A ball collection apparatus constituted of: a control circuitry; a body; motors; wheels arranged to rotate responsive to the motors, the body arranged to move along a surface responsive to the rotation of the plurality of wheels; a collection compartment arranged to maintain a ball within a predetermined area in relation to the body; a ball input port in communication with the collection compartment; and a ball ejector arranged to eject the ball from the collection compartment, wherein the control circuitry is arranged to: receive information regarding the location of the ball; responsive to the received information, control the at least one motor to advance the body towards the location of the ball, the collection compartment arranged to collect the ball through the ball input port; and control the ball ejector to eject the ball from the collection compartment and propel the ejected ball towards a predetermined target area.

A baseball pitching machine that is configured to precisely index and spin a baseball before pitching the baseball. The machine comprises a baseball spinner and launcher that is configured to spin the baseball using at least one spindle, and then launch or pitch the ball using air (i.e., pneumatic). Preferably, the position of the ball spinner and launcher can be adjusted in terms of position in both the x and y directions (i.e., both side to side, and up and down), as well as its angle. The baseball pitching machine is configured to be controllable such that pitches (in terms of type, location and velocity) can be changed on a pitch-by-pitch basis.

Aspects disclosed herein relate to lacrosse heads and sidewalls thereof. The sidewalls include struts which reduce weight and/or reduces stresses which can lead to fatigue failure. In some embodiments, two struts are arranged on the sidewall such that they abut each other and have a similar angle in the ball stop end to scoop end direction of the sidewall, but the two struts cross over each other in a side-to-side direction. When force is applied in a certain direction, one of the struts may be primarily in compression, while its companion strut may be primarily in tension.

A tennis stoke practice device comprises a tube comprising a first end, a second end and a hollow interior. The first end and the second end are operable for joining of accessories. A grip-bud is removably joinable to the first end. The grip-bud is configured to close the hollow interior at the first end. A grip is joined to the tube to abut the grip-bud. The grip-bud and grip comprise an octagonal shape. A movable insert is configured for projectile movement through the hollow interior in which, during a desired swing of the device, a longitudinal axis of the movable insert is substantially aligned with a longitudinal axis of the hollow interior. During an undesired swing of the device, the longitudinal axis of the movable insert rotates out of alignment with the longitudinal axis of the hollow interior.

A portable apparatus propels a projectile such as a golf ball, without the use of any external source of power. A striking driver is retracted, to a non-equilibrium position, by application of force, and is held in the non-equilibrium position. When the striking driver is released, it travels along a guided path and forcibly contacts the projectile, which is held in a loading port. Differential friction devices may be used on the projectile and/or the striking driver, to impart spin to the projectile. A rotary trigger alternately blocks and unblocks the striking driver, enabling control of the release of the striking driver. The apparatus may include various safety devices which prevent accidental release of the striking driver.

A lacrosse head pocket and a related method of manufacture are provided to facilitate consistent, repeatable and/or custom manufacture of lacrosse equipment. The pocket can be constructed from multiple different sections joined with one another, or can be knitted, weaved or otherwise assembled on an automated assembly machine from strands, and/or can be formed as a unitary textile material having regions/sections with different physical and/or mechanical properties. The pocket can be integrally molded within portions of a lacrosse head to eliminate manually constructed connections between the pocket and lacrosse head. The lacrosse head can be integrally molded with a lacrosse handle to provide a one-piece unitary lacrosse stick. The lacrosse pocket body can include one or more fused pocket areas. Related methods of manufacturing also are provided.

A lacrosse head pocket and a related method of manufacture are provided to facilitate consistent, repeatable and/or custom manufacture of lacrosse equipment. The pocket can be constructed from multiple different sections joined with one another, or can be knitted, weaved or otherwise assembled on an automated assembly machine from strands, and/or can be formed as a unitary textile material having regions/sections with different physical and/or mechanical properties. The pocket can be integrally molded within portions of a lacrosse head to eliminate manually constructed connections between the pocket and lacrosse head. The lacrosse head can be integrally molded with a lacrosse handle to provide a one-piece unitary lacrosse stick. The lacrosse pocket body can include one or more fused pocket areas. Related methods of manufacturing also are provided.

A snowball forming apparatus, and method of use, disclosed herein comprises: an elongated shaft and handle; a funnel shaped cover encircling and covering the shaft up to the handle, and the shaft is slide-able within the cover; and a plurality of grapples connected to the distal end of the shaft, and moveable between an open position to collect snow and release a snowball, and a closed position to form a spherical snowball. The apparatus further comprises a plurality of hinge mechanisms connecting the shaft to the grapples to open and close the grapples by pushing the shaft out of the cover (open grapples) and pulling on the shaft (close grapples). In an embodiment, the apparatus comprises a shaft with a triangular cross-section, three concave grapples, and one spring-actuated hinge per grapple. The user is not required to significantly bend over or touch the snow in order to make snowballs.

A snowball launching and batting apparatus comprising a barrel member, a handle member, and a knob feature, the handle member further comprising a primary cradle structure configured to accept, form, and store snow or snowballs. The apparatus further comprises a secondary cradle structure capable of coupling the primary cradle structure and configured to accept, form, and store snow or snowballs. The knob feature may further comprise a depression configured to form snowballs. The apparatus is further configured to have an extended and retracted state. A user inserts snow into the barrel and cradle structure to form a snowball and inserts it into the apparatus while in an extended state. Launching the snowballs from the apparatus may comprise swinging the apparatus or applying a force to the handle member to quickly move it from an extended state to a retracted state.

A ball thrower having a resilient ball holder attached to a flexible line, which may be used to play with a pet dog. After the ball is loaded into frictional engagement with the resilient receiving end of the holder, the user can grip the opposite end of the flexible line before undertaking a forward throwing motion like a pitcher. The user first moves the thrower backward in a cocking phase, and then whipping forward in an acceleration phase until the ball has enough angular momentum to overcome the frictional engagement of the resilient receiving end of the holder such that the ball is thrown forward from the holder while the user holds onto the end of the line in a release phase.