A sports training system includes an array of break beam sensors. Each sensor is configured to detect a passage of an object, such as a hockey puck, between adjacent posts and provide information for the passage to a controller communicatively attached to the array of sensors. A mobile application is configured to receive information from the controller and provide, for presentation to a user, passage statistics for the passages completed by one or more players. Servers are located in at least one data center. The servers are configured to receive and store the passage statistics and to provide access to the passage statistics.

Disclosed is a climbing machine including a rotatable rotation shaft (501), a plurality of one-way components (502) capable of achieving one-way transmission, a plurality of transmission units (503) and a plurality of climbing points (300, 400), where the one-way components (502) are connected to the rotation shaft (501) in a sleeving manner, each transmission unit (503) is connected to one climbing point (300, 400), and each transmission unit (503) and the rotation shaft (501) form one-way transmission by means of being connected to one one-way component (502); in one rotating direction, the rotation shaft (501) and the transmission units (503) are capable of being in transmission, and the climbing points (300, 400) descend during transmission; and in the direction opposite to the rotating direction, transmission between the rotation shaft (501) and the transmission units (503) cannot be achieved. By using the climbing machine, a user can experience a vivid feeling of climbing upwards, thereby improving the climbing experience.

A tennis trainer apparatus has a base, a center tube, and an upper structure. The base of the tennis trainer apparatus has a plurality of evenly distributed legs which may have wheels attached for ease of positioning the apparatus in various positions on a tennis court. The center tube is easily adjustable by placing a pin in holes at varying heights. The upper structure has a left arm and a right arm, and each arm has a holding rod attached. A ball with a ball loop is removably attached to the holding rods so that when the ball is struck it can easily travel like a regular tennis ball. The ball loop is attached to the ball through use of a small rod which is inserted into the tennis ball. Ball extenders with at least one and preferably two holding rods attached are used to raise and lower the height of the ball and ball loop, to create any shot in tennis, including a serve. A tennis trainer apparatus can be easily adapted to additional sports.

Articles, kits, and methods for enabling an individual to improve their top-hand grasp of a handled object, such as a baseball bat. An article has an arcuate inner portion having a groove that extends along a length thereof, configured to reversibly engage the handled object. The article also has an irregular outer portion with a thumb support that arcuately extends from the irregular outer portion, configured to reversibly engage the individual's top-hand. During use of the article in a method of the invention, the article enables the individual to grasp the handled object with the fingers of their top-hand, rather than the palm and thumb of their top-hand, to improve acceleration, velocity, precision, accuracy, and form of the individual's swing when the article is not used, as well as improved safety and consistent grip technique when it is used.

A method of customizing a golf club, wherein the method includes generating operating data representative of a user operating a mechanical device. The operating data is generated by a first sensor sized and configured to be removably positioned in a mounting port formed on the mechanical device during operation of the mechanical device. The sensor is interchangeably positionable in the mounting port with at least one mass insert, the at least one mass insert being adapted to be interchangeably positioned in the mounting to provide at least two different mass configurations. The method further includes determining a recommended configuration of the at least one mass insert specific to the user based on the operating data generated by the sensor, and transmitting information representative of the recommended mass insert.

A quickdraw for sport climbing includes two carabiners held together by a connecting element having a central region which ends in a loop for the carabiners at each of the two end regions. This connecting element is provided with at least one sensor in the central region between the loops or near to one of the loops. As a result of a minimal movement or touch of the quickdraw, the at least one sensor, triggered by use of the quickdraw, emits an electronic signal which is received by a base station communicating with a smartphone and/or a computer so that the signal can be processed, stored and compared with previously stored signals in order to show or graphically represent the corresponding values resulting therefrom on the display.

An adjustable rock hold having a rotatable outer portion configured to rotate about an axis of the adjustable rock hold and rotate with respect to a climbing surface, wherein the adjustable rock hold is configured to be attached to the climbing surface; a plurality of gripping surfaces positioned around an outer edge of the rotatable outer portion; and one or more securing elements configured to secure the rotatable outer portion with respect to the climbing surface.

A method for improving a player's performance, such as reaction time or swing time by measuring the time it takes a player to change from a load position to a swing position where the player's bat makes contact with the ball when presented with a stimulus emitted from a timer. This method measures the time elapsed by utilizing a timer that configured to emit a stimulus, such as an audible sound, receive an external stimulus, such as the sound of the player's bat making contact with the ball, record the time elapsed, and present the time on a display.

A method for tracking performance of player including determining global direction of magnetic field at first court and computing first court specific data; providing rotation for rotating apparatus about spin axis via player, wherein rotating apparatus comprising XYZ-magnetic field sensor; measuring plurality of magnetic field values as function of time when rotating apparatus is rotating about spin axis; computing magnetic field component of magnetic field in direction of local body co-ordinate of spin axis of rotating apparatus; determining direction of spin axis using computed magnetic field component of magnetic field and determined global direction of magnetic field; determining player specific data comprising angle of spin axis with respect to horizontal ground plane and angle of shot direction with respect to horizontal component of spin axis; and calibrating and storing first court specific data and player specific data to track performance of player at first court.

A method, a false start detection system, and a false start detection sensor for determining whether an athlete has performed a false start in an event. Force data is received representing the force exerted by at least one upper appendage of the athlete on a surface when in a starting position (S701). The force data is processed to determine an athlete start time (S702), and the athlete start time is compared to an event start time to determine whether a false start has occurred (S703).