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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

A device (e.g., an article of athletic gear) comprising a post-molded expandable component, which is a part of the device that is configured to be expanded or has been expanded after being molded. This may allow the post-molded expandable component to have enhanced characteristics (e.g., be more shock-absorbent, lighter, etc.), to be cost-effectively manufactured (e.g., by using less material and/or making it in various sizes), and/or to be customized for a user (e.g., by custom-fitting it to the user).

A device (e.g., an article of athletic gear) comprising a post-molded expandable component, which is a part of the device that is configured to be expanded or has been expanded after being molded. This may allow the post-molded expandable component to have enhanced characteristics (e.g., be more shock-absorbent, lighter, etc.), to be cost-effectively manufactured (e.g., by using less material and/or making it in various sizes), and/or to be customized for a user (e.g., by custom-fitting it to the user).

A hockey stick or other sporting implement designed to enhance its use, performance and/or manufacturing, including, for example, by being lightweight, having improved strength, flex, stiffness, impact resistance and/or other properties, reducing scrap waste during its construction, and/or enhancing other aspects of the hockey stick or other sporting implement. For instance, in some embodiments, the hockey stick or other sporting implement may include a structure that is open, such as by being latticed (e.g., trussed), and/or made by additive manufacturing, selective material positioning, etc.

A bat includes a ball hitting portion. The ball hitting portion includes a plurality of fiber-reinforced resin layers stacked in a radial direction relative to a center axis of the ball hitting portion. The plurality of fiber-reinforced resin layers include a first fiber-reinforced resin layer disposed at an outermost circumference in the radial direction among the plurality of fiber-reinforced resin layers. The first fiber-reinforced resin layer has a plurality of first fiber bundles and a plurality of second fiber bundles. The plurality of first fiber bundles are disposed side by side in a short side direction of each of the plurality of first fiber bundles. The plurality of second fiber bundles are disposed side by side in a short side direction of each of the plurality of second fiber bundles. The plurality of first fiber bundles and the plurality of second fiber bundles are woven across one another.

A piece of tubular sports equipment includes: a first layer of composite material including fibers oriented in a first direction; a second layer of composite material that directly contacts the first layer of composite material, that is arranged radially outwardly of the first layer of composite material, and that includes fibers oriented in a second direction that is different than the first direction; and a third layer of composite material that directly contacts the second layer of composite material, that is arranged radially outwardly of the second layer of composite material, that includes fibers oriented in a third direction that is different than the second direction, and that includes an aperture formed through the third layer such that a portion of the second layer is visible through the aperture.