A composite barrel layer for a bat including a fiber pre-preg layer with repetitive folds generally forming part triangle shapes incorporated into a fiber reinforced composite layer of the barrel portion of the bat.

According to the present disclosure, a leg guard is provided with a splint connector that connects a knee guard with a thigh guard. The splint is made of a material and shaped in a way that allows the connector to hold tension like a rope, to hold compression like a support beam, to bend in one plane like a single hinge through the full range of the knee joint, to twist slightly and to create and maintain a consistent separation distance between the knee guard and the thigh guard while the leg guard including the connector is being worn.

A chest protector includes a protective vest portion and a harness portion to hold the vest portion on a user. The harness portion includes a first side strap and a second side strap, each of the first and second side straps being connected to the vest portion on opposing sides of the vest portion; a first slide connected to the first side strap; a second slide connected to the second side strap; a central strap passing through the first slide and the second slide and forming a loop connecting the first and second slides; a vertical strap connected to the central strap; and a strap adjuster connecting the vest portion and the vertical strap. The vertical strap passes through the strap adjuster and a free end of the vertical strap can be pulled to tighten the harness portion around a user. The vertical strap may be the only adjustable strap.

A swing trainer configured to draw the elbows of the player together by the cocking of the player's wrists. The swing trainer includes arm mounts configured to mount to a player's arms at an intermediate position; and a link with at least a portion connected to the mounts and extending therebetween and arranged such that the portion of the link between the arms is configured to shorten during a swing of a stroke to inhibit splaying of the elbows of the player during the stroke, the link being slidably connected to the one of the mounts so it may slide past. A corresponding method of swing training using said swing trainer is also disclosed.

In an aspect, a sports ball includes a core including a negative Poisson's ratio (NPR) foam material, in which the core has a Poisson's ratio of between 0 and −1, and in which the NPR foam material includes an NPR polymer foam; and a cover layer surrounding the core. In an aspect, a golf club includes an elongated shaft; a grip disposed at a first end of the elongated shaft; and a head connected to a second end of the elongated shaft, the head having a flat face configured for contact with a golf ball, in which the flat face is formed of a negative Poisson's ratio (NPR) foam material, in which the head has a Poisson's ratio of between 0 and −1, and in which the NPR foam material includes an NPR metal foam, an NPR ceramic foam, or an NPR-PPR composite foam.

The present disclosure provides a method for batting practice. The method includes securing a baseball training device to a leg of a user; positioning a stand assembly adjacent to the user; and swinging a baseball bat such that a ball positioned on the stand assembly attaches to the plate of the device. The device includes a body and a plate attached to and extending outwardly from the body.

Systems and methods for sensing and monitoring various athletic performance metrics, e.g., during the course of a game, a practice, a training session, training drills, and the like, are described. These systems and methods can provide useful metrics for players and coaches relating to athletic performances in various sports, including various team sports.

A batting cage assembly including a plurality of upright frames to support a batting cage net, where the plurality of upright frames are interconnected using cross members that include two vertical end segments and a horizontal segment positioned between the two corresponding vertical end segments. A batting cage net is connected to the plurality of upright frames.

A customizable training bat comprising a handle on a proximal end, an endcap on a distal end, a plurality of body segments used for hitting balls extending between the handle and the endcap from the proximal end to the distal end over an extendable support rod, wherein said the extendable support rod is passed through each of the plurality of body segments. Body segments may have provisions for interlocking to avoid shifting in between adjacent body segments, or between handle and body segments. An optional hollow casing that encloses the body segments and connects with the handle in manner that makes it extendable, provides a hitting surface. Further, the handle has an opening for accommodating the extendable support rod and the casing. The handle also optionally has detachable knob of variable weight. The length, shape, thickness, swing weight and size of the training bat may be customized according to preferences of an athlete. The length of the training bat is varied by adding or removing the body segments. The size and shape of the bat is varied by using the desired body segments of varying dimensions. The swing weight is varied by adjusting relative placement of body segments of varying weight along the length of the training bat in between the handle and the endcap from the proximal to the distal ends.

Systems and methods for tracking a sports ball assembly in real time during a sporting event are disclosed. A structure of the sports ball assembly is also disclosed. The sports ball assembly comprises at least one electronic circuit embedded or attached to a sports ball. The sports ball assembly is in network communication with a processor via at least two receivers within a sports arena. The sports ball assembly generates and transmits UWB data packets comprising movement-related data for the sports ball assembly in real time at a predetermined rate. The at least two receivers receive the UWB data packets and transmit to the processor with time stamps. The processor is operable to determine a movement of the sports ball assembly based on the UWB data packets and the time stamps received from the at least two receivers.