Presently disclosed grip assemblies provide for a selectively removable and replaceable grip for a shaft. Such grip assemblies include a grip sleeve and a grip liner at least partially fixed to an inner grip surface of the grip sleeve. The grip liner is configured to expand as the grip sleeve and grip liner are positioned on the shaft. The grip liner includes a liner feature that engages a shaft feature, which may be integrally formed on the shaft, or may be formed on a shaft sheath on the shaft. Engagement of the liner feature with the shaft feature may align the grip sleeve to the shaft and may substantially prevent rotation of the grip sleeve with respect to the shaft once the grip sleeve is on the shaft. Presently disclosed grip sleeves may be selectively removed from the shaft without damaging the grip sleeve, and without requiring solvents or specialized tools.

Presently disclosed grip assemblies provide for a selectively removable and replaceable grip for a shaft. Such grip assemblies include a grip sleeve and a grip liner at least partially fixed to an inner grip surface of the grip sleeve. The grip liner is configured to expand as the grip sleeve and grip liner are positioned on the shaft. The grip liner includes a liner feature that engages a shaft feature, which may be integrally formed on the shaft, or may be formed on a shaft sheath on the shaft. Engagement of the liner feature with the shaft feature may align the grip sleeve to the shaft and may substantially prevent rotation of the grip sleeve with respect to the shaft once the grip sleeve is on the shaft. Presently disclosed grip sleeves may be selectively removed from the shaft without damaging the grip sleeve, and without requiring solvents or specialized tools.

An iron-type golf club incorporating a stress reducing feature, which may include an aperture. The location and size of the stress reducing feature and aperture selectively increase deflection of the face.

A flexible grip for a golf club having in one version a groove with an acute angle undercut grove in either or both the inner and outer surface to improve gripability. In another version, either or both of the inner and outer surface may be textured with peaks and valleys with radius less than 0.2 mm. In another version, either or both of the inner and outer surfaces may have a textured surface with raised portions having a height less than 0.3 mm. In another version, either or both the inner and outer surface may have a microtexture with raised portions having a transverse section width not greater than 0.3 mm with a height about 2 multiples of the transverse section width. In another version, the wall of the grip has voids or hollow spaces for improved cushioning for the user's grip.

A sports racquet attachment includes a shaped body for attachment to a portion of a racquet. The ball retrieval racquet attachment has a pick-up cup at an end of the ball retrieval racquet attachment and a butt cap opening at another end of the ball retrieval racquet attachment. The pick-up cap has at least one ball finger interior to the pick-up cup. The butt cap opening has at least one butt cap stopper interior to the butt cap.

A golf swing training device, comprising a cylindrical rod and a cylindrical sleeve configured to receive the rod. The rod has a first groove located on the rod and a second groove spaced a distance apart from the first groove on the rod. A diameter of the sleeve is larger than a diameter of the rod. The sleeve is configured to rotate around the rod but confined to the distance between the first and second grooves.

A golf club has a first shaft coupled to a club head, a second shaft configured to slidably engage a portion of the first shaft, a grip coupled to the second shaft, and an adjustable length shaft assembly received by the second shaft and configured to allow a portion of the first shaft to slide in relation to the second shaft in a first configuration, and to restrict a portion of the first shaft from sliding in relation to the second shaft in a second configuration. The grip is restricted from rotation about the first shaft or the second shaft as the first shaft slides in relation to the second shaft.

A method of enhancing surface strike performance, includes providing a club head having a face surface and a receiving portion recessed into the club face. The receiving portion is configured to receive a strike surface material. The surface strike material is an amorphous ceramic material which is inserted as an inlay into the receiving portion as a liquid slurry. The slurry is distributed evenly within said receiving portion forming a uniform layer of ceramic material filling said receiving portion. Microgrooves are added to the ceramic material in a vertical direction to further increase the strike performance of the club head.

Methods for fabricating a 3D braided material and exemplary 3D braided material for sporting implements are disclosed. The exemplary braids can be incorporated into any sporting implements, such as, baseball bats, lacrosse sticks, hockey sticks, rackets, helmets, and other protective equipment. The example sporting implement can be constructed, partially or entirely, with a braided three dimensional structure. The 3D braided material can be a multi-directional layup having tows oriented in three directions (X, Y and Z) and also at any angle created by the combination of two or three directions. A single woven preform can be formed that can have a near net shape of the formed product, with the fibers oriented in a way that will be optimal for the particular application.

Methods for fabricating a 3D braided material and exemplary 3D braided material for sporting implements are disclosed. The exemplary braids can be incorporated into any sporting implements, such as, baseball bats, lacrosse sticks, hockey sticks, rackets, helmets, and other protective equipment. The example sporting implement can be constructed, partially or entirely, with a braided three dimensional structure. The 3D braided material can be a multi-directional layup having tows oriented in three directions (X, Y and Z) and also at any angle created by the combination of two or three directions. A single woven preform can be formed that can have a near net shape of the formed product, with the fibers oriented in a way that will be optimal for the particular application.