DUAL-FLAT-END TRAINING BAT AND METHODS OF USE AND MANUFACTURE

Abstract

A dual-flat-end bat for hitting a ball, in which the bat has a handle region, a first flat end paddle region defined by first and second parallel planar surfaces having a first orientation, and a second flat end paddle region defined by third and fourth parallel planar surfaces having a second orientation perpendicular to the first orientation. Methods of using the bat for swing training include timing the swing so that a lower portion of the bat contacts the user's forearms simultaneously with the upper paddle positioned for contact with a hittable ball.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Traditional swing training for baseball and softball players teaches bat speed and ignores launch quickness. As pitchers get better, improving velocity, pitch movement and command, hitters must get quicker in order to have more read time to recognize pitches better. A quicker launch buys more time to read the incoming pitch.

Traditional swing training also includes shifting the weight from rear leg to front leg first, planting the lead foot, then pushing the barrel forward into the ball. This shifting comes at the expense of quickness.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A dual-flat-end bat for hitting a ball, the bat comprising a handle region that defines a longitudinal axis (LA), a first flat end region (also referred to herein as a “paddle”), the first flat end region defined by first and second parallel planar surfaces having a first orientation, and a second flat end region or paddle, the second flat end region defined by third and fourth parallel planar surfaces having a second orientation perpendicular to the first orientation. The handle region is typically cylindrical and has a circular cross section centered on the longitudinal axis, and each of the first flat end region and the second flat end region typically each have a rectangular cross section centered on the longitudinal axis.

The first flat end region and the second flat end region typically have a common length along the longitudinal axis, and the handle region has a length along the longitudinal axis that is in a range of 80-120%, preferably in a range of 85-100% of the common length of the first flat end region and the second flat end region.

The handle region may have a first diameter in a center of the handle region that tapers to a second diameter larger than the first diameter at a first junction with a first transition region of the first end region and a second junction with a second transition region of the second end region. The first transition region and the second transition region each comprise a concave transition between each corresponding planar surface and a cylindrical surface of the handle region. The concave transition is defined by a radius from a point spaced radially from the corresponding planar surface and distally from the cylindrical surface.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of an exemplary dual-flat-end training bat of the present invention.

FIG. 2A is a top (or bottom) plan view of the exemplary dual-flat-end training bat embodiment of FIG. 1.

FIG. 2B is right side (or left side) (90 degrees rotated counterclockwise or clockwise from FIG. 2A) plan view of the exemplary dual-flat-end training bat embodiment of FIG. 2A.

FIG. 3A is a left side end view of the exemplary dual-flat-end training bat embodiment of FIG. 2A.

FIG. 3B is a right side end view of the exemplary dual-flat-end training bat embodiment of FIG. 2A.

FIG. 4A depicts a batter in an initial stance position using an exemplary dual-flat-end training bat in a vertical position.

FIG. 4B depicts the batter of FIG. 4A in a coiled stance position using the exemplary dual-flat-end training bat in the vertical position.

FIG. 4C depicts the batter of FIG. 4B in the coiled stance position with the exemplary dual-flat-end training bat in a horizontal position after tilting from the vertical position.

FIG. 5A depicts a batter with forearms positioned to orient an exemplary dual-flat-end training bat in a vertical position.

FIG. 5B depicts the batter of FIG. 5A with forearms positioned to orient the bat in a horizontal position with a portion of the bat below the batter's hands in contact with a lower surface of the front forearm of the batter.

FIG. 6A is another depiction of a batter with forearms positioned to orient the bat in the horizontal position with the portion of the bat below the batter's hands in contact with a lower surface of the front forearm of the batter.

FIG. 6B depicts the batter of FIG. 6A with forearms positioned to orient the bat in the horizontal position with the portion of the bat below the batter's hands in contact with a lower surface of the front forearm of the batter, combined with a swinging motion timed to make contact with a hittable ball at a same time as the lower portion of the bat contacts the batter's front forearm.

FIG. 7A depicts a batter in a first training stance position relative to a stationary training ball positioned on a tee in a hittable location.

FIG. 7B depicts the batter of FIG. 7A in a follow through position after hitting the training ball with the front-facing surface of the upper paddle.

FIG. 8A depicts a batter in a second training stance position relative to a stationary training ball positioned on a tee in a hittable location.

