends of the mat such that they are on the same plane as the mat. In this a state, the guide walls are wound. Meanwhile, when the user desires to use the mat 30, the mat is unwound and pulled out of the box 20.

Abstract: A drop target includes a first target seen by a shooter and a second target concealed behind the first target. When the shooter hits the second target, the first target moves, thereby representing that the shooter as hit a desired “kill zone” and should cease shooting.

Abstract: A golf putting practice device and ball is provided, wherein the ball has a flat end and a friction face which allow the putting practice ball to slide across the level putting surface of the putting practice device. The specific coefficient of friction provided by the friction face of the putting practice ball reduces the speed and the distance the putting practice ball travels over a putting surface of the putting practice device. This allows a golfer to practice a complete range of putts on a conveniently sized portable device.

Abstract: A replaceable cue tip assembly is provided to enable the easy and quick replacement of tip pads of cue sticks. The cue tip assembly includes a tip ferrule that is attachable to a cue stick shaft or to conventional shaft ferrule. It also includes a tip pad holder to which a tip pad is to be fixed. The tip pad holder has a conical surface that seats upon a mating conical surface of the tip ferrule. Various means of connecting the tip pad holder and tip ferrule together are disclosed. Cue sticks having the replaceable cue tip assemblies are also disclosed as are tip pad holder tools for use in attaching and removing the tip pad holders.