A ball bat includes a barrel portion, a handle portion, and a joint connecting the handle portion to the barrel portion. In some embodiments, the joint includes a releasable connector configured to releasably connect the barrel portion to the handle portion. In some embodiments, the joint includes two releasable connectors to releasably connect the barrel portion to the handle portion. The ball bat may include a flexible rod element positioned between the two releasable connectors. The rod element may include an elastomeric material. In some embodiments, the ball bat may further include a safety connector between the barrel portion and the handle portion or a releasable connector may include a threaded connection to resist release of the releasable connector. In some embodiments, the joint may include a rotatable element for adjusting flex.

The technology provides a device that modifies features of a baseball bat, including a compressing tool that compresses a surface of the baseball bat in a latitudinal direction. The compressing tool includes an implement that pivots along a lengthwise dimension to allow the implement to substantially match a surface angle of an underlying bat barrel. The implement includes a roller that contacts selected portions the baseball bat during a compressing operation. The roller may be sized in a lengthwise dimension to correspond to a surface shape of the underlying bat barrel. The roller may include a surface having any desired surface contour such a convex surface contour, a concave surface contour, or the like. The compressed surface of the baseball bat may substantially assume the shape of the roller surface contour. The barrel may assume a substantially round cross-sectional shape when compressed in the latitudinal direction.

The technology provides a device that modifies features of a baseball bat, including a compressing tool that compresses a surface of the baseball bat in a latitudinal direction. The compressing tool includes an implement that pivots along a lengthwise dimension to allow the implement to substantially match a surface angle of an underlying bat barrel. The implement includes a roller that contacts selected portions the baseball bat during a compressing operation. The roller may be sized in a lengthwise dimension to correspond to a surface shape of the underlying bat barrel. The roller may include a surface having any desired surface contour such a convex surface contour, a concave surface contour, or the like. The compressed surface of the baseball bat may substantially assume the shape of the roller surface contour. The barrel may assume a substantially round cross-sectional shape when compressed in the latitudinal direction.

The technology provides a method of reducing injury to a hamate bone for the lower hand while swinging a bat. The method includes determining a relief location for a knob of a wood baseball bat gripped with two hands, one above the other, with a lower hand being proximate to or contacting the knob. The process includes determining a location of a hamate hook on the lower hand, based on an intersection of a Kaplan's cardinal line and an ulnar border of ring line and placing a transferable substance over the hamate hook of the lower hand. A wooden baseball bat is selected and gripped with the grain positioned for a baseball to contact a hard side of a barrel during a swing. A location is identified to create a relief in the knob based on a transfer of the substance corresponding to a location of the hamate hook.

Disclosed herein are various forms of hybrid baseball bats comprising a wood shell having a radial wall and an outer radial surface profile defining a baseball bat. The wood shell having a central core with a central surface thereon extending from a distal end of the bat. The central surface being profiled with a taper that in some embodiments extends entirely through to the proximal end. A fibrous construct is housed in the central core and infiltrated with an epoxy resin. In some forms, the fibrous construct is in the form of a sleeve. Disclosed are various manufacturing techniques for manufacturing hybrid baseball bats including a low pressure bladder method, a high pressure bladder method, and a centrifugal force method.

Disclosed herein are various forms of hybrid baseball bats comprising a wood shell having a radial wall and an outer radial surface profile defining a baseball bat. The wood shell having a central core with a central surface thereon extending from a distal end of the bat. The central surface being profiled with a taper that in some embodiments extends entirely through to the proximal end. A fibrous construct is housed in the central core and infiltrated with an epoxy resin. In some forms, the fibrous construct is in the form of a sleeve. Disclosed are various manufacturing techniques for manufacturing hybrid baseball bats including a low pressure bladder method, a high pressure bladder method, and a centrifugal force method.

A ball bat includes a barrel portion, a handle portion, and a joint connecting the handle portion to the barrel portion. In some embodiments, the joint includes a releasable connector configured to releasably connect the barrel portion to the handle portion. In some embodiments, the joint includes two releasable connectors to releasably connect the barrel portion to the handle portion. The ball bat may include a flexible rod element positioned between the two releasable connectors. The rod element may include an elastomeric material. In some embodiments, the ball bat may further include a safety connector between the barrel portion and the handle portion or a releasable connector may include a threaded connection to resist release of the releasable connector. In some embodiments, the joint may include a rotatable element for adjusting flex.

A ball bat includes a barrel portion, a handle portion, and a joint connecting the handle portion to the barrel portion. In some embodiments, the joint includes a releasable connector configured to releasably connect the barrel portion to the handle portion. In some embodiments, the joint includes two releasable connectors to releasably connect the barrel portion to the handle portion. The ball bat may include a flexible rod element positioned between the two releasable connectors. The rod element may include an elastomeric material. In some embodiments, the ball bat may further include a safety connector between the barrel portion and the handle portion or a releasable connector may include a threaded connection to resist release of the releasable connector. In some embodiments, the joint may include a rotatable element for adjusting flex.

Various aspects directed towards reinforcing a wooden baseball bat are disclosed. In a first aspect, a compression wrap apparatus includes an elastic strap and a fastening device coupled to a first end of the elastic strap in which the fastening device facilitates securing a wrapping of the elastic strap around a handle of a wooden baseball bat. In another aspect, a baseball bat apparatus includes a wooden baseball bat and a compression wrap configured to wrap around a handle of the wooden baseball bat. In a further aspect, yet another baseball bat apparatus is disclosed, which includes a wooden baseball bat and at least one alloy compression ring configured to wrap around a handle of the wooden baseball bat.

Various aspects directed towards reinforcing a wooden baseball bat are disclosed. In a first aspect, a compression wrap apparatus includes an elastic strap and a fastening device coupled to a first end of the elastic strap in which the fastening device facilitates securing a wrapping of the elastic strap around a handle of a wooden baseball bat. In another aspect, a baseball bat apparatus includes a wooden baseball bat and a compression wrap configured to wrap around a handle of the wooden baseball bat. In a further aspect, yet another baseball bat apparatus is disclosed, which includes a wooden baseball bat and at least one alloy compression ring configured to wrap around a handle of the wooden baseball bat.