Abstract: A ball bat includes a barrel wall with a composite laminate structure that includes an outwardly facing skin, an inwardly facing skin, a stack of composite laminate plies positioned between the outwardly facing skin and the inwardly facing skin, and a discontinuity in the stack forming a gap along a longitudinal axis of the bat. A rigid or semi-rigid appliance may be positioned in the gap. The appliance may be a ring element, which may have a cross-section that traverses the composite laminate plies in the stack in a direction that is perpendicular or oblique to the longitudinal axis of the bat. The cross-section of the ring element may be triangular. A second ring element may be positioned in the barrel wall. The second ring element may be connected to the other ring element with an adhesive bond or a connecting element.

Abstract: Representative embodiments of the present technology may include a ball bat with a handle, a barrel attached to or continuous with the handle along a longitudinal axis of the bat, and a reduced-durability region positioned in the barrel. The reduced-durability region may include two adjacent stacks of composite laminate plies, wherein the stacks are spaced apart from each other along the longitudinal axis to form a first gap therebetween. A separation ply may be positioned in the first gap between the stacks. The separation ply may include a non-woven mat material. At least one cap ply element may be positioned around an end of one of the stacks. In some embodiments, an axis of the first gap is oriented at an oblique angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the bat.

Abstract: A sporting-good implement, such as a ball bat or a lacrosse stick, includes a first handle section rotatably connected to a second handle section. The second handle section may be attached to or integral with a tapered region or barrel region of a ball bat, or with a shaft section or head of a lacrosse stick, or with another sporting-good feature. This rotatable engagement allows the relative position of the user's hands to change during the course of a swing, shot, or pass, ideally placing the user's hands in a position to generate improved power or control.

Abstract: A ball bat includes a barrel in which one or more stiffening elements or damping elements, or both, are located. The stiffening or damping elements may be positioned at a variety of locations, and may have a variety of configurations, for selectively reducing the barrel's performance without appreciably increasing the bat's moment of inertia.

Abstract: A sporting good implement, such as a hockey stick or ball bat, includes a main body. The main body may be formed from multiple layers of a structural material, such as a fiber-reinforced composite material. One or more microlattice structures may be positioned between layers of the structural material. One or more microlattice structures may additionally or alternatively be used to form the core of a sporting good implement, such as a hockey-stick blade. The microlattice structures improve the performance, strength, or feel of the sporting good implement.

Abstract: A ball bat includes a handle, a barrel attached to or continuous with the handle, and a tamper-evident section positioned in the barrel. The tamper-evident section may include a layer of foam material or another suitable material positioned within a wall of the barrel between an inwardly facing surface and an outer layer of the wall. The outer layer of the wall may be positioned to deform to indicate a condition of the tamper-evident section. In some embodiments, the wall is formed from a composite material. In other embodiments, the wall may include a metal alloy material and the outer layer may include a composite material. The foam material may have a compression value greater than that of a softball.

Abstract: A sporting good implement, such as a hockey stick or ball bat, includes a main body. The main body may be formed from multiple layers of a structural material, such as a fiber-reinforced composite material. One or more microlattice structures may be positioned between layers of the structural material. One or more microlattice structures may additionally or alternatively be used to form the core of a sporting good implement, such as a hockey-stick blade. The microlattice structures improve the performance, strength, or feel of the sporting good implement.

Abstract: A ball bat includes a barrel in which one or more stiffening elements are located. The stiffening element may be positioned at a variety of locations, and may have a variety of configurations, for selectively limiting the barrel's performance without appreciably increasing the bat's moment of inertia. In one configuration, the stiffening element includes two radially outer flanges, a radially inner flange, and two web members connecting the outer flanges to the inner flange. The radially outer surfaces of the radially outer flanges contact, and may be affixed to, the inner surface of the barrel wall.

Abstract: A composite ball bat includes multiple failure planes within a barrel wall. By including multiple failure planes in a barrel wall, the bat exhibits a drop in performance when subjected to rolling or other extreme deflection, with no temporary increase in barrel performance. Because the barrel performance does not increase, the ball bat is able to comply with performance limitations imposed by regulatory associations.

Abstract: A batting tee includes a base and an attachment portion attached to the base. A first rod is optionally releasably connected to the attachment portion. A second rod having an outer diameter less than an inner diameter of the first rod is positioned at least partially in the first rod. One or more O-rings are positioned on the second rod within the first rod. A collar is attached to the first rod and positioned to allow the second rod to pass through the collar while resisting passage of the O-ring out of the first rod. A rod cap is attached to an end of the second rod and positioned to resist removal of the O-ring from the second rod. A ball holder is attached to the other end of the second rod. The second rod is movable telescopically within the first rod to raise and lower the ball holder.

