Patent Publication Number: US-2022233935-A1

Title: Weighted swing training bat

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority to provisional application No. 63/142,137, which was filed 27 Jan. 2021, which is incorporated in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     The present invention relates to devices for training hitting for the sport of baseball. 
     BACKGROUND 
     In the game of baseball, bats are used to hit a ball into or out of (in the case of a homerun) a field. Proper swing mechanics are needed in order to have the ball fly a maximum distance. At the speeds (around 100 miles per hour) professional players hit the ball, maximum distance is generally achieved with a ball launch angle of about 25-30 degrees from a “sweet spot” on the bat. The sweet spot is a location on the bat that causes the ball to launch at the highest velocity with proper swing mechanics. The “sweet spot” is generally around 70-80 percent down the length of the bat (from handle end to hitting end) and is determined by several factors such as material, balance point vibration nodes, and the like. Younger players or amateur players (depending on strength) may achieve a maximum distance with a launch angle of around 30-40 degrees because of less air resistance for lower speed. Further, for maximum launch speed, the ball must be in the proper location at the time of contact with the bat. Generally, maximum launch speed and maximum distance is achieved by hitting the ball when the ball is arriving from the pitcher at the front of home plate. This gives the hitter a greater amount of time to accelerate the bat without the contact angle (about 80-90 degrees in the plane of the playing field) reducing the energy transferred to the ball. 
     Accordingly, in order to achieve maximum distance, a player must hit the ball at the sweet spot (aim), with the ball at the proper location over the plate (timing), with the bat traveling with the proper angle (swing mechanics), and speed (strength) to impart maximum kinetic energy to the ball and cause the ball to travel in the optimal direction. Accordingly, a baseball player must develop aim, timing, proper swing mechanics with proper hand and bat path, and strength in order to be an effective long ball (e.g., home run) hitter. 
     Many swing training devices exist that assist baseball players develop one or two of the above-mentioned factors (aim, timing, proper swing mechanics, and strength). However, no previously existing devices exist that can effectively assist a hitter in all of these factors. 
     SUMMARY 
     One or more embodiments are provided below for a device for a training bat. The training bat may include a shaft and a hitting head. The shaft may include a handle and hand placement indicators. The shaft may include a first end and a second end. The hitting head may be attached to the second end of the shaft. The hitting head may include a flat hitting surface which is substantially flat and a back end opposite the flat hitting surface. The hand placement indicators may indicate a position for at least one of the hands of a user on the handle and the hand placement indicators may indicate an alignment with the back end of the hitting head. 
     The device may provide significant advantages over the other devices due to the inclusion of one or more of: (1) a hitting head at a distance from the knob that simulates the sweet spot of an ordinary bat which assists with aim, (2) a counter weight that causes the training bat that may have greater weight and shorter length to a normal bat to have a similar feel when swung as an ordinary baseball bat, assisting with strength, timing, and proper swing mechanics, (3) a shaft that matches a baseball bat in shape and feel, assisting with proper swing mechanics, (4) indicators of hand positioning for a split grip that in combination with the orientation of the hitting head enforce proper swing mechanics, and (5) construction and materials that allow for the training bat to make contact with a baseball without compromising the structure of the training bat, allowing the bat to be used with a thrown baseball assisting with timing and aim. 
     Other advantageous features as well as other aspects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description and the appended claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Embodiments of the present disclosure are described in detail below with reference to the following drawings. These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present disclosure will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings. The drawings described herein are for illustrative purposes only of selected embodiments and not all possible implementations and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 1  depicts a back view of an example training bat. 
         FIG. 2  depicts a front view of the example training bat. 
         FIG. 3  depicts a top view of the example training bat. 
         FIG. 4  depicts a bottom view of the example training bat. 
         FIG. 5  depicts a cross section view of the example training bat. 
         FIG. 6  depicts a view of another example training bat. 
         FIG. 7  depicts a back view of a further example training bat. 
