Game Equipment and Method of Play

Abstract

A kit of ball equipment and methodology for game play involving two teams includes a ball having a frusto-spherical configuration, a bat with which a user may strike the ball in mid-air, and a ground marker configured to indicate a target on a ground surface to which a ball is to be returned after the ball is struck mid-air. The ground marker, e.g. a chalk circle, is preferably sized to encircle the batter when attempting to hit a ball. A batter, in turn, attempts to hit a ball initially positioned by the batter relative to or against his body and released therefrom. Outs may be recorded if a batter misses the ball while attempting to bat, if the fielding team catches a hit ball, or if the fielding team rolls a hit ball back to the ground marker. After a predetermined number of outs are recorded, the teams switch positions.

1 . Game equipment, comprising:
 a frusto-spherical ball;   a bat for a user to strike said ball mid-air; and   a ground marker configured to indicate a target on a ground surface for said ball after said ball is struck mid-air.   
   
   
       2 . The game equipment as in  claim 1 , wherein:
 said bat has a generally spherical grip end and a generally spherical distal end;   said distal end has a diameter greater than a diameter of said grip end; and   a wrist strap is attached to said grip end for placement about said user's wrist to tether said grip end to said user.   
   
   
       3 . The game equipment as in  claim 2 , wherein said ball has a diameter approximately equal to said grip end diameter. 
   
   
       4 . The game equipment as in  claim 3 , wherein said ground marker is sized to encircle said user. 
   
   
       5 . The game equipment as in  claim 4 , wherein said ground marker is a mat, paint, or chalk. 
   
   
       6 . The game equipment as in  claim 1 , wherein said ground marker is sized to encircle said user. 
   
   
       7 . The game equipment as in  claim 6 , wherein:
 said ground marker is a mat, paint, or chalk;   said bat has a generally spherical grip end and a generally spherical distal end;   said distal end has a diameter greater than a diameter of said grip end; and   a wrist strap is attached to said grip end for placement about a user's wrist to tether said grip end to said user.   
   
   
       8 . A kit of game equipment, comprising:
 a ball;   a bat for a user to strike said ball mid-air; and   a ground marker configured to indicate a target on a ground surface for said ball after said ball is struck mid-air, said ground marker being sized to encircle said user.   
   
   
       9 . The kit of game equipment as in  claim 8 , wherein said ball has a frusto-spherical configuration. 
   
   
       10 . The kit of game equipment as in  claim 9 , wherein:
 said bat has a generally spherical grip end and a generally spherical distal end;   said distal end has a diameter greater than a diameter of said grip end; and   a wrist strap is attached to said grip end for placement about a user's wrist to tether said grip end to said user.   
   
   
       11 . The kit of game equipment as in  claim 10 , wherein said ground marker is a mat, paint, or chalk. 
   
   
       12 . The kit of game equipment as in  claim 8 , wherein said ground marker is a mat, paint, or chalk. 
   
   
       13 . The kit of game equipment as in  claim 12 , wherein:
 said ball is has a diameter approximately equal to said grip end diameter; and   said ball is constructed of foam.   
   
   
       14 . The kit of game equipment as in  claim 8 , wherein said ground marker is a mat. 
   
   
       15 . A method of playing a game, the method comprising the steps:
 (A) providing a ball, a bat, and a ground marker configured to indicate a target on a ground surface;   (B) having a batting player release said ball from a first predetermined position relative to said batting player;   (C) having said batting player attempt to strike said ball with said bat after releasing said ball from said first predetermined position and before said ball reaches a ground surface;   (D) having a fielding player attempt to catch said ball before said ball reaches said ground surface if said ball is struck by said bat;   (E) having said fielding player retrieve said ball and attempt to throw said ball into said target from wherever said ball is retrieved if said ball is struck by said bat and said ball reaches said ground surface;   (F) scoring a respective first point for said batting player if:
 said bat strikes said ball and said ball is not caught by said fielding player before said ball reaches a ground surface; and 
 said fielding player does not throw said ball into said target from wherever said ball is retrieved; 
   (G) scoring an out for said batting player if said batting player does not strike said ball with said bat after releasing said ball and before said ball reaches said ground surface;   (H) scoring an out for said batting player if said fielding player catches said ball after said ball is struck by said bat and before said ball reaches said ground surface; and   (I) scoring an out for said batting player if:
 said fielding player retrieves said ball after said ball is struck by said bat and after said ball reaches said ground surface; and 
 said fielding player throws said ball into said target from wherever said ball is retrieved. 
   
   
   
       16 . The method as in  claim 15 , further comprising the steps:
 (J) having said batting player release said ball from a second predetermined position relative to said batting player;   (K) having said batting player attempt to strike said ball with said bat after releasing said ball from said second predetermined position and before said ball reaches a ground surface;   (L) having said fielding player attempt to catch said ball before said ball reaches said ground surface if said ball is struck by said bat after being released from said second predetermined position;   (M) having said fielding player retrieve said ball and attempt to throw said ball into said target from wherever said ball is retrieved if said ball is struck by said bat after being released from said second predetermined position and said ball reaches said ground surface;   (N) scoring a respective second point for said batting player if:
 said bat strikes said ball after being released from said second predetermined position and said ball is not caught by said fielding player before said ball reaches a ground surface; and 
 said fielding player does not throw said ball into said target from wherever said ball is retrieved; 
   (O) scoring an out for said batting player if said batting player does not strike said ball released from said second predetermined position with said bat before said ball reaches said ground surface;   (P) scoring an out for said batting player if said fielding player catches said ball after said ball released from said second predetermined position is struck by said bat and before said ball reaches said ground surface; and   (Q) scoring an out for said batting player if:
 said fielding player retrieves said ball after said ball released from said second predetermined position is struck by said bat and after said ball reaches said ground surface; and 
 said fielding player throws said ball into said target from wherever said ball is retrieved. 
   
   
   
       17 . The method as in  claim 16 , wherein:
 said first point has a first value;   said second point has a second value; and   said first value and said second value are not equal.   
   
   
       18 . The method as in  claim 17 , wherein:
 said fielding player is part of a first team comprised of multiple players;   said batting player is part of a second team comprised of multiple players; and   said first team at least partially encircles said batting player.   
   
   
       19 . The method as in  claim 18 , wherein:
 said ball is frusto-spherical;   said bat has a generally spherical grip end and a generally spherical distal end;   said distal end has a diameter greater than a diameter of said grip end;   a wrist strap is attached to said grip end for placement about said batting player's wrist to tether said grip end to said batting player;   said ground marker is a mat, paint, or chalk; and   said ground marker is configured to encircle said batting player.   
   
   
       20 . The method as in  claim 15 , wherein:
 said fielding player is part of a first team comprised of multiple players;   said batting player is part of a second team comprised of multiple players;   said first and second teams switch positions; and   each said second team player has a turn at being said batting player before said first and second teams switch positions.