The invention disclosed herein relates to a device that teaches baseball batting by requiring a hitter to keep his or her head down and eyes focused on the hitting zone and tacking the ball in the hitting zone during the swing.

A method can include providing an object having a size smaller than a size of a known regulation object, projecting the object, via a delivery device, toward a trainee, and training the trainee to follow the object. A method can include determining a game parameter of a game trajectory of a sports object that was projected along the game trajectory in a real-time sports event, and based on the game parameters, adapting a delivery device to deliver a training object along a training trajectory that mimics at least a portion of the game trajectory, with the training object being smaller than the sports object.

A method can include providing an object having a size smaller than a size of a known regulation object, projecting the object, via a delivery device, toward a trainee, and training the trainee to follow the object. A method can include determining a game parameter of a game trajectory of a sports object that was projected along the game trajectory in a real-time sports event, and based on the game parameters, adapting a delivery device to deliver a training object along a training trajectory that mimics at least a portion of the game trajectory, with the training object being smaller than the sports object.

A method can include projecting an object toward an impact device along a trajectory, receiving the object at a target zone of the impact device, a trainee striking the impact device at an impact zone with a sports tool, and scoring a performance score of the trainee to impact the impact zone at an appropriate time compared to an arrival time of the object at the target zone. A method can include projecting an object toward a target along a trajectory, receiving the object at an actual arrival position at the target, wherein the actual arrival position is either inside a target zone or outside the target zone, and where a trainee is configured to send an indication when the trainee expects the object to arrive inside the target zone, comparing the indication to the actual arrival position, and determining a performance score based on the comparing.

An apparatus and method for improving batter technique is herein disclosed. In certain embodiments, the apparatus is a batting tee that includes a base, a vertical shaft assembly that is mounted to the base and has a ball support at an uppermost end thereof, a light source housed within the vertical shaft assembly and designed to illuminate an area proximate the ball support, and a controller for activating the light source. In certain embodiments, the method includes providing the above-described batting tee, placing a ball on the ball support of the tee, hitting the ball off the ball support to activate the light source, and keeping eye contact with the illuminated area.

A batting tee is provided that includes a base to which a post is removably mounted. The post includes an upper, distal end for supporting a ball at a height convenient for a batter to hit, and a lower, proximal end to engage the base. The base includes a member that is spring-biased into engagement with the post, the post including an aperture. The aperture removably receives the member so that the post may be released from the base by pulling the member against the spring bias, and the post can be engaged with the base by releasing the member, permitting spring bias to move the member into engagement with the aperture.

A mobile, free standing field sport shooting target device, including a pole having a first end and a second end, wherein an opening is located at the first and second ends of the pole, a counter weight plate having a plurality of openings, wherein the counter weight plate is located adjacent to the first end of the pole, and a collar operatively connected to the first end of the pole, wherein the collar has a first end and a second end such that the counter weight plate is located adjacent to the first end of the collar and the collar is used to retain the counter weight on the first end of the pole, and wherein a distance between the first end of the pole and the second end of the collar can be adjusted.

A batting tee and/or hitting training device is provided that includes a platform, a support extending upwardly from the platform and a holder disposed on the support opposite the platform for holding the ball to be hit. The support additionally includes a cross-beam disposed on the support adjacent the holder. The cross-beam can be positioned at an angle with regard to the support, such that the cross-beam has an upward slope from one end to the other. This slope enables the batting tee to provide the individual with a guide for an upward swing path of the bat towards the ball disposed on the holder.

A batting tee system that can be used to both tee a ball for batting and retrieve balls on the ground. As balls are retrieved, the balls are automatically positioned for use in batting. The batting tee system uses a tube body having an interior and an open first end of a first diameter. An expandable constraint is disposed at the first end. The expandable constraint defines a secondary opening that can be selectively altered between a second diameter that is smaller than the first diameter, and a third diameter that is larger than the first diameter. A mechanical activator is used to alter the secondary opening of the expandable constraint between the second diameter and the third diameter. This controls the passage of balls out of the tube body.

A method can include providing an object having a size smaller than a size of a known regulation object, projecting the object, via a delivery device, toward a trainee, and training the trainee to follow the object. A method can include determining a game parameter of a game trajectory of a sports object that was projected along the game trajectory in a real-time sports event, and based on the game parameters, adapting a delivery device to deliver a training object along a training trajectory that mimics at least a portion of the game trajectory, with the training object being smaller than the sports object.