The TSA recently announced that as of April 25, 2013 they will be loosening their regulations against certain carry on items, including some knives and “sport sticks”.
From the TSA website:
“Through TSA’s layered approach to security, and to align more closely with International Civil Aviation Organization standards, effective April 25, 2013 TSA will allow knives that do not lock, and have blades that are 2.36 inches or 6 centimeters or less in length and are less than 1/2 inch in width, novelty-sized and toy bats, billiard cues, ski poles, hockey sticks, lacrosse sticks and two golf clubs as part of their carry-on baggage. This is part of an overall Risk-Based Security approach, which allows Transportation Security Officers to better focus their efforts on finding higher threat items such as explosives.”
from: http://www.tsa.gov/press/news/2013/03/05/statement-changes-prohibited-items-list
You can find more detail, including images of what is and what is not allowed on the TSA’s blog, by clicking here: http://1.usa.gov/10fRejY