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.

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.

An end-cap assembly is configured to be attached to a distal end of a barrel of a ball bat. In some embodiments, the end-cap assembly includes a sprung-mass portion, a base portion, and one or more flexible members connecting the sprung-mass portion to the base portion. The sprung-mass portion is movable relative to the base portion along one or more directions, such as one or more directions transverse to the longitudinal axis of the ball bat. A ball bat may include a handle, a barrel attached to the handle, and an end-cap assembly attached to the barrel. The end-cap assembly may include a sprung-mass portion, a base portion, and one or more flexible members connecting the sprung-mass portion to the base portion to allow the sprung-mass portion to move relative to the distal end of the ball bat.

An end-cap assembly is configured to be attached to a distal end of a barrel of a ball bat. In some embodiments, the end-cap assembly includes a sprung-mass portion, a base portion, and one or more flexible members connecting the sprung-mass portion to the base portion. The sprung-mass portion is movable relative to the base portion along one or more directions, such as one or more directions transverse to the longitudinal axis of the ball bat. A ball bat may include a handle, a barrel attached to the handle, and an end-cap assembly attached to the barrel. The end-cap assembly may include a sprung-mass portion, a base portion, and one or more flexible members connecting the sprung-mass portion to the base portion to allow the sprung-mass portion to move relative to the distal end of the ball bat.

A ball bat configured for impacting a ball. The ball bat extends along a longitudinal axis and includes a unitary bat frame and a pivot joint. The unitary bat frame includes a handle portion and a barrel portion having a distal region. The pivot joint is coupled to the distal region of the barrel portion. The pivot joint movably supports the barrel portion relative to the longitudinal axis such that the distal region of the barrel portion may pivot towards and away from the longitudinal axis about the pivot joint.

A ball bat configured for impacting a ball. The ball bat extends along a longitudinal axis and includes a unitary bat frame and a pivot joint. The unitary bat frame includes a handle portion and a barrel portion having a distal region. The pivot joint is coupled to the distal region of the barrel portion. The pivot joint movably supports the barrel portion relative to the longitudinal axis such that the distal region of the barrel portion may pivot towards and away from the longitudinal axis about the pivot joint.

A barrel of a ball bat may include a composite laminate with a plurality of composite plies. One or more translaminar elements may pass through the composite plies and around a circumference of the barrel to reduce relative movement between the plies. The translaminar elements may include a first line of stitching, which may include aramid fiber. In some embodiments, the first line of stitching forms two or more coils around the barrel. Lines of stitching may be positioned on opposing sides of a center of percussion of the ball bat. In some embodiments, the translaminar elements may include a line of staples distributed around the circumference of the barrel. A method of making a ball bat may include arranging plies of composite material to form a cylinder, passing a first translaminar element through the plies, and curing the assembly of plies to form a barrel of the ball bat.

A barrel of a ball bat may include a composite laminate with a plurality of composite plies. One or more translaminar elements may pass through the composite plies and around a circumference of the barrel to reduce relative movement between the plies. The translaminar elements may include a first line of stitching, which may include aramid fiber. In some embodiments, the first line of stitching forms two or more coils around the barrel. Lines of stitching may be positioned on opposing sides of a center of percussion of the ball bat. In some embodiments, the translaminar elements may include a line of staples distributed around the circumference of the barrel. A method of making a ball bat may include arranging plies of composite material to form a cylinder, passing a first translaminar element through the plies, and curing the assembly of plies to form a barrel of the ball bat.

A ball bat, extending along a longitudinal axis and configured for impacting a ball, may include a handle portion, an end cap, a barrel and a tubular insert. The barrel longitudinally extends along the longitudinal axis between the handle portion and the end cap. The barrel has a distal end and an inner surface, a portion of which proximate the distal end forms an insert mounting portion. The tubular insert may have a cantilevered portion having an outer surface separated from the inner surface. The cantilevered portion is cantilevered from the insert mounting portion independent of the end cap and forms a majority of a length of the tubular insert.

A ball bat, extending along a longitudinal axis and configured for impacting a ball, may include a handle portion, an end cap, a barrel and a tubular insert. The barrel longitudinally extends along the longitudinal axis between the handle portion and the end cap. The barrel has a distal end and an inner surface, a portion of which proximate the distal end forms an insert mounting portion. The tubular insert may have a cantilevered portion having an outer surface separated from the inner surface. The cantilevered portion is cantilevered from the insert mounting portion independent of the end cap and forms a majority of a length of the tubular insert.