Abstract: A sporting-good implement, such as a ball bat or a lacrosse stick, includes a first handle section rotatably connected to a second handle section. The second handle section may be attached to or integral with a tapered region or barrel region of a ball bat, or with a shaft section or head of a lacrosse stick, or with another sporting-good feature. This rotatable engagement allows the relative position of the user's hands to change during the course of a swing, shot, or pass, ideally placing the user's hands in a position to generate improved power or control.

Abstract: An end-cap assembly for a ball bat or other sporting-good implement includes one or more removable weights, so that the weight of the end cap—and of the ball bat—may be adjusted. The one or more weights may reside in a receiving space or recess in an end-cap cup of the end-cap assembly. A fastener removably attaches the one or more weights to the end-cap cup. In some embodiments, the fastener may include threads that engage threads in a bore in the end-cap cup.

Abstract: A sporting-good implement, such as a ball bat or a lacrosse stick, includes a first handle section rotatably connected to a second handle section. The second handle section may be attached to or integral with a tapered region or barrel region of a ball bat, or with a shaft section or head of a lacrosse stick, or with another sporting-good feature. This rotatable engagement allows the relative position of the user's hands to change during the course of a swing, shot, or pass, ideally placing the user's hands in a position to generate improved power or control.

Abstract: A ball bat includes a barrel in which one or more stiffening elements are located. The stiffening element may be positioned at a variety of locations, and may have a variety of configurations, for selectively limiting the barrel's performance without appreciably increasing the bat's moment of inertia. In one configuration, the stiffening element includes two radially outer flanges, a radially inner flange, and two web members connecting the outer flanges to the inner flange. The radially outer surfaces of the radially outer flanges contact, and may be affixed to, the inner surface of the barrel wall.

Abstract: A ball bat includes one or more low-durability regions fortified by one or more reinforcing elements, such as a structural patch. If the reinforcing element is altered or removed, the durability of the ball bat is significantly reduced. For example, if the ball bat is subjected to internal shaving or external rolling in an attempt to increase the bat's performance, the reinforcing element would be removed or damaged such that the durability of the bat is reduced to the point that the ball bat's performance remains below a specified limit.

Abstract: A ball bat includes a barrel having one or more slats. The slats may be separated from one another by one or more apertures, cuts, or gaps. The slats may be oriented substantially parallel, substantially transverse, or substantially diagonal to a longitudinal axis of the barrel. The slatted arrangement enhances the BBCOR of the barrel. An external damping sleeve or an internal reinforcing core may be included in the barrel to limit the barrel's BBCOR to meet given regulatory standards.

Abstract: A batting tee includes a base and an attachment portion attached to the base. A first rod is optionally releasably connected to the attachment portion. A second rod having an outer diameter less than an inner diameter of the first rod is positioned at least partially in the first rod. One or more O-rings are positioned on the second rod within the first rod. A collar is attached to the first rod and positioned to allow the second rod to pass through the collar while resisting passage of the O-ring out of the first rod. A rod cap is attached to an end of the second rod and positioned to resist removal of the O-ring from the second rod. A ball holder is attached to the other end of the second rod. The second rod is movable telescopically within the first rod to raise and lower the ball holder.

Abstract: A ball bat includes a barrel in which one or more stiffening elements are located. The stiffening element may be positioned at a variety of locations, and may have a variety of configurations, for selectively limiting the barrel's performance without appreciably increasing the bat's moment of inertia. In one configuration, the stiffening element includes two radially outer flanges, a radially inner flange, and two web members connecting the outer flanges to the inner flange. The radially outer surfaces of the radially outer flanges contact, and may be affixed to, the inner surface of the barrel wall.

Abstract: A sporting-good implement, such as a ball bat or a lacrosse stick, includes a first handle section rotatably connected to a second handle section. The second handle section may be attached to or integral with a tapered region or barrel region of a ball bat, or with a shaft section or head of a lacrosse stick, or with another sporting-good feature. This rotatable engagement allows the relative position of the user's hands to change during the course of a swing, shot, or pass, ideally placing the user's hands in a position to generate improved power or control.

Abstract: A ball bat includes a handle and a main barrel. An external wall or sleeve is positioned around the main barrel and separated from the main barrel by a gap. The gap provides a bat barrel with relatively low stiffness and high radial compliance, resulting in performance advantages and improved feel.