         FIG. 8  depicts a front view of the further example training bat. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In the Summary above and in this Detailed Description, the claims below, and in the accompanying drawings, reference is made to particular features (including method steps) of the invention. It is to be understood that the disclosure of the invention in this specification includes all possible combinations of such particular features. For example, where a particular feature is disclosed in the context of a particular aspect or embodiment of the invention, or a particular claim, that feature can also be used, to the extent possible, in combination with and/or in the context of other particular aspects and embodiments of the invention, and in the invention generally. 
     The term “comprises” and grammatical equivalents thereof are used herein to mean that other components, ingredients, steps, among others, are optionally present. For example, an article “comprising” (or “which comprises”) components A, B, and C can consist of (i.e., contain only) components A, B, and C, or can contain not only components A, B, and C but also contain one or more other components. 
     Where reference is made herein to a method comprising two or more defined steps, the defined steps can be carried out in any order or simultaneously (except where the context excludes that possibility), and the method can include one or more other steps which are carried out before any of the defined steps, between two of the defined steps, or after all the defined steps (except where the context excludes that possibility). 
     The term “at least” followed by a number is used herein to denote the start of a range beginning with that number (which may be a range having an upper limit or no upper limit, depending on the variable being defined). For example, “at least 1” means 1 or more than 1. The term “at most” followed by a number is used herein to denote the end of a range ending with that number (which may be a range having 1 or 0 as its lower limit, or a range having no lower limit, depending upon the variable being defined). For example, “at most 4” means 4 or less than 4, and “at most 40%” means 40% or less than 40%. When, in this specification, a range is given as “(a first number) to (a second number)” or “(a first number)-(a second number),” this means a range whose lower limit is the first number and whose upper limit is the second number. For example, 25 to 100 mm means a range whose lower limit is 25 mm and upper limit is 100 mm. 
     Certain terminology and derivations thereof may be used in the following description for convenience in reference only and are not intended to be limiting. For example, words such as “upward,” “downward,” “left,” and “right” would refer to directions in the drawings to which reference is made unless otherwise stated. Similarly, words such as “inward” and “outward” would refer to directions toward and away from, respectively, the geometric center of a device or area and designated parts thereof. References in the singular tense include the plural, and vice versa, unless otherwise noted. 
     The term “coupled to” as used herein may mean a direct or indirect connection via one or more components. 
     Referring now to the drawings and the following written description of the present invention, it will be readily understood by those persons skilled in the art that the present invention is susceptible to broad utility and application. Many embodiments and adaptations of the present invention other than those herein described, as well as many variations, modifications, and equivalent arrangements will be apparent from or reasonably suggested by the present invention and the detailed description thereof, without departing from the substance or scope of the present invention. This disclosure is only illustrative and exemplary of the present invention and is made merely for purposes of providing a full and enabling disclosure of the invention. 
       FIGS. 1-4  depict various views of training bat  100 . As depicted in  FIG. 1 , training bat  100  includes a counterweight  110 , a knob (or hand stop)  120 , a shaft  140  including a handle area  142  and a taper  144  portion, and a hitting head  160  with back face  162  and side face  166 . The counterweight  110  may be fixed either (permanently or removably) to the knob  120  (as discussed in greater detail below) and have a weight of about 5-16 ounces. The knob  120  may be a part of the shaft  140  or a separate component. For example, if the shaft  140  is made of wood, the knob  120  may be part of the shaft  140  and carved from the same piece of wood. As another example, if the shaft  140  is made of metal such as aluminum, the knob  120  may be a construction piece of metal, plastic, and/or other durable material and be fixed to the shaft  140  by soldering rivets or other means. 
     The shaft  140  may have a handle area  142  that may or may not be wrapped with a grip (not shown) of leather, plastic, cloth, or other material. The overall length of bat  100  can be between 26-36 inches and the handle area  142  may be about 13-18 inches in length. The shaft  140  at the taper  144  portion may increase in diameter as the distance from the knob  120  increases to a broadest point of about 2½-2⅘ inches. The hitting head  160  may be connected to or proximate to a second end of the shaft  140  (opposite the first end at the handle area  142  or knob  120 ). The hitting head  160  may be a cylinder of rubber, wood, or other durable somewhat elastic material suitable for striking a baseball. The hitting head  160  may have a diameter of about 2-4 inches and a height of about 3-5 inches. Accordingly, the hitting head  160  may extend beyond the diameter of the shaft  140 . The hitting head  160  may weigh about 10-20 ounces. The hitting head  160  may be fixed to the shaft  140  by screws, a shaped plug, screwing on to threading on the shaft  140 , glue, etc. The back face  162  of the hitting head  160  may be flat or may be concave or convex to adjust the weight of the hitting head  160 . 
