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.

What is claimed: 
     
         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, and   a 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, and   the 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, and   the 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.