Wilson Sporting Goods Co.

Edwin D Vander Pol

Mark A Fritzke

Robert T Thurman

Ty B Goodwin

Sean S Epling

Joshua S Stenzler

Brent R Slater

Richard E Moritz

Ryan M Raagas

A bat customization method includes the steps of capturing images of a batter's swing, determining a swing plane angle of the batter's swing at ball impact at a middle elevation of a strike zone of the batter based upon the captured images, and providing a bat for the batter. The bat has circumferentially spaced launch angle boosters. Each of the launch angle boosters extends along the axis at an angle based upon the determined swing plane angle.

Ball bat including ball launch angle boosters

A ball bat including one of a left-hand configuration designated for a left-handed batter and a right hand configuration designated for a right-handed batter. The left hand configuration is different than the right hand configuration. The ball bat further includes one of a left-hand indicia indicating the left hand configuration and a right hand indicia indicating the right hand configuration.

A ball bat for impacting a ball and extending along a longitudinal axis may include a handle portion and a barrel portion coupled to the handle portion. The barrel portion may include circumferentially spaced launch angle boosters. Each of the launch angle boosters extend along the axis at an angle of at least 3&#xb0; and no greater than 12&#xb0; from the longitudinal axis.

A ball bat extending about a longitudinal axis. The bat includes a bat frame having a handle portion and a tubular barrel portion, a knob coupled to the handle portion; and an annular member. The bat has a proximal end, a distal end, a center of percussion and a length of at least thirty inches. The barrel portion has an inner surface. At least a portion of the inner surface of the barrel portion includes a first set of projections. The annular member includes an outer radial surface having a second set of projections. The annular member is positioned within the barrel portion such that the first set of projections engages the second set of projections to inhibit longitudinal movement of the annular member with respect to the barrel portion in at least one direction.

Ball bat having performance adjusting annular member

A ball bat extending about a longitudinal axis. The bat includes a bat frame, a knob and an annular member. The bat frame has a handle portion and a tubular barrel portion. The bat has a proximal end, a distal end, a center of percussion and a length of at least thirty inches. The barrel portion has an inner surface. The knob is coupled to the handle portion. The annular member is coupled to the inner surface. The annular member has a center of mass and is positioned within the barrel portion such that the center of mass is longitudinally spaced apart from the center of percussion by a first distance of at least 0.25 inches. The annular member increases the moment of inertia of the bat measured about an axis positioned six inches from the base of the knob of the bat by no more than twenty percent.

A ball bat including a bat frame and a performance adjusting annular member positioned within the barrel portion. The bat frame has a handle portion and a barrel portion. The annular member has an outer diameter, a weight within the range of 0.4 to 1.85 ounces and a radial cross-sectional area. The radial cross sectional area has a maximum height and a maximum width. The maximum height over the maximum width defines a first aspect ratio. The outer diameter over the maximum width defines a second aspect ratio. The first aspect ratio is at least 0.5 and the second aspect ratio is greater than 1.5. The annular member has at least first and second annular portions. The first annular portion extends over no more than 50 percent of the width of the body and includes over sixty percent of the mass of the body.

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Beaverton, OR, United States of America

Edwin D Vander Pol