A quick access shroud at least partially encapsulates a sport glove and/or a ball for storage and portability, while enabling facilitated access to the glove and/or ball through two uniquely positioned fastening mechanisms. The shroud is formed in a general shape of the sport glove, such as a baseball glove. A first panel and a second panel join together at a perimeter region. A section of the perimeter region is not permanently fastened to enable passage of the glove and/or ball through a perimeter fastener. The first panel comprises a central portion that detachably attaches to a central region of the first panel. A hole forms in the first panel when the central portion is detached. The hole enables quick access to only the ball. A central fastener regulates passage through the hole. An oil may coat the inner surface of the panels to lubricate the glove.

A variety of swing training devices that are arranged to support a ball to be struck are described. At least one moveable object is positioned within a chamber located adjacent the ball support. The moveable object is arranged such that it can be seen by a hitter after the ball is struck when the hitter is looking at a point of contact where the ball is struck. The moveable objects are arranged to move when the ball is stuck and a variety of challenge games can be played that require the batter to identify something that happened to the moveable objects—thereby providing motivation to encourage the batter to focus his or her eyes on the region of contact.

The present invention relates to a hinged leg guard that may be used by catchers in diamond sports like baseball or softball. The hinged leg guard preferably includes a thigh guard, knee guard, shin guard that may be attached to one another by a flexible fabric. The thigh guard and shin guard also are preferably attached to a double hinge member that allows them to move relative to the knee guard. The knee guard also is preferably coupled to the double hinge member. When the hinged leg guard alternates between the extended and contracted position, an extension member of the knee guard preferably translates in one translational degree of freedom within a receiver of the hinge member. The translational movement preferably helps to keep the knee guard adjacent to the knee when a wearer crouches.

This invention provides sports ball having asymmetrical traction and/or asymmetrical surface structure. The asymmetrical traction is useful for differentially controlling ball spin and trajectory height as the ball is projected from a pitching machine. The asymmetrical surface structure is useful for differentially controlling the lateral component of the ball's trajectory. Optionally, the ball is a pitching machine ball. The method also provides a method of projecting the ball from a pitching machine.

A sensor system includes an airbag engaged with the sole structure of an article of footwear, the airbag configured to compress and expand during use of the article of footwear, a force sensor engaged with the airbag and configured to detect force on the airbag based on changes in capacitance as the airbag compresses and expands, a port connected to the article of footwear and configured for communication with an electronic module, and one or more conductive leads extending from the force sensor to the port to place the force sensor in communication with the port. The system may be used with an article of footwear including an upper member at least partially defining a foot-receiving chamber and a sole structure engaged with the upper member.

Training equipment includes a hollow shaft having a sidewall defining an internal cavity and at least one polymer material filling at least a portion of the internal cavity. The polymer material may fill the entire internal cavity of the hollow shaft. The polymer material may be a visco-elastic polymer material or polyurethane. A spacer or a filler may fill at least a portion of the internal cavity. A method of making weighted training equipment with a hollow shaft having a sidewall defining an internal cavity may include injecting a curable composition into at least a portion of the internal cavity. The method may further include curing the curable composition into a polymer material.

A hollow non-wood baseball or softball bat wherein the impact portion of the bat contains an inner multi-walled barrel that is positioned by means of a (i) foam insert, (ii) tube extending from the bat's knob, or (iii) line attached to the bat's knob and end cap and extending throughout the bat such that the inner barrel does not come into contact with the inside wall of the bat when the bat is at rest yet when swung the inner barrel is allowed to move so as to amplify the rebound effect given to the ball upon impact with the bat.

The present disclosure is directed to an anchor assembly for placement in the ground. The assembly may include a shell with a lower end configured to be at least partially underground. An insert is provided that accepts a base, such as a baseball base or similar, and allows for built-up dirt and debris to be quickly and easily removed from the assembly so that bases and the like will be properly positioned.

A method includes anchoring a loop strap and a hook strap at a first surface of a rectangular arcuate panel proximate a first end of the first surface, providing a retaining element anchored to the rectangular arcuate panel, with the retaining element forming a loop, and providing an extension strap anchored to the rectangular arcuate panel proximate the retaining element to form a fielding aid accessory. The method also includes wrappably attaching the anchored first hook strap with the anchored first loop strap around a forearm of an athlete and securely positioning fingers of a hand thereof by way of the loop of the retaining element such that the forearm contacts a second surface of the rectangular arcuate panel. The fielding aid accessory is configured to be used by the athlete in two modes of operation based on a configuration of coupling of the extension strap.

A batting glove for baseball or softball may include a glove base and a reinforcement layer set. The glove base may include a palmar region, a dorsal region located on an opposite exterior side of the batting glove from the palmar region, a plurality of finger regions, a wrist region at a bottom of the glove base, and an ulnar border region. The ulnar border region may be located along an outermost edge region of the glove base following a length of the little finger region along an outermost side of the little finger region. The reinforcement layer set may be connected to and exterior of the glove base in a manner that covers at least a portion of each of (a) the palmar region, (b) the ulnar border region, and (c) the dorsal region.