Methods of treating wood and wood products include irradiating untreated wood having a first molecular weight with ionizing radiation to cause an increase in the molecular weight of a cellulosic component of the wood to a second, relatively higher molecular weight.

Methods of treating wood and wood products include irradiating untreated wood having a first molecular weight with ionizing radiation to cause an increase in the molecular weight of a cellulosic component of the wood to a second, relatively higher molecular weight.

A ball bat extending about a longitudinal axis and configured for testing under an accelerated break-in test. The bat includes a barrel portion including a proximal region and a distal region. The barrel portion is formed of a fiber composite material having wall thickness of at least 0.100 inch. The fiber composite material includes at least first and second plies. The first ply includes a first plurality of fibers aligned adjacent to one another and a first resin, and the second ply includes a second plurality of fibers aligned adjacent to one another and a second resin. The first ply includes a first fiber discontinuity and the second ply includes a second fiber discontinuity. The first and second fiber discontinuities are generally aligned with each other such that one of the first and second fiber discontinuities substantially overlies the other of the first and second fiber discontinuities creating an ABI fuse region of the barrel portion. The ABI fuse region forms a crack initiation location when the bat is subjected to the accelerated break-in test.

A ball bat extending about a longitudinal axis and configured for testing under an accelerated break-in test. The bat includes a barrel portion including a proximal region and a distal region. The barrel portion is formed of a fiber composite material having wall thickness of at least 0.100 inch. The fiber composite material includes at least first and second plies. The first ply includes a first plurality of fibers aligned adjacent to one another and a first resin, and the second ply includes a second plurality of fibers aligned adjacent to one another and a second resin. The first ply includes a first fiber discontinuity and the second ply includes a second fiber discontinuity. The first and second fiber discontinuities are generally aligned with each other such that one of the first and second fiber discontinuities substantially overlies the other of the first and second fiber discontinuities creating an ABI fuse region of the barrel portion. The ABI fuse region forms a crack initiation location when the bat is subjected to the accelerated break-in test.

A ball bat extending about a longitudinal axis and configured for testing under an accelerated break-in test. The bat includes a barrel portion that includes an inner surface and is formed of a fiber composite material having wall thickness of at least 0.100 inch. The fiber composite material includes at least first and second plies. The first ply includes a first plurality of fibers aligned adjacent to one another and a first resin, and the second ply includes a second plurality of fibers aligned adjacent to one another and a second resin. The inner surface of the barrel portion defines at least one annular groove. The at least one annular groove creates an ABI fuse region of the barrel portion. The ABI fuse region forms a crack initiation location when the bat is subjected to the accelerated break-in test.

A baseball bat fabricated from a limb of a tree, procured without harvesting any of the tree's trunk. Because of this technique, the process of the present invention is much less wasteful. Many bats can be fabricated from a single tree, without felling the tree itself. The process of fabrication of the present invention is drawn to working with the properties of the harvested tree limb. In this manner, a billet is fabricated on a lathe with its center placed concentric with the center of the tree limb, thusly concentric with the limb's growth rings. By doing so, the growth rings within the limb will not be bisected during fabrication of the billet. When the billet is further turned on a lathe to shape the billet into a baseball bat, the growth rings within the limb will be minimally bisected, thus increasing the strength of the baseball bat of the present invention, as compared to the baseball bats of the prior art.

A baseball bat fabricated from a limb of a tree, procured without harvesting any of the tree's trunk. Because of this technique, the process of the present invention is much less wasteful. Many bats can be fabricated from a single tree, without felling the tree itself. The process of fabrication of the present invention is drawn to working with the properties of the harvested tree limb. In this manner, a billet is fabricated on a lathe with its center placed concentric with the center of the tree limb, thusly concentric with the limb's growth rings. By doing so, the growth rings within the limb will not be bisected during fabrication of the billet. When the billet is further turned on a lathe to shape the billet into a baseball bat, the growth rings within the limb will be minimally bisected, thus increasing the strength of the baseball bat of the present invention, as compared to the baseball bats of the prior art.

A training bat having an elongated barrel of a substantially rectangular cross-sectional shape, a relatively short tapered section and a handle section with knob, wherein the hitting surface is substantially flat with rounded edges and is of a lesser width front to back than each side of the barrel and provides a relatively longer than the hitting surface of a standard bat having a standard cylindrical shaped barrel. The hitting surface and is oriented relative to the grain of a wood embodiment such that the grain of the bat will be perpendicular to the ball at contact. The elongated barrel and short tapered section create a longer sweet spot which extends further toward the handle than a standard bat. The barrel has uniformly perpendicular sides extending from the tapered section to the top of the bat.

A training bat having an elongated barrel of a substantially rectangular cross-sectional shape, a relatively short tapered section and a handle section with knob, wherein the hitting surface is substantially flat with rounded edges and is of a lesser width front to back than each side of the barrel and provides a relatively longer than the hitting surface of a standard bat having a standard cylindrical shaped barrel. The hitting surface and is oriented relative to the grain of a wood embodiment such that the grain of the bat will be perpendicular to the ball at contact. The elongated barrel and short tapered section create a longer sweet spot which extends further toward the handle than a standard bat. The barrel has uniformly perpendicular sides extending from the tapered section to the top of the bat.

A baseball bat fabricated from a limb of a tree, procured without harvesting any of the tree's trunk. Because of this technique, the process of the present invention is much less wasteful. Many bats can be fabricated from a single tree, without felling the tree itself. The process of fabrication of the present invention is drawn to working with the properties of the harvested tree limb. In this manner, a billet is fabricated on a lathe with its center placed concentric with the center of the tree limb, thusly concentric with the limb's growth rings. By doing so, the growth rings within the limb will not be bisected during fabrication of the billet. When the billet is further turned on a lathe to shape the billet into a baseball bat, the growth rings within the limb will be minimally bisected, thus increasing the strength of the baseball bat of the present invention, as compared to the baseball bats of the prior art.