Bat with suspended inner structures

A bat, comprising:

• an outer elongated barrel, the outer elongated barrel having a tapered region and a cylindrical region extending from the tapered region;
• an inner tube disposed within the outer barrel structure, the inner tube being retained within the cylindrical region by a first suspension member and a second suspension member;
• and
• at least one performance control assembly comprising an outer tube and at least one barrel insert positioned between the inner tube and the outer tube, the at least one performance control assembly affecting transverse movement of the inner tube upon a force being imposed in the cylindrical region of the bat,
• wherein a substantial proximal inner gap is provided between the at least one performance control assembly and the first suspension member, and a substantial distal inner gap is positioned between the at least one performance control assembly and the second suspension member.

A bat, comprising:

• an outer barrel structure having a tapered region and a cylindrical region extending from the tapered region;
• an inner tube disposed within the outer barrel structure and retained by a first suspension member and a second suspension member positioned at spaced apart locations along the inner tube, wherein the first suspension member and the second suspension member each have a first stiffness, and the inner tube has a second stiffness different than the first stiffness;
• and
• at least two performance control assemblies configured to operate independent of one another, each of the performance control assemblies comprising at least one barrel insert suspended over the inner tube between the first suspension member and the second suspension member.