Sports paddle with improved head portion

A sports paddle comprising:

• a head portion having a head size within the range of 70 to 100 square inches and including at least one core layer positioned between first and second planar face plates, the first and second face plates having first and second outer surfaces, respectively, the head portion defining a plurality of through-head portion holes extending from the first outer surface to the second outer surface and a plurality of grooves extending into the first and second face plates, the plurality of grooves extending between the plurality of through-head portion holes, the plurality of grooves being spaced apart from the plurality of through-head portion holes, the grooves being elongate with each having a length and a width, and the length of the grooves being greater than the width of the grooves;
• and
• a handle portion coupled to the head portion, wherein sports paddle has a maximum longitudinal dimension within the range of 15 to 18 inches measured with respect to a longitudinal axis, wherein the first and second outer surfaces of the first and second face plates define first and second face plate perimeters, respectively, wherein the plurality of grooves do not extend to the first perimeter or to the second perimeter, and wherein the length of each of the plurality of grooves is less than 25 percent of the total length of the sports paddle, wherein the plurality of grooves extend in a second direction that is substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal axis.

A sports paddle comprising:

• a head portion having a head size within the range of 70 to 100 square inches and including at least one core layer positioned between first and second planar face plates, the first and second face plates having first and second outer surfaces, respectively, the head portion defining a plurality of through-head portion holes extending from the first outer surface to the second outer surface and a plurality of grooves extending into the first and second face plates, the plurality of grooves extending between the plurality of through-head portion holes, the plurality of grooves being spaced apart from the plurality of through-head portion holes, the grooves being elongate with each having a length and a width, and the length of the grooves being greater than the width of the grooves;
• and
• a handle portion coupled to the head portion, wherein sports paddle has a maximum longitudinal dimension within the range of 15 to 18 inches measured with respect to a longitudinal axis, wherein the first and second outer surfaces of the first and second face plates define first and second face plate perimeters, respectively, wherein the plurality of grooves do not extend to the first perimeter or to the second perimeter, and wherein the length of each of the plurality of grooves is less than 25 percent of the total length of the sports paddle, wherein the plurality of grooves includes at least one groove extending in a first direction that is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis and at least one groove extending in a second direction that is substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal axis.

A sports paddle extending about a longitudinal axis, the paddle comprising:

• a generally planar head portion having a head size within the range of 70 to 100 square inches and including at least one core layer positioned between first and second planar face plates, the first and second face plates having first and second outer surfaces, respectively, the head portion defining a plurality of through-head portion holes extending from the first outer surface to the second outer surface and a plurality of grooves extending into the first and second face plates, the plurality of grooves extending between the plurality of through-head portion holes, the plurality of grooves being spaced apart from the plurality of through-head portion holes, the grooves being elongate with each having a length and a width, and the length of the grooves being greater than the width of the grooves, each of the first and second outer surfaces including a generally planar, roughened region and a generally smooth region, the head portion having a rounded shape and a head size within the range of 70 to 100 square inches, the head portion defining a plurality of through-head portion holes extending from the first outer surface to the second outer surface, the planar smooth region of the head portion being formed without a through-head hole and without a groove;
• and
• a handle portion coupled to the head portion and including a grip, the smooth region of the first outer surface spacing apart the grip from the roughened region of the first outer surface, the smooth region of the first outer surface having a first longitudinal dimension measured with respect to the longitudinal axis within the range of 1 to 3 inches, wherein sports paddle has a maximum longitudinal dimension within the range of 15 to 18 inches measured with respect to a longitudinal axis, wherein the first and second outer surfaces of the first and second face plates define first and second face plate perimeters, respectively, wherein the plurality of grooves do not extend to the first perimeter or to the second perimeter, and wherein the length of each of the plurality of grooves is less than 25 percent of the total length of the sports paddle, wherein a majority of the plurality of grooves extend in a first direction that is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis.