A baseball or softball alignment training device comprising a first leg having a general length and having a first end at one end of the general length and a second end at the distal end opposite from said first end. A second leg having a general length and having a first end at one end of the general length and a second end at the distal and opposite from said first end. Aa first hinge member carried by the second end of said first leg. The first hinge member having a first abutment edge. The second hinge member carried by the second end of the second leg. The second hinge member having a second abutment edge. The first and second hinge members pivotally interconnected and wherein the first abutment edge of the first hinge member abuts the second abutment edge of the second hinge member at a position wherein the first leg and the second leg are perpendicular to each other forming a right angle.

Articles, kits, and methods for enabling an individual to improve their top-hand grasp of a handled object, such as a baseball bat. An article has an arcuate inner portion having a groove that extends along a length thereof, configured to reversibly engage the handled object. The article also has an irregular outer portion with a thumb support that arcuately extends from the irregular outer portion, configured to reversibly engage the individual's top-hand. During use of the article in a method of the invention, the article enables the individual to grasp the handled object with the fingers of their top-hand, rather than the palm and thumb of their top-hand, to improve acceleration, velocity, precision, accuracy, and form of the individual's swing when the article is not used, as well as improved safety and consistent grip technique when it is used.

A bat, which has a hollow barrel and an internal assembly configured to resist deformation of the hollow barrel, is disclosed. The internal assembly includes multiple rods disposed longitudinally within the hollow barrel. The internal assembly can include a deformable ring having a substantially circular outer wall having a diameter less than an inner diameter of the hollow barrel and multiple holes, with each hole configured to at least partially receive a rod of the multiple rods. The bat can have an end cap including end cap holes extending partially through the end cap, with each end cap hole configured to at least partially receive a rod.

A training device includes an adjustable and free-standing base, a rod affixed to the base and extended upward therefrom, a first coupling attached to a distal end of the rod, a swivel arm attached to the first coupling and extended vertically downward relative to the rod, a gripping implement connected to the swivel arm and being configured to support a distal end of a baseball/softball bat at an elevated pre-swing position, and a second coupling attached to the gripping implement and extended along a curvilinear path terminating beneath the gripping implement, wherein the second coupling further supports the baseball/softball bat. The gripping implement is configured to freely swing about a bottom end of the swivel arm and detachably receive a hitting end of the baseball/softball bat.

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.

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.

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.

A pad protecting a pitcher's thigh has a tube containing a flexible pad around a front of the tube but not between the pitcher's legs and at least a portion of the back of the tube. A belt encircles the pitcher's waist and a padded top portion and connecting strip connect to the belt and extend laterally from the pitcher's navel to just past the pitcher's hip and extends downward to connect to the front of the tube. The padding covers a strike area where the pitcher's glove arm and glove hit the pitcher's hip and thigh when throwing a fast pitch softball.

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.