A tunable insert is provided that may be placed within a baseball/softball bat at or near its sweet spot. The insert may allow for fine tuning of the bat's compressive strength, and thus the bat's performance. Two opposing inner sleeves may be received within a tapered inner core and may be drawn together with a threaded fastening member. When the inner sleeves are pulled together, the insert segments are pushed outward. The segmented outer piece of the insert may be directly in contact with a ring member or inner barrel that is positioned between the barrel and the tunable insert. When torque is applied to the threaded fastener, the segmented outer piece expands, thus also expanding the ring member. As the ring member expands, it gets nearer to the bat's inner surface. The relative distance of the ring member to the bat's inner surface tunes the stiffness of the bat.

A method is provided. A center of mass of the bat is calculated based at least in part on the physical characteristics, the length, and the drop. A first and second mass distribution for an insert having a central axis and a length is calculated based at least in part on the calculated center of mass. The first mass distribution is symmetric about the central axis along the entire length, and the second mass distribution includes a first density for at least one low mass region and a second density for a high mass region with the second density is greater than the first density. Then, the insert is 3D printing based at least in part on the first and second mass distributions.

A bat comprises a handle section, a barrel section and a tapered section between the handle section and the barrel section. In some embodiments, the tapered section comprises discrete zones that increase in diameter from the handle section to the barrel section of the bat. In some embodiments, the tapered section comprises six discrete zones. In some embodiments, the discrete zones are one-inch in length.

A tunable insert is provided that may be placed within a baseball/softball bat at or near its sweet spot. The insert may allow for fine tuning of the bat's compressive strength, and thus the bat's performance. Two opposing inner sleeves may be received within a tapered inner core and may be drawn together with a threaded fastening member. When the inner sleeves are pulled together, the insert segments are pushed outward. The segmented outer piece of the insert may be directly in contact with a ring member or inner barrel that is positioned between the barrel and the tunable insert. When torque is applied to the threaded fastener, the segmented outer piece expands, thus also expanding the ring member. As the ring member expands, it gets nearer to the bat's inner surface. The relative distance of the ring member to the bat's inner surface tunes the stiffness of the bat.

A knob sleeve for a ball bat extending along a longitudinal axis and having a tubular handle portion and a knob attached to the handle portion. The knob sleeve includes a tubular body having a distal end and a proximal end. The body defines a central bore for receiving the handle portion. The body includes at least first and second regions positioned adjacent the distal and proximal ends of the body, respectively. The first and second regions have first and second maximum outside diameters, respectively. The second maximum outside diameter is greater than the first maximum outside diameter. Each of the first and second regions has a height measured with respect to the longitudinal axis of at least 0.4 inch.

A bat comprises a handle section, a barrel section and a tapered section between the handle section and the barrel section. In some embodiments, the tapered section comprises discrete zones that increase in diameter from the handle section to the barrel section of the bat. In some embodiments, the tapered section comprises six discrete zones. In some embodiments, the discrete zones are one-inch in length.

A ball bat includes a first bat portion (such as a barrel portion) and a second bat portion (such as a handle). The portions may be spaced apart along the bat's longitudinal axis. A joint connects the first and second bat portions. The joint may be positioned at or near, or centered about, a location of maximum vibration, such as an antinode of the bat. The joint may include a filler material (such as an elastomeric material) at least partially surrounding a rod element. The filler material and the rod element may span a gap between the first and second bat portions. The filler material and the rod element may extend into the first bat portion or the second bat portion. A cover material may be positioned around the filler material. The joint may form a structural link between the bat portions and it may be configured to absorb vibration.

A ball bat includes a first bat portion (such as a barrel portion) and a second bat portion (such as a handle). The portions may be spaced apart along the bat's longitudinal axis. A joint connects the first and second bat portions. The joint may be positioned at or near, or centered about, a location of maximum vibration, such as an antinode of the bat. The joint may include a filler material (such as an elastomeric material) at least partially surrounding a rod element. The filler material and the rod element may span a gap between the first and second bat portions. The filler material and the rod element may extend into the first bat portion or the second bat portion. A cover material may be positioned around the filler material. The joint may form a structural link between the bat portions and it may be configured to absorb vibration.

A ball bat includes a first bat portion (such as a barrel portion) and a second bat portion (such as a handle). The portions may be spaced apart along the bat's longitudinal axis. A joint connects the first and second bat portions. The joint may be positioned at or near, or centered about, a location of maximum vibration, such as an antinode of the bat. The joint may include a filler material (such as an elastomeric material) at least partially surrounding a rod element. The filler material and the rod element may span a gap between the first and second bat portions. The filler material and the rod element may extend into the first bat portion or the second bat portion. A cover material may be positioned around the filler material. The joint may form a structural link between the bat portions and it may be configured to absorb vibration.

A ball retrieving receptacle that attaches to the ball-striking area of a bat. The receptacle comprises a tubular sleeve having a diameter sized to fit tightly or securely around a ball-striking surface of a bat. The tubular sleeve includes a top opening and a bottom opening, and a sloping collar connected to the tubular sleeve. A semisphere hood is connected to the outer rim of the sloping collar, and the semisphere hood includes a semicircle rim extending in front of an opening of the semisphere hood and is connected to the outer rim of the sloping collar. The ball retrieving receptacle is attached to a bat having a handle and a ball-striking surface, wherein ball-striking surface of the bat is located tightly against the tubular sleeve of the ball retrieving receptacle.