Patent ID: 7220195

Claim:
A method of choking up on a bat comprising the steps of: providing a panel having a top side, a bottom side, a first side edge, a second side edge, a top edge and a bottom edge, said panel comprising a plurality of layers, said plurality of layers at least including a bottom layer, a middle layer and a top layer, said bottom layer comprising an elastomeric material, said middle layer comprising a gel material, said top layer comprising a cloth material; providing a lip being attached to and extending along a length of said top edge, said lip extending upwardly from said top side; providing a coupler configured to selectively secure said panel in a tubular configuration; providing a bat having a handle terminating in a butt; extending said panel around said handle such that said bottom side abuts the bat and said bottom edge is positioned adjacent to said butt and said tubular configuration is attained; securing said panel in said tubular configuration with said coupler, said coupler comprising a memory retention plate positioned between said bottom and middle layers, said memory retention plate comprising a resiliently bendable material configured to retain a tubular shape; and positioning hands of a person on the bat and against the lip so that the panel is positioned between the hands and the butt of the bat.