     The handle area  142  may include hand placement indicators placed relative to the alignment of the hitting head  160  to promote palm up palm down hand positioning at the point of contact. The hand placement indicators may be printed or painted on a grip on the handle area  142 , may be indents in the handle area  142 , or any other form of indication either visual or by feeling with the hands. For example, the hand placement indicators may include left hand palm indicator  122 , right hand palm indicator  132 , left hand finger indicators  124 , right hand finger indicators  134 , left hand thumb indicator  126 , and right hand thumb indicator  136 . The arrangement of the hand placement indicators in  FIGS. 1-4  are for a right-handed hitter. A left-handed hitter would have the left and right hands reversed (e.g., right hand closer to the knob  120 ). 
     The left hand palm indicator  122  may show where the palm of the left hand should be placed on the training bat  100 . The left hand palm indicator  122  may be a long thick line indicating a line across the palm from the thenar webbing (between the thumb and first finger) to the outside of the hand (e.g. the outside of the metacarpal attached to the fourth finger). From the perspective of  FIG. 1 , the left hand palm indicator  122  may start about 1 inch from the knob  120  and extend about 3 inches directly away from the knob  120 . The left hand palm indicator  122  may be about 10 degrees above (from the perspective of  FIG. 1 ) straight forward, (e.g. 10 degrees out of alignment with the back face  162 ). 
     The left finger indicators  124  may show a placement of fingers of the left hand on the handle area  142 . The left finger indicators  124  may include one indicator for each finger on the left hand. The left finger indicators  124  may indicate placement of the fingers for an average sized hand relative to the left hand palm indicator  122 . For example, the left finger indicators  124  may be 70-90 degrees directly below (from the perspective of  FIG. 1 ) the left hand palm indicator  122 . 
     The left thumb indicator  126  may show a placement of a first digit of a thumb of the left hand on the handle area  142 . The left thumb indicator  126  may be about 1 inch long extending down (from the perspective of  FIG. 1 ) slightly further from the knob  120  than the left hand palm indicator  122 . 
     The right hand palm indicator  132  may show a placement of the right palm on the handle area  142 . The right hand palm indicator  132  may be a long thick line indicating a line across the palm from the thenar webbing (between the thumb and first finger) to the outside of the hand (e.g. the outside of the metacarpal attached to the fourth finger). The right hand palm indicator  132  may start about 5-8 inches further from the knob  120  than the left thumb indicator  126  and extend about 3 inches away from the knob  120 . The right hand palm indicator  132  may be about 90 degrees below (from the perspective of  FIG. 1 ) the left hand palm indicator  122  and begin about 1.5 inches further from the knob  120  than the furthest extent (from the knob  120 ) of the left hand palm indicator  122 . 
     The right finger indicators  134  may show a placement of fingers of the right hand on the handle area  142 . The right finger indicators  134  may indicate placement of the fingers for an average sized hand relative to the right hand palm indicator  132 . For example, the right finger indicators  134  may be 70-90 degrees directly above (from the perspective of  FIG. 1 ) the right hand palm indicator  132 . 
     The right thumb indicator  136  may show a placement of a first digit of a thumb of the right hand on the handle area  142 . The right thumb indicator  136  may be about 1 inch long extending up (from the perspective of  FIG. 1 ) slightly further from the knob  120  than the right hand palm indicator  132 . 
