A ball return system for returning balls shot at a target to a user of the ball return system includes an ejector adapted to accelerate balls out of the ball return system toward a target destination. The ball return system also includes a mast disposed on a base on which the ejector is disposed. The ball return system further includes a collapsible net support adapted to transition between a collapsed state and an expanded state. The collapsible net support is connected to the mast by a joint that enables the collapsible net support to transition between: a first orientation in which a length of the collapsible net support is aligned with a length of the mast, and a second orientation in which the collapsible support net is stacked on top of the ejector.

An apparatus comprising a practice device for practice of hitting a tennis ball includes a server configured for serving the tennis ball to a user, a net disposed to intercept a flight of the tennis ball after the tennis bell has been hit by the user using a racket and to direct the captured tennis ball back towards the server to be served again to the user, an image detector configured to observe the tennis ball as the tennis ball hurtles towards the net, and a processor. The processor determines, based at least in part on image frames received from the image detector, data indicative of the tennis ball's virtual landing spot. This virtual landing spot is an estimate of where the tennis ball would have landed on an opposing court had the tennis ball not been intercepted by the net.

There is provided herein an apparatus and method for teaching a baseball participant how best to swing a bat in order to urge a struck ball to fly in a particular direction. More particularly, various embodiments provide immediate feedback to the batter make proper corrections for a properly hit baseball by forcing the batter to swing the bat at a predetermined angle appropriate for a desired ball trajectory.

A baseball swing training device has a base, a support member adjustably connected to the base, and a suction assembly disposed in the base that extends through and out of the support member to hold a ball in a stationary position. The suction assembly includes a coil vacuum hose disposed within the support member, and connected to a vacuum pump assembly, and an elongated hose connected to the coil vacuum hose at one end, and removeably connected to a suction nozzle at an opposite end.

The stomp and catch game is similar to a conventional stomp and catch board, but includes an additional stabilizing base. The base has opposed upper and lower surfaces. The upper surface has at least one first visual indicator formed thereon to indicate where a user should stand with one foot to hold the lower surface of the base against a support surface, such as the ground or a floor. By standing on the base with one foot, the user's weight maintains the base in a stable position while the user plays the game. A pivoting board is pivotally secured to the base. The pivoting board has opposed first and second ends. The first end is configured for stomping on with the user's other foot, and the second end is configured for releasably supporting and launching a target object that the user attempts to catch while in the air.

A ball pitching device including a launching surface for receiving balls, the launching surface being configured to receive and hold a ball in the launching position prior to the ball being launched, a launching system including at least one impulse mechanism configured to impact the ball in the launching position, and one or more control components configured to control at least one of a pitch power and a pitch trajectory of the ball launched from the launching position.

A tennis ball retriever for retrieving a tennis ball on and about a tennis court and for controllably releasing the ball includes a front-end ball collector having two spaced-apart blades defining a ball collection space. The retriever includes one or more detents for retaining the collected ball in the collection space until a programmed or manually-directed release toward a target location such as a tennis baseline. The retriever includes a processor-controller for controlling and directing the retriever during a retrieval session. The retriever may be remote-controlled such as by voice commands.

Disclosed are a screen baseball system, in which a pitching machine installed behind a screen pitches a ball toward a batting area through a pitching hole formed in the screen and a user hits the ball in the batting area, configured such that the case in which a virtual pitcher in an image projected on the screen is a left-handed pitcher and the case in which the virtual pitcher is a right-handed pitcher are realized when a ball is pitched through a single pitching hole, whereby the user who hits the ball in the batting area is capable of experiencing the pitch from the left-handed pitcher and the pitch from the right-handed pitcher, and a method of realizing a left-handed pitcher and a right-handed pitcher using the same.

A baseball pitching machine that is configured to precisely index and spin a baseball before pitching the baseball. The machine comprises a baseball spinner and launcher that is configured to spin the baseball using at least one spindle, and then launch or pitch the ball using air (i.e., pneumatic). Preferably, the position of the ball spinner and launcher can be adjusted in terms of position in both the x and y directions (i.e., both side to side, and up and down), as well as its angle. The baseball pitching machine is configured to be controllable such that pitches (in terms of type, location and velocity) can be changed on a pitch-by-pitch basis.

A training device for ball sports comprises a launching structure comprising an aperture sized and shaped to allow balls to pass linearly through the aperture along the central axis of the aperture, and a launching means configured to contact a ball within the aperture at a plurality of contact locations spaced around the surface of the ball, and to drive the ball through the aperture, and; a supporting means configured to support the launching structure above a surface; the launching structure and supporting means configured such that in use the launching structure can be rotated about the central axis to alter the position of the contact locations.