Traveling sports fans rejoice. You can now carry your whiffle ball bat or favorite putter onto the airplane.
In a revision to its prohibited items list, the Transportation Security Administration will now allow certain sporting equipment and small knives to be carried on to flights. The changes, which take effect April 25, were made to conform with international standards and to allow officers to "better focus their efforts on finding higher threat items such as explosives," according to a TSA statement.
Knives that have a blade no longer than 2.36 inches and no wider than a half-inch are now allowed. Your typical Swiss army knife falls into this category. Bigger knives, fixed-blade knives, box cutters and razor blades are not allowed.
On the sports front, lacrosse sticks, hockey sticks, pool cues, ski poles and golf clubs are allowed. But Rory McIlroy can't bring his entire bag of new Nike clubs on the plane with him because the carry-on limit is two clubs.
Bats that are shorter than 24 inches and weigh less than 24 ounces, such as novelty toy bats, are permitted. Bats longer than 24 inches but that still weigh less than 24 ounces, like your typical whiffle ball bat, are also allowed. But Miguel Cabrera can't bring his favorite piece of lumber onto the plane with him. Full-size baseball bats and aluminum bats are not allowed.