     The locations and dimensions of the hand placement indicators are given as examples and may be modified for several reasons without departing from the principles of the inventive concepts discussed herein. Some examples of reasons to modify the hand placement indicators are hitters with different sized hands, different desired launch angles (as discussed in the background, professional players have the longest flight with an angle of about 25-30 degrees while amateurs or children may have the longest flight with a launch angle of 30-40 degrees due to lower air resistance at lower speeds), left handed vs. right handed players, preference for placement of hand along the handle area  142  (e.g. how choked up the player&#39;s hands are), etc. 
     As discussed in greater detail below, the placement of the hand placement indicators is related to the orientation of the hitting head  160  and helps to enforce proper swing mechanics. The example hand placement indicators of  FIGS. 1-4  are for a “split grip” where the hands are further apart (5-8 inches) than the hands are normally held on a standard baseball bat (up to 2 inches apart). In some example embodiments, the hand placement indicators may indicate hand placement for a normal swing of a standard baseball bat. In some example embodiments, a single indicator of hand position for each hand (for example, only the left hand palm indicator  122  and right hand palm indicator  132  may be included. In other examples, the hand placement indicators may be a hand outline. In yet other examples, the hand indicators may include multiple sets of indicators for hands of different sizes, left and right handed indicators, standard and split grips, etc. 
     In one embodiment, the counterweight  110  may weigh 9 ounces and have a height (from the perspective of  FIG. 1 ) of 1 and ⅝ inches. The counterweight may have a weight range of 5-16 ounces and height range of ½ inch to 2 inches. The shaft  140  may be wood. The knob  120  may be about 2 inches in width. The handle area  142  may vary in diameter with a minimum diameter of about 15/16 inches. The handle area  142  may flair out as it connects with the knob  110 . The handle area  142  may be about 16 inches long. The taper  144  may flair out to 2⅘ inches. The hitting head  160  may be secured by several screws to the shaft  140 . 
     Professional baseball bats may be up to 36 inches in length but are often about 32-35 inches long. Accordingly, the sweet spot may be at about 26-32 inches from the handle end of the bat (depending on overall bat length). Bats for children and amateur baseball players are often shorter in order to be lighter and easier to swing. Children&#39;s bats may be as short as 24 inches. Accordingly, the sweet spot for children&#39;s or adolescent&#39;s bats may be about 20-27 inches from the handle end of the bat (depending on overall bat length). 
     Accordingly, in one example embodiment for adult players, the shaft  140  may be about 30-34 inches from knob  120  to the hitting head  160  and the hitting head  160  may be about 2-3 inches in diameter. In some embodiments, (especially for new baseball players who have difficulty aiming and need to work on swing mechanics) the hitting head  160  may be larger; in some embodiments up to 6 inches in diameter. In a second embodiment for adolescent players, the shaft  140  may be about 22 inches long and the hitting head  160  may be about 3 inches in diameter (but less dense or hollow to reduce weight). Weight may also be reduced by changing the shape of the hitting head to be bullet shaped or otherwise modified to reduce weight. In a third embodiment for young children, the shaft  140  may be about 17 inches long and the hitting head  160  may be about 3 inches in diameter and hollow or otherwise reduced in weight. Accordingly, in various embodiments the shaft  140  may be about 16 inches to about 34 inches long. For adult sized bats, the shaft  140  may be about 28-34 inches in length. 
       FIG. 2  depicts a view of training bat  100  rotated around 180 degrees relative to the view of training bat  100  depicted in  FIG. 1 . Front face  164  (the opposite side of hitting head  160  from back face  162 ) is depicted in  FIG. 2 . 
     In some embodiments, front face  164  is a hitting face. Front face  164  may be a flat circular surface oriented about parallel (within 5 degrees) to the direction the center of the shaft  140  extends. In other embodiments, the front face  164  may have a different shape, such as a square, oval or other shape or may be slightly angled (up to 15 degrees) relative to the direction that the center of the shaft  140  extends. Portions of the hand placement indicators (e.g., the left thumb indicator  126  and the right thumb indicator  136 ) are also depicted in  FIG. 2 . 
