A unique configuration is introduced herein for providing a ball machine pitching tip. A linear actuator is coupled to the disclosed ball tip herein having at least one member protruding outwardly from a base and radially positioned about a coupling aperture. Positioned selected frictional contact points configured to an inner surface of the at least one protruding member enables an imbalance of torque on the object as released from the gripping tip from a velocity provided by the linear accelerator. The result is the ability to provide a variety of flight patterns (spins) of a ball for a given sport.

A ball trainer with a launcher function and a dropper function is provided. The ball trainer includes: a dropper unit that is disposed on one side in a housing and is formed in a holder shape capable of dropping a ball downward, the dropper unit including a storage space with a variable length in which two or more balls are stored; a launcher unit that is disposed on the other side in the housing and launches a ball which is received from outside; a control module that selectively controls the dropper unit and the launcher unit depending on an operation mode; and a communication module that is connected to the control module and transmits a signal received from the outside in a wireless or wired manner.

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 soft-toss pitching machine for soft-pitch practice includes a housing and a feeder tube coupled within an inside of the housing and extending from a feed aperture to a dispense aperture. A plurality of legs is coupled to the housing. A swivel is coupled to the housing and a pitcher arm is coupled to the swivel. The pitcher arm has a rest position, a first alternate wound position, and a second alternate release position in front of the housing. A pitcher hand is coupled to the pitcher arm and is configured to secure a ball with the pitcher arm in, and moving between, the rest position and the first alternate wound position. The pitcher hand is configured to release the ball when the pitcher arm moves to the release position. A drive is in operational communication with the swivel and moves the pitcher arm.

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 device for vertically launching a ball up into the air. The device has a holding tee for selectively holding a ball. The holding tee is supported by an actuator. The actuator is movable between a first position, where the holding tee is extended, and a second position, where the holding tee is retracted. A main spring biases the actuator into its first position. When moved to its retracted second position against the force of the mainspring, the actuator engages a release mechanism. The release mechanism maintains the actuator in its second position for a period of time before the release mechanism automatically releases. Upon release, the mainspring immediately returns the actuator to its first position. This rapidly forces the holding tee upwardly. Any ball resting on the holding tee is subsequently launched into the air.

A shooting system includes a collapsible ball capture support adapted to support a ball capture device and a ball return. The ball return detects a ball captured by the ball capture device and returns the ball to a user in response to the detected ball. To return the ball to the user, the system identifies a location of the user with respect to the shooting system, orients the ball return toward the user, and accelerates the ball along a trajectory based on a distance between the user and the shooting system.

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 method of increasing a total number of players configured to hit a ball into a single field is disclosed. The method comprises providing a substantially circular shaped enclosed field, a structure housing a plurality of bays positioned at a midpoint of the substantially circular shaped enclosed field, and a plurality of mock pitching mounds. The plurality of mock pitching mounds is disposed around the structure and in front of each bay of the plurality of bays thereby each bay emulates the look and feel of a baseball diamond from the perspective of each of the players and bays. Each bay is convex shaped being disposed on the outer perimeter of the substantially circular structure to provide the plurality of bays each emulating the home plate and batter's boxes of a baseball field.