Sports paddle

Abstract

An apparatus and a method are provided for a sports paddle for pickleball, tennis, smashball, ping pong, or racquetball. The sports paddle comprises a planar portion defining opposing flat surfaces for striking a ball and a handle portion for grasping in a hand. A skin layer encloses the planar portion and the handle portion. Rounded edges are disposed around the planar portion and the handle portion. The planar portion may comprise a core material surround by a rigid portion. The rigid portion may comprise 20-24 lb. foam while the core material is a honeycomb structured material. A synthetic or polymeric grip is wrapped around the handle portion to provide stability and firmness for a player. A binding secures the grip to a neck of the planar portion. An end cap placed at an end of the handle provides support and protection of the paddle.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A sports paddle, comprising:
 a planar portion defining opposing flat surfaces for striking a ball; and   a handle portion for grasping in a hand.   
     
     
         2 . The sports paddle of  claim 1 , wherein the planar portion and the handle portion comprise a single component. 
     
     
         3 . The sports paddle of  claim 1 , wherein the planar portion comprises a core material having rounded edges and is wrapped within a skin layer. 
     
     
         4 . The sports paddle of  claim 3 , wherein the skin layer comprises any of fiberglass, graphite, carbon fiber, or other suitable material that offers a practitioner a sense of control, feel, or power during play. 
     
     
         5 . The sports paddle of  claim 3 , wherein the skin layer includes permanent or removeable film portions that are configured to provide desired performance properties. 
     
     
         6 . The sports paddle of  claim 3 , wherein the skin layer includes adhesive stickers comprising carbon fiber sheets configured to provide consistent or enhanced traction. 
     
     
         7 . The sports paddle of  claim 3 , wherein the skin layer is configured to provide noise suppression properties. 
     
     
         8 . The sports paddle of  claim 3 , wherein the skin layer comprises noise suppressing stickers can be applied to and removed from the planar portion of the paddle. 
     
     
         9 . The sports paddle of  claim 3 , wherein the skin layer comprises fixed foam surfaces that cover the planar portion of the paddle. 
     
     
         10 . The sports paddle of  claim 4 , wherein an edge guard is configured to be coupled with a periphery of the planar portion so as to provide protection to portions of the skin layer that are disposed on the rounded edges. 
     
     
         11 . The sports paddle of  claim 10 , wherein the edge guard comprises a polymer portion and a mass strip portion comprising a thin strip of metal, such as lead, that increases the weight of the planar portion. 
     
     
         12 . The sports paddle of  claim 11 , wherein the polymer portion includes a recess for receiving the mass strip such that a flat surface of the polymer portion and a back surface of the mass strip form a substantially uniform surface suitable for being adhered to the periphery of the planar portion. 
     
     
         13 . The sports paddle of  claim 11 , wherein the polymer portion includes a rounded surface configured to smoothly join with the rounded edges so as to produce a low-profile edge rail for the sports paddle. 
     
     
         14 . The sports paddle of  claim 1 , wherein the opposing surfaces of the planar portion are covered by skin layers comprising different materials. 
     
     
         15 . The sports paddle of  claim 1 , wherein the planar portion comprises a core surrounded by a rigid portion. 
     
     
         16 . The sports paddle of  claim 15 , wherein a padded edge guard is bonded to a periphery of the rigid portion before the skin layer is applied to the planar portion. 
     
     
         17 . The sports paddle of  claim 15 , wherein one or more weights are incorporated into the planar portion to increase the weight of the paddle. 
     
     
         18 . The sports paddle of  claim 15 , wherein the planar portion includes a core comprising a different type or density of foam than the foam comprising the rigid portion. 
     
     
         19 . The sports paddle of  claim 15 , wherein the core comprises a number of holes positioned on the rigid portion so as to reduce the weight of the paddle. 
     
     
         20 . A method for a sports paddle, comprising:
 forming a planar portion that extends to a handle portion;   disposing rounded edges around the planar portion and the handle portion;   enclosing the planar portion and the handle portion within a skin layer;   positioning EVA foam portions on opposite sides of the handle portion;   wrapping the EVA foam portions and the handle portion with a grip;   securing the grip to the planar portion by way of a binding; and   installing an end cap onto the handle portion.