       FIG. 3  depicts a view of training bat  100  rotated around 90 degrees clockwise relative to the view of training bat  100  depicted in  FIG. 1 . As depicted in  FIG. 3 , the side face  166  wraps around the cylindrical hitting head  160 . Portions of the hand position indicators (e.g., left hand palm indicator  122 , right hand finger indicators  134 , and right thumb indicator  136 ) are also visible. 
       FIG. 4  depicts a view of training bat  100  rotated around 90 degrees counterclockwise relative to the view of training bat  100  depicted in  FIG. 1 . As depicted in  FIG. 4 , the side face  166  wraps around the cylindrical hitting head  160 . Portions hand position indicators (e.g., left finger indicators  124 , left thumb indicator  126 , and right hand palm indicator  132 ) are also visible. 
       FIG. 5  depicts a cross section view of the training bat  100  taken at line  5 - 5 ′ in  FIG. 3 . The counterweight  110  may have an extension that extends into the knob  120 . For example, the counterweight  110  may screw into the knob  120  at this extension. 
       FIG. 6  depicts a view of a training bat  150 . The overall length of bat  150  can be between 26-36 inches and, as described, the handle area  142  may be about 13-18 inches in length. As depicted, training bat  150  includes dial  138 . The dial  138  can be used for hand positioning on training bat  150 . The dial  138  can include a plurality of lines extending along the shaft in the direction between the knob  120  to hitting head  160 . The lines of the dial  138  may indicate angles relative to the front hitting face  164 . The dial  138  may be on the shaft  140  at the handle area  142 , and/or the taper portion  144 . For example, the dial  138  may be located at the juncture between the handle area  142  and the taper portion  144 . The dial  138  may include any number of lines at any interval. As one example, the dial  138  may include 3 lines, a center of the three lines being aligned opposite (e.g., 180 degrees from) the front hitting face  164  and the lines on each side of the center may indicate 30 degrees from the center. As another example, the dial may include 18 lines each indicating 10 degrees. The dial  138  may include various indications of angle, including numbers, writing, lines of different colors and lengths, etc. 
     The dial  138  allows a user to see the orientation of the hands relative to the front hitting face  164  and allows users to make slight adjustments while honing his or her skills. The dial  138  can be used by people having virtually any hand size. 
     In general, the location of hand position indicators relative to the hitting face helps to teach and enforce proper swing mechanics to achieve palm up palm down at contact. Referring back to  FIG. 1 , the left hand palm indicator  122  may be about 170 degrees clockwise rotation (from the perspective of looking at the knob  120  end of the training bat  100 ) from the front hitting face  164  of the hitting head  160 . The right hand palm indicator  132  may be about 100 degrees counterclockwise rotation from the front hitting face  164  of the hitting head  160 . Referring again to  FIG. 6 , using the dial  138  a user may determine the proper hand placement based on the lines of the dial  138  and what feels comfortable. 
       FIGS. 7 and 8  depict various views of training bat  170 .  FIG. 8  depicts a view of training bat  170  rotated around 90 degrees counterclockwise relative to the view of training bat  100  depicted in  FIG. 7 . Training bat  170  can be similar to training bat  150 . For example, the overall length of bat  170  can be between 26-36 inches and the handle area  142  may be about 13-18 inches in length. However, the taper portion  144  is longer and passes through the hitting head  160 . The taper portion  144  may also have a consistent thickness at or near the hitting head  160  such that the hitting head  160  can be moved on the taper portion  144  to adjust the distance of the hitting head  160  relative to the hands of the user. Correspondingly movement of hitting head  160  also adjusts the distance of the hitting head from the end of bat  170 . In general, the hitting head  160  can be adjusted to be between 2″-6″ from the end of bat  170 . 
     In other aspects, the hitting head  160  is attached to shaft  140  at a fixed position prohibiting (and possibly preventing) movement of the hitting head  160 . The shaft  140  may have a first end where the knob  120  attaches to the shaft  140  and a second end opposite the first end. The hitting head  160  may be attached to the shaft  140  proximate to the second end (i.e., much closer to the second end than the first end). 