FIG. 8B depicts the batter of FIG. 8A during a practice swinging motion to hit the training ball with the front-facing surface of the lower paddle.

FIG. 8C depicts the batter of FIG. 8A in a follow-through position after hitting the training ball with the front-facing surface of the lower paddle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In one embodiment, shown in FIGS. 1-3, the dual-flat-end training bat 100 has a handle region 10 in the middle of the bat and two flat end regions 20 and 30 that are perpendicular to each other, so that the bat as a whole somewhat resembles an airplane propeller. The two flat end regions 20, 30 may preferably have the same length (Le), and the middle region length (Lh) may also be approximately the same length as the two end regions. For example, each region may be in the range of 11-13 inches each. In an embodiment with a total bat length of 36 inches, each region may be 12 inches long; in other 36-inch bat embodiments, the length Le of the flat end regions may be 13 inches, and the length Lh of the middle region may be 11 inches. Notably, in such a configuration, the ratio of middle to end length of 11/13 is approximately 85%. Thus, in preferred embodiments, the ratio of middle to end lengths may be in a range of 80-120%, preferably in a range of 85-100%, with any number of variations in between, and no limitation to any particular overall size or ratio of flat end region to middle region.

In the embodiment depicted in the figures, the handle region has a first diameter D1 at a center of the handle region that tapers to a second diameter D2 larger than the first diameter at a junction with a transition region 26, 36 of each end region 20, 30. The first transition and the second transition each comprise a concave transition between each corresponding planar surface and a cylindrical surface of the handle region. The concave transition is defined by a radius (r) from a point spaced radially from the corresponding planar surface and distally from the cylindrical surface. To the extent manufactured as described herein below, the radius may be the radius of a linear profiling tool used to shape each flat surface from the cylindrical billet from which it is made. The handle may have a surface covering (e.g. a bat wrap, grip tape, pine tar, or the like) or may be textured with a surface roughening of the wood, or a combination of more than one of the above, in grip region 12 of the handle, as is known in the art.

Method of Use

The dual-flat-end training bat is designed to teach the player how to improve his quickness of launch. Quickness of launch refers to bat acceleration not bat velocity. The dual-flat-end training bat teaches how to use the forearms and rear leg to achieve that goal.

The dual-flat-end training bat teaches the hitter to spin the bat like an airplane propeller instantly at decision, from behind a coiled/twisted rear leg. In other words, the hitter launches from the rear leg prior to weight shift not from two planted legs after weight shift. This technique is present in many great hitters. This adds significant quickness to the swing because it does not require the hitter to shift weight and plant before the launch. The hitter can launch from the back leg with the weight shift and foot plant happening after launch, not before.

A critical moment in hitting is the moment of a hitter's decision to swing. Can the hitter swing at that exact moment? Or does the hitter have to shift weight from rear to front and plant the lead foot before swinging. The decision trained using the instant training bat is a single move: swing, versus traditional training of two moves: shift, then swing. The quickness difference trained using the subject training bat is substantial and noticeable.

The paddles at both ends of the training bat as described herein create a desired launch feeling corresponding to a preferred swing. The desired launch feeling is one of creating an arc based upon a circular spin of the bat. When a batter attempts to hit the ball with the knob end of a normal bat (i.e. corresponding to the lower paddle in the training bat) by spinning the knob end up, but misses because it doesn't reach the ball, the top paddle continues around the arc to hit the ball. The overall motion creates a swing arc that the ball runs into. Teaching this arc is a goal of using the training bat. Rather than push or pull the bat forward, the batter is trained to take advantage of gravity and centrifugal force to turn the bat into an arc that the ball runs into. The body can create this movement instantly, far quicker than a forward arm push or pull of the barrel. The upper and lower paddles are disposed perpendicular to each other for proper ball squaring, so that the top paddle's flat surface addresses the ball when it comes around the arc to make solid contact.

Specifically, a method of using the dual-flat-end training bat, involves the batter first standing in a first stance position, as depicted in FIG. 4A, with hands gripping the training bat in the handle region, with one (“upper”) paddle positioned above the hands and the other (“lower”) paddle positioned below the hands. The batter may choose to grip the bat with both hands centered within the handle region or in a position generally lower (or generally higher) within the handle region, including in a position in which one hand may be partly or entirely in the transition region between the lower paddle to the handle region. In the first stance position, the lower paddle is oriented with the field-facing flat surface facing the pitcher. Then, the batter assumes a second stance “coiled” position, as shown in FIG. 4B, with the back leg coiled so that the field-facing flat surface faces the normal fielding location of the opposite middle infielder (i.e. shortstop, for a left-handed batter, or second base player, for a right-handed batter). From the coiled position, the batter tilts the bat backward using forearm and shoulder motion with the lower paddle still pointing at the same middle infield position, as depicted in FIG. 4C. This trains the batter not to rotate forward.

