An emblem member having a large degree of freedom in design can be obtained. The emblem member comprises a base portion, a mark portion, and a transparent member. The base portion has a surface. The mark portion is formed on a surface of the base portion. The transparent member is connected to the base portion so as to cover at least a portion of the mark portion. In this case, the mark portion can be visually recognized through the transparent member, and the transparent member can have a three-dimensional shape determined independently of the shape and material(s) of the mark portion. This can provide an increased degree of freedom in designing the emblem member.

An apparatus includes a non-transitory computer-readable medium to direct a processor to: receive signals indicating a made basketball shot or a missed basketball shot of a basketball by a person during a basketball shooting session, receive signals indicating a location from which each made basketball shot is made, and determine and output a user cumulative score for the person for the basketball shooting session, the cumulative score being based upon the location of each made basketball shot.

A ball glove engineered with exposed edge stitching, as opposed to turned leather, whereby the front (palm) and back are joined with one another in the same orientation as they are die cut. The resulting mating of front and back without welting exposes the edge of the leather (or other material) constituting the ball glove with joint lines on the back of the finger(s). Without turning the ball glove, other improvements may be seen such as the use of painted edge, exotic material types, and hard embellishments.

A device for training athletes with direction control, the training device having modular sections connected by a common elastic material, such as an elastic cord, the modular sections being capable of being connected to form a rectangular configuration and disconnected for storage, the device when connected providing a physical and visual guide for the user on any chosen surface. The modular sections can be tubular sections having ninety-degree connectors to form a rectangular configuration, the modular sections and connectors capable of being various sizes, shapes, lengths and widths to form a rectangular configuration when interconnected. The various modular sections and/or connectors can be configured with an elastic cord, hinges or have one or more modular section that are telescopic in nature, which make the device capable to be quickly and easily reduced or enlarged in the size of the device while keeping each component of the device fully connected and in proper order.

A baseball bat, that is formed of an elongate shell including a striking section, a handle section and a tapered section between the striking section and the handle section, further includes a tubular damper member received within a portion of a hollow cavity of the striking section. The tubular damper member is reduced in diameter relative to the hollow cavity and is supported by a foam layer extending about a circumference of the tubular damper member and which is under resilient compression between the tubular damper member and the striking section of the shell which surrounds the tubular damper member. A barrier layer between the foam layer and the shell is bonded with a first adhesive to the shell and with a second adhesive to the barrier layer to prevent the first adhesive from migrating into the foam layer.

A training bat assembly for improving a user's swing of a baseball bat is provided. In one embodiment, the assembly includes a bat portion and a plug or cap portion, where the plug or cap portion is configured to mate with a distal end of the bat portion. For example, the bat may include a circular opening, and the plug may include a circular rod that is configured to fit within the opening. Alternatively, a cap with a circular opening can be used, where the cap is configured to fit over a distal end of the bat. By mating the plug or cap with the bat, and swinging the bat from a first position to a second position, the plug or cap is propelled from the bat, where the resulting location of the plug or cap can be used to determine the correctness of the user's swing was.

Described herein are devices and systems relating to sports training equipment, for example, for baseball. These devices and systems can comprise a mat with markers identifying a plurality of positions on the mat. In some embodiments, the system can comprise removably attachable footpads to identify ideal foot positions for an athletic performance. In some embodiments, the footpads comprise one or more pressure sensors. The system can comprise one or more position sensors on a ball, and one or more position sensors removably attachable to a hand-held sports instrument. In some embodiments, the system can comprise a memory, communicatively coupled to a processor and a camera, with executable instructions to implement a set-up component, a user recognition component, a practice component, and instructional component, and a play component.

A ball tossing device has a base and a lever, with the lever having a foot portion and a tossing portion, and the base acting as a fulcrum for the lever. In some examples, the foot portion and the tossing portion may be removably coupled to one another. In some examples, a method of using the ball tossing device includes a user placing a ball on the tossing portion, stomping a foot on the foot portion, thereby actuating the lever and tossing the ball upward from the tossing portion, and then hitting the ball with a bat.

An athletic leg brace training apparatus coupled to a user's rear leg to enhance swing mechanics is provided. The leg brace training apparatus includes a brace member having an upper portion connected to a lower portion, the upper portion having a first longitudinal axis, the lower portion having a second longitudinal axis, a first strap with opposing ends coupled to the upper portion of the brace member and designed to conform around the user's rear leg, and a second strap with opposing ends coupled to the lower portion of the brace member and designed to conform around the user's rear leg. The first longitudinal axis of the upper portion of the brace member is oriented within an approximate range of 115 to 145 degrees relative to the second longitudinal axis of the lower portion of the brace member.

A ball bat extending along a longitudinal axis. The bat includes a handle portion, a barrel portion and an end cap. The barrel portion includes a proximal region and a distal region. The proximal region of the barrel portion is coupled to the handle portion by a first pivot joint. The distal region of the barrel portion is coupled to the end cap by a second pivot joint. The first and second pivot joints movably support the barrel portion relative to the longitudinal axis.