Patent ID: 8727917

Claim:
A ball bat extending about a longitudinal axis, the bat comprising: a bat frame having a handle portion and a tubular barrel portion, the bat having a proximal end, a distal end, a center of percussion and a length of at least thirty inches, the barrel portion having an inner surface, at least a portion of the inner surface of the barrel portion including a first set of projections; a knob coupled to the handle portion, and an end cap coupled to the distal end of the barrel portion, the first set of projections being spaced apart from the end cap and defining a first length; and an annular member including an outer radial surface having a second set of projections, the second set of projections defining a second length that is smaller than the first length, the annular member positioned within the barrel portion such that the first set of projections engages the second set of projections to inhibit longitudinal movement of the annular member with respect to the barrel portion in at least one direction, at least one of the projections of the first set of projection and the second set of projection including a leading edge and a trailing edge, wherein the leading edge is sharper than the trailing edge.