     In general, when a person swings a bat with their hands in the proper position, a ball in a strike box (of the game of baseball) at the front edge of home plate (relative to a batter in the game of baseball) can be hit at a proper launch angle (e.g, between 25-40 degrees) and direction with proper swing mechanics. Proper swing mechanics can include keeping the trailing arm (in the case of a right handed person, the right arm) in close to the body while swinging with both arms, lowering the shoulder of the trailing arm, stepping slightly forward with the lead foot, and pushing off the trailing foot. By having the hands oriented about 90 degrees from each other (especially with a “split grip”), the trailing arm is kept in close to the body as both arms power the swing to generate power. 
     Due at least in part to the configuration of the front face  164 , in order to hit the ball at the proper launch angle with the hands held in the indicated position on the handle area  142 , the trailing shoulder can be lowered while pushing off the trailing leg. If the trailing shoulder is not sufficiently lowered, the front face  164  may be angled downward when contact is made with the ball. Thus, a user is provided feedback on how to adjust the swing. Conversely, if the trailing shoulder is lowered too much and the hands are in the indicated location, the ball may launch at too great a launch angle and the user is also provided feedback on how to adjust the swing. Accordingly, the hand placement indicators (relative to the front face  164 ) teach and enforce proper swing mechanics with the trailing arm kept close to the body and the trailing shoulder lowered. 
     Swinging with a conventional baseball bat or any swing training device with a round hitting face is less likely to teach and enforce proper swing mechanics in this way, especially if the user has not yet developed good aim with the bat and proper hand path. A baseball bat or training bat with a rounded hitting face can hit a ball at a different launch angle and direction depending on the aim of the bat because the rounded face causes the incident angle of contact to be different if the bat makes contact with the center of the bat (relative to the motion of the bat) or contacts above or below the center of the bat. Accordingly, a slight difference in aim may greatly affect the ball&#39;s launch angle and direction. It is difficult to develop proper aim when swing mechanics are not first developed and enforced. Accordingly, a flat hitting face (like that of front face  164 ) that is larger than the hitting surface on a standard bat is advantageous for developing proper swing mechanics while also developing aim. 
     Strength is often developed by swinging a heavy bat, however, if proper swing mechanics are not promoted while swinging the bat, improper swing mechanics are often developed. Also, the wrong muscles may be exercised by using the heavy bat if proper swing mechanics are not used. If too much weight is concentrated at the knob  120  end of the training bat  120  or concentrated at the hitting end (heading head  160  end) of the bat then the bat can swing differently and is less useful for developing proper swing mechanics and strength in the right muscles. For example, if too much weight is concentrated in the hitting end, a user may tend to lean back while swinging the bat causing the trailing arm to straighten out away from the body and the trailing hand to rotate around the handle to an improper position. Accordingly, a training bat with an appropriate weight distribution (added weight at the hitting end being offset with added weight at the knob  120  end) can help develop strength while also promoting proper swing mechanics. 
     The front face  164  (as a flat hitting face) may also be advantageous in helping users to practice aiming because the hitting/contact surface area may be larger than the hitting area of a standard baseball bat with a 2¼-2⅝ inch barrel. Trying to square up two round objects is very difficult. The greater area allows a user to practice swinging and aiming while having more balls being solidly contacted, increasing confidence and enforcing proper swing mechanics as aim is developed. A training bat with a significantly larger hitting area on the front face  164  (e.g., with a diameter of 5-6 inches) may be used to help a beginning user to develop aim and proper swing mechanics and a training bat  100  with a smaller hitting area (e.g., 2-3 inch diameter) on the flat front face  164  may be used as aim improves. 
     Training bat  100 ,  150 , or  160  can be constructed and configured (e.g., with sufficient robust materials) for swinging practice without a ball, with a ball on a tee, or with a pitched ball. The location of the front face  164  in at or near the sweet spot (20-32 inches depending on size of bat) of a standard baseball bat allows a user to practice aiming for the sweet spot on the standard bat with a ball on a tee or a pitched ball. The training bat  100 ,  150 , or  170  can also be used to train timing by swinging at pitched balls. 
