Training ball bat having a detachable ball-striking element

A training bat, comprising:

• (a) a handle having proximal and distal ends;
• (b) a receiving rod secured within a bore defined by said handle at the distal end of said handle and extending outwardly therefrom;
• and
• (c) an elongate ball-striking element having proximal and distal ends, said ball-striking element detachably connected to said receiving rod at the proximal end of said ball-striking element, said ball-striking element having a diameter no greater than one-half the diameter of a conventional baseball bat for providing a training effect as the bat is used to swing at a ball.

A method for adjusting the weight of a training bat to a predetermined weight comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing a training bat comprising:
• (i) a handle having proximal and distal ends,
• (ii) a receiving rod secured within a bore defined by said handle at the distal end of said handle and extending outwardly therefrom,
• (iii) an elongate hollow ball-striking element having proximal and distal ends and a diameter slightly greater than said receiving rod, said ball-striking element positioned on said receiving rod and detachably connected to said receiving rod at the proximal end of said ball-striking element by a screw positioned through aligned apertures defined by said ball-striking element and said receiving rod, said ball-striking element having a diameter no greater than one-half the diameter of a conventional baseball bat for providing a training effect as the bat is used to swing at a ball, and
• (iv) a weight assembly on the receiving rod held in place by frictional engagement with the handle and the ball-striking element;
• (b) removing said screw from the apertures defined by said ball-striking element and said receiving rod;
• (c) moving said ball-striking element off of said receiving rod;
• (d) placing or removing a desired number of weights on said ball-striking element;
• (e) positioning said ball-striking element on said receiving rod so as to align the apertures of said ball-striking element and said receiving rod;
• and
• (f) replacing said screw in the apertures to reconnect said ball-striking element to said receiving rod.

A method for making a training bat having a desired weight comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing a handle having proximal and distal ends;
• (b) providing a receiving rod for securing within a bore defined by said handle at the distal end of said handle and extending outward therefrom;
• (c) varying the weight of said receiving rod so that said handle and said receiving rod have a combined desired weight;
• (d) providing a ball-striking element having a predetermined weight and having a larger diameter than said receiving rod;
• and
• (e) positioning said ball-striking element on said receiving rod and detachably connecting thereto.

A method for developing and enhancing ball hitting ability comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing a training bat comprising a handle having proximal and distal ends, an elongate ball-striking element having a diameter no greater than one-half the diameter of a conventional baseball bat, and a connecting member connected at the distal end of said handle for receiving the proximal end of said ball-striking element and detachably connecting thereto;
• (b) providing a ball;
• (c) pitching said ball to a batter using said training bat;
• and
• (d) swinging said training bat at said pitched ball in an attempt to hit the ball.