Holding the bat out in front of the batter, as depicted in FIG. 5A and 5B, the batter is trained to use forearm and wrist motion only to spin the bat from a vertical (FIG. 5A) to a horizontal position (FIG. 5B). During a swinging motion, the batter uses the same forearm and wrist motion to cause the lower portion of the bat to contact the user's front (closest to the pitcher) forearm, as depicted in FIG. 6A, preferably at the same time that the bat is in position to make contact between the flat front-facing surface of the paddle and a training ball (not shown) in a hittable position, as depicted in FIG. 6B. Notably, the vertical position does not necessary require the bat to define a purely vertical line, but rather to define a line that sits on a plane that is generally perpendicular to the ground (although may be tilted forward or backward to some degree), and likewise the horizontal position does not require the bat to define a purely horizontal line, but rather to define a line that sits on a plane that is generally parallel to the ground (although may be tilted upward or downward to some degree). Thus, the terms “vertical” and “horizontal” as used herein are intended to be relative orientations in which the vertical position is closer to absolute perpendicular to ground than the horizontal position, and the horizontal position is closer to absolutely parallel to the ground than the vertical position.

The training ball may be a specialized soft training ball and is preferably placed stationary on a tee in front of the batter in the hittable position, as depicted in FIG. 7A, so that the batter can practice going from the ready position as depicted in FIG. 7A to the post-contact position as depicted in FIG. 7B. The hittable position of the ball may be varied to train the batter to maintain the proper barrel position when hitting balls in any location of the strike zone (center, inside, outside, high, low, forward, rear, etc.). As such, the hittable position is any position in which the batter can make contact between the front facing surface of the upper paddle and the ball. The type of training ball is not limited to any particular style, and more advanced hitters may also be trained to hit a moving ball with the bat. In view of the generally smaller cross section and therefore weaker connection between the handle and the paddle portions as compared to a regular bat, training balls typically have a lesser mass than a normal ball (e.g. baseball or softball) used in the sport for which the batter is being trained. The training ball may also have a smaller diameter than a normal ball, to train the batter to squarely hit the ball centered on the longitudinal axis of the bat (or slightly above or below, as desired, for hitting ground balls or fly balls, respectively).

Certain aspects of a preferred swinging motion of the forearms and wrists for turning the barrel of the bat properly into the preferred arc as described herein may also be trained by having the batter stand in the ready position with the ball placed in a relatively lower position on a tee in front of the batter, as depicted in FIG. 8A, and the batter hitting the ball off of the tee with the front-facing surface of the lower paddle, as shown in FIG. 8B, through a follow-through position as shown in FIG. 8C. This trains the batter to how to spin the bat properly to make the desired arc when combined with a pivot of the body in a normal swing.

Manufacture

In an exemplary manufacturing method, the dual-flat-end training bat is made of wood billets—cylindrical lengths of wood with a circular cross section of constant diameter (e.g. 2.78 inches) along their entire length (e.g. 37 inches). The billets typically weigh between 85-100 oz, depending upon the overall length and type of wood. Exemplary woods include maple, ash, and birch, of various hardness and density, and various grain orientations, as is known in the art. The wood billet is turned on a lathe, preferably CNC (computer numerical control) operated, to create the handle region. For example, the handle region may be shaped with a diameter (D1) of 0.98 inches in the center tapering to D2 at opposite ends of the handle region. The cylindrical ends of billet may also then be shaped to diameter (D2) (e.g. 2.50 inch). The cylindrical ends are then further shaped, e.g. using a CNC linear profile machine, to create the flat end regions that define the paddle-like planar surfaces on each side. In the embodiment depicted in the figures, the thickness t1 between the planar surfaces is about 0.6 inches. The end portions of each paddle may be further shaped, if desired. During the lathe turning step, the cylindrical ends of the billet may be further shaped, such as to taper from D2 at an end diameter or to an end transition diameter Det (which, for example, may be greater than D2). As shown in FIG. 2A, the end transition diameter Det may then be rounded off from the end diameter Det to a lesser diameter Dpe at an intersection with the planar end 28, 38 of each paddle, each of which may define a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis LA of the bat.