     Further, it is advantageous to have the hitting head  160  include a rubber or other somewhat elastic material. These more elastic materials spread the force of impact from hitting the ball over a greater amount of time thus reducing or mitigating the chance of injury that the increased weight of the bat may cause. It is also advantageous to have the shaft  140  made of a hard material such as wood or metal that does not significantly flex at contact for durability and also to have the same feel in the hand when swung as a standard baseball bat. In some aspects, the shaft  140  and hitting head  160  are made of different materials (e.g,  140  of wood or metal and  160  of rubber). 
     In other aspects, hitting head  160  can be made of wood. For some users, youth or adults, having a hitting head  160  made of wood is advantageous because wood is less dense than rubber and most other similar elastic materials allowing for a larger hitting head for the same weight. At the speeds youth players swing, the risk of injury from swinging and making contact with the training bat  100  of an appropriate size are reduced, so a wood hitting head  160  can be appropriate without an increased risk of injury. Further, the wood hitting head  160  can provide contact and ball launch that is more similar to the feel of a standard baseball bat. Accordingly, with lower density, a hitting head  160  made of wood may be particularly advantageous for youth players. 
     Accordingly, the present description provides for various training bat embodiments. Many uses and advantages are offered by training bats  100 ,  150 , or  170  as described above in one or more non-limiting embodiments in the present description. 
     As described, the training bats may include a shaft  140  and a hitting head  160 . The shaft  140  may include a handle area  142  and hand placement indicators (for example, left hand palm indicator  122 , right hand palm indicator  132 , left hand finger indicators  124 , right hand finger indicators  134 , left hand thumb indicator  126 , and right hand thumb indicator  136  and dial  138 ). The shaft  140  may include a first end and a second end opposite the first end. The hitting head  160  may be attached to the second end of the shaft  140 . The hitting head  160  may include a front face  164  (e.g, a hitting surface) which is substantially flat and a back end (for example fallback face  162 ) opposite the front face  164 . The hand placement indicators may indicate a position for at least one of the hands of a user on the handle and the hand placement indicators may indicate an alignment with the back end of the hitting head  160 . 
     The training bat  100  may include a counterweight  110  attached to the first end of the shaft  140 . The training bat  100  may further include a hand stop (e.g., knob  120 ) attached to the first end of the shaft  140 . The counterweight  110  may attach to the first end of the shaft via the hand stop. The shaft  140  may increase in thickness in a first direction extending from the first end to the second end opposite the first end. The shaft  140  may further include a taper portion  144  at the second end and the handle area  142  is at the first end of the shaft, wherein the taper portion  144  is thicker than the handle area  142 . 
     The hitting head  160  may be cylindrical in shape and includes the back face  162  (also flat) on the back end. The hand placement indicators may include a first alignment line (for example the center line in dial  138 ) aligned with the flat back surface  162 . The hand placement indicators may include a pair of second alignment lines (for example side lines in dial  138 ) on either side of the alignment line. The pair of second alignment lines may be smaller than the first alignment line in at least one dimension (e.g., thickness or length). The pair of second alignment lines may be equidistant to the first alignment line. 
     Many different embodiments of the inventive concepts have been shown. A person of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the features from different embodiments may be combined or replaced with other features from different embodiments. Aspects of different embodiments can also be combined. As such, a training bat may include varied and different combinations of one or more of: hand palm indicator  122 , right hand palm indicator  132 , left hand finger indicators  124 , right hand finger indicators  134 , left hand thumb indicator  126 , right hand thumb indicator  136 , and dial  138 . For example, a training bat may include left hand thumb indicator  126 , right hand thumb indicator  136 , and dial  138 . Other combinations of indicators are also possible. Adjustable or fixed hitting heads can also be used with any of the varied and different combinations of indicators. 
     The corresponding structures, materials, acts, and equivalents of all means or step plus function elements in the claims below are intended to include any structure, material, or act for performing the function in combination with other claimed elements as specifically claimed. The description of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description but is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the invention in the form disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. 
     The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and the practical application, and to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. The present invention according to one or more embodiments described in the present description may be practiced with modification and alteration within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Thus, the description is to be regarded as illustrative instead of restrictive of the present invention.