MOMENT OF INERTIA BALL BAT STRUCTURE FITTING DEVICE

Abstract

A variable moment of inertia (MOI) bat fitting device that is used to measure a hitter's output at various weight distributions.

Claims

1. A moment of inertia ball bat structure fitting device, said device comprising: a ball bat structure that has been modified in the following manner: said ball bat structure having a near end and a distal end, said ball bat structure having a handle region near said near end and a barrel region near said distal end, said barrel region having a span for a mass to be positioned, said span having a lesser diameter shaft than said barrel of said ball bat structure, said span having a length in the range of about 5 inches to about 7 inches; said span having a mass encirculating said shaft, said mass being adjustable for said length of said span, said mass being capable of being secured on said shaft at any predetermined position on said shaft; said ball bat structure containing a swing output metric sensor.

2. The moment of inertia ball bat structure fitting device of claim 1 wherein the overall length of said ball bat structure is 24 to 42 inches.

3. The moment of inertia ball bat structure fitting device of claim 1 wherein the weight of said ball bat structure is 14 ounces to 42 ounces.

4. The moment of inertia ball bat structure fitting device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the ball bat structure is manufactured from wood.

5. The moment of inertia ball bat structure fitting device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the ball bat structure is manufactured from metal.

6. The moment of inertia ball bat structure fitting device as claimed in claim 5 wherein the metal is aluminum.

7. The moment of inertia ball bat structure fitting device as claimed in claim 5 wherein the metal is titanium.

8. The moment of inertia ball bat structure fitting device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the ball bat structure is manufactured from composites.

9. The moment of inertia ball bat structure fitting device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the ball bat structure is manufactured from plastic.

10. The moment of inertia ball bat structure fitting device as claimed in claim 9 wherein the plastic is crosslinked polyethylene.

11. The moment of inertia ball bat structure fitting device as claimed in claim 9 wherein the plastic is polypropylene.

12. A method of evaluating a person's hitting performance using a ball bat structure as claimed in claim 1, said method comprising: A. providing said ball bat structure; B. allowing said person take multiple swings in a controlled environment while setting said mass at different locations on said shaft before each swing; C. capturing said metric from said sensor for each said swing; D. combining and evaluating said metrics to compare a moment of inertia for various ball bat structure models.

13. A moment of inertia ball bat structure fitting device, said device comprising: a ball bat structure that has been modified in the following manner: said ball bat structure having a near end and a distal end, said ball bat structure having a handle region near said near end and a barrel region near said distal end, said barrel region having a span for a mass to be positioned, said span having a lesser diameter shaft than said barrel of said ball bat structure, said span having a length in the range of about 5 inches to about 7 inches; said span having a mass encirculating said shaft, said mass being adjustable for said length of said span, said mass being capable of being secured on said shaft at any predetermined position on said shaft.

14. The moment of inertia ball bat structure fitting device of claim 13 wherein the overall length of said ball bat structure is 24 to 42 inches.

15. The moment of inertia ball bat structure fitting device of claim 13 wherein the weight of said ball bat structure is 14 ounces to 42 ounces.

16. The moment of inertia ball bat structure fitting device as claimed in claim 13 wherein the ball bat structure is manufactured from wood.

17. The moment of inertia ball bat structure fitting device as claimed in claim 13 wherein the ball bat structure is manufactured from metal.

18. The moment of inertia ball bat structure fitting device as claimed in claim 17 wherein the metal is aluminum.

19. The moment of inertia ball bat structure fitting device as claimed in claim 17 wherein the metal is titanium.

20. The moment of inertia ball bat structure fitting device as claimed in claim 13 wherein the ball bat structure is manufactured from composites.

21. The moment of inertia ball bat structure fitting device as claimed in claim 13 wherein the ball bat structure is manufactured from plastic.

22. The moment of inertia ball bat structure fitting device as claimed in claim 21 wherein the plastic is crosslinked polyethylene.

23. The moment of inertia ball bat structure fitting device as claimed in claim 21 wherein the plastic is polypropylene.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] FIG. 1 shows the moment of inertia ball bat structure fitting device.

[0029] FIG. 2 shows the moment of inertia ball bat structure fitting device with a swing output metric sensor.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0030] FIG. 1 shows the moment of inertia ball bat structure fitting device 2. The moment of inertia ball bat structure fitting device 2 has near end 4 and a distal end 6. The near end 4 of the moment of inertia ball bat structure fitting device 2 is known as the handle region 8. The distal end 6 of the moment of inertia ball bat structure fitting device 2 is known as the barrel region 10. This barrel region 10 of the distal end 6 of the moment of inertia ball bat structure fitting device 2 has a span 12. This span 12 is generally 5.5 inches to 7.5 inches long. This span 12 consists of a lesser diameter than the barrel 10 of the bat. This span 12 has an encirculating mass 16 that is secured at some point along the lesser diameter shaft 12. The mass 16 is securable so that it cannot move on the span 12 and is movable to diagnose MOI in individual players. This fitting is conducted in a controlled environment. The controlled environment is defined as one in which the person conducting the fitting can control the variables being tested. In our situation, there is no ball, but if the hitter wants to maximize potential power output at six inches in front of the plate, then the fitting would be done by considering the results from that location more heavily. Perhaps a different MOI would be more beneficial for that hitter in that location.

[0031] FIG. 2 shows the moment of inertia ball bat structure fitting device 2 with a sensor 18. The swing output metric sensor 18 is used to record metrics of the fitting. The swing output metric sensor 18 is attached to the handle region 8 or it is imbedded into the handle region 8.

[0032] It has been discovered that the utility of the invention is applied to bats of various sizes and shapes, this accommodates players of all ages and ability levels. Generally speaking, bats range from 24 to 42 in length with weights ranging from fourteen ounces to forty-two ounces. These lengths and weights are intended to represent the spectrum of wood bats used across all levels of play.