The plastics bat for playing ball games comprises a handle and a ball-striking head for striking resilient balls. The ball-striking head comprises a rigid outer ring frame integrally formed with the handle, a first discrete lattice structure comprising a semi-rigid single planar lattice element and an identical second discrete lattice structure comprising a semi rigid single planar lattice element. The lattice structures are securely connected to opposite sides of the frame so as to define ball-striking faces, respectively. The lattice structures define an unobstructed internal space between them. The ball-striking head has a lightweight monocoque construction wherein the lattice structures and the frame form a load-carrying outer skin surrounding the hollow internal space.