Although the bat as described herein may have certain functional and structural advantages as described herein when used as a training tool, it should be understood that many variations of the same are possible. Accordingly, the design as shown herein in the Figures is only one design of many that are possible and functionally equivalent. The utility of the invention is not limited to the specific design as depicted herein. While some dimensions are shown and described for illustration, the invention is not limited to any particular dimensions. Additionally, embodiments of the bat may be adorned in any number of colors, including a first color over one half of the length, and a second color over the other half of the length. One or more graphics or logos may be provided on the flat surfaces of the bat.

Although the invention is illustrated and described herein with reference to specific embodiments, the invention is not intended to be limited to the details shown. Rather, various modifications may be made in the details within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims and without departing from the invention.

Claims

1. A dual-flat-end bat for hitting a ball, the bat comprising: a handle region that defines a longitudinal axis;a first flat end region, the first flat end region defined by first and second parallel planar surfaces having a first orientation, anda second flat end region, the second flat end region defined by third and fourth parallel planar surfaces having a second orientation perpendicular to the first orientation.

2. The bat of claim 1, wherein the handle region is cylindrical and has a circular cross section centered on the longitudinal axis.

3. The bat of claim 1, wherein each of the first flat end region and the second flat end region each have a rectangular cross section centered on the longitudinal axis.

4. The bat of claim 1, wherein the first flat end region and the second flat end region have a common length along the longitudinal axis.

5. The bat of claim 4, wherein the handle region has a length along the longitudinal axis that is in a range of 80-120% of the common length of the first flat end region and the second flat end region.

6. The bat of claim 4, wherein the handle region has a length along the longitudinal axis that is in a range of 85-100% of the common length of the first flat end region and the second flat end region.

7. The bat of claim 1, wherein the handle region has a first diameter in a center of the handle region and tapers to a second diameter larger than the first diameter at a first junction with a first transitional portion of the first end region and a second junction with a second transitional portion of the second end region.

8. The bat of claim 7, wherein the first transitional portion and the second transitional portion each comprise a concave transition between each corresponding planar surface and a cylindrical surface of the handle region.

9. The bat of claim 8, wherein the concave transition is defined by a radius from a point spaced radially from the corresponding planar surface and distally from the cylindrical surface.

10. A method of swing training using the dual-flat-end bat of claim 1, the method comprising the steps of: a batter gripping the bat with two hands, with a lower paddle positioned below the hands and an upper paddle positioned above the hands;the batter adopting an initial stance position with the bat in a vertical position with a front facing surface of the lower paddle facing a pitcher location;the batter adopting a coiled stance position with the bat remaining in the vertical position with the front facing surface of the lower paddle facing an opposite middle infielder location;the batter practicing tilting the bat from the vertical position to a horizontal position with the front facing surface of the lower paddle facing upward and the lower paddle pointed at the opposite middle infielder location, with a bottom portion of the handle or the lower paddle in contact with a front forearm of the batter with the bat in the horizontal position.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising: the batter practicing a desired swinging motion in which the lower paddle is positioned to make contact with the front forearm of the batter at a same time as a front-facing surface of the upper paddle is positioned to make contact with a ball in a hittable location in front of the batter.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising the steps of: placing a training ball mounted on a tee in the hittable location, andthe batter contacting the training ball with a front-facing surface of the upper paddle during practice of the swinging motion.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising the steps of: placing a training ball mounted on a tee in a hittable location accessible to the lower paddle of the bat, andthe batter contacting the training ball with the front-facing surface of the lower paddle during practice of a portion of a desired swinging motion.

14. A process for making the bat of claim 1, the process comprising: providing a cylindrical wood billet having a round cross section with an initial diameter;creating the handle region by turning the wood billet on a lathe about the longitudinal axis;shaping the billet with the lathe to form a central portion of the handle region having a first diameter that tapers to a second diameter at a transition to each end region of the billet, and to shape each end region with the second diameter from each handle transition to an end diameter at each end;shaping each end region with a linear profiling device to form each of the first planar surface, the second planar surface, the third planar surface, and the fourth planar surface.