Disclosed is apparatus for use with a sports stick of the type that has a portion which, in use, is typically covered with a grippable material. The apparatus includes a body of heat shrink material, the body being adapted to receive the portion in spaced-relation and further adapted, upon receipt of heat and when in receipt of the portion, to shrink to a working size that surrounds the portion in close-fitting relation. The body can be provided with features that, at least when the body is shrunk to the working size, renders the body grippable. The features can be apertures.

Disclosed is apparatus for use with a sports stick of the type that has a portion which, in use, is typically covered with a grippable material. The apparatus includes a body of heat shrink material, the body being adapted to receive the portion in spaced-relation and further adapted, upon receipt of heat and when in receipt of the portion, to shrink to a working size that surrounds the portion in close-fitting relation. The body can be provided with features that, at least when the body is shrunk to the working size, renders the body grippable. The features can be apertures.

A hockey-stick blade includes a heel region, a toe region spaced longitudinally from the heel region, and a mid-region located between the heel region and the toe region. The toe region includes one or more reinforcing elements, optionally of different lengths, located at different vertical positions within the toe region. The blade further includes a hosel that optionally is tailored to substantially match the strength and stiffness characteristics of an attached or integral hockey stick shaft. The mid-region of the blade exhibits improved feel and flexibility characteristics due to the increased stiffness in the toe region.

A hockey-stick blade includes a heel region, a toe region spaced longitudinally from the heel region, and a mid-region located between the heel region and the toe region. The toe region includes one or more reinforcing elements, optionally of different lengths, located at different vertical positions within the toe region. The blade further includes a hosel that optionally is tailored to substantially match the strength and stiffness characteristics of an attached or integral hockey stick shaft. The mid-region of the blade exhibits improved feel and flexibility characteristics due to the increased stiffness in the toe region.

A goalkeeper's hockey stick with an angled shaft is disclosed. The goalkeeper stick is comprised of a shaft, paddle and blade. The shaft connects to the paddle which connects to the blade. The portion of the shaft where it connects to the paddle is beveled to provide a grip portion of the shaft where the goalkeeper's gloved hand can grip the stick in a way that provides a more ergonomic position for the goalkeeper's hand.

A goalkeeper's hockey stick with an angled shaft is disclosed. The goalkeeper stick is comprised of a shaft, paddle and blade. The shaft connects to the paddle which connects to the blade. The portion of the shaft where it connects to the paddle is beveled to provide a grip portion of the shaft where the goalkeeper's gloved hand can grip the stick in a way that provides a more ergonomic position for the goalkeeper's hand.

A hollow wall composite tube for improving performance in sports shafts and lightweight structural members is disclosed that includes: a constituent tube, for forming the wall, that comprises: a flexible core component, for providing an adjustable shape on which to wind or braid filaments or fabric; and an adjustable shape hollow structure, for reducing weight, providing a path for the core to be evacuated, tightly conformed to the core, and tow, braid filaments or fabric, for providing a reinforcing fiber matrix for saturation with epoxy, spirally wrapped, applied or braided on the constituent tube. Methods of producing contemplated composite tubes are also disclosed.

Described is a knob for application to the gripping end of a hollow stick. The knob comprises a rounded, oblique, cylindrical support structure, transitional shaft and tang aligned on a common longitudinal central axis. The support structure comprises a greater diameter rounded, cantle-like support and gripping structures.

Described is a knob for application to the gripping end of a hollow stick. The knob comprises a rounded, oblique, cylindrical support structure, transitional shaft and tang aligned on a common longitudinal central axis. The support structure comprises a greater diameter rounded, cantle-like support and gripping structures.