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.

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.

What is provided is a football catching and throwing machine and method that includes an inclined upwardly angled path. The machine includes a collector configured to receive a football thrown into it; a ball translator configured to align the football and transport the football up the inclined path to a football accelerator that launches the football into the air; and a motor that operates the football accelerator.

Improved pitching machines capable of providing accurate, repeatable, and various pitches for training or simulation purposes (e.g., batting and catching). The pitching machine of the present invention may be operable to deliver pitches that each have a different predetermined trajectory, location, velocity (speed to target), and rotational velocity with repeatable precision and accuracy. Additionally, the pitching machine may be programmable and capable of simulating a pitch sequence, as thrown by a pitcher in a game situation, which provides a novel and effective tool for training batters.

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 machine and method for receiving and launching an oval football. The machine includes a football catch area, a motorized belt to orient the football and motorized wheels to launch the football. The user catching the football throws it back to the machine. The machine automatically orients the football and launches it back to the user catching the football. The machine provides the user a consistent timing pause between receiving the football and launching of the football.

According to various embodiments, a training device for hockey players is disclosed herein. The training device includes a puck sorting system for holding and orienting hockey pucks. The puck sorting system includes a puck drum having bottom and side portions and configured to hold therein a plurality of hockey pucks. The bottom portion of the puck drum has rotatably mounted thereon a conical puck agitation device configured to orient the plurality of hockey pucks into a predefined position. The training device further includes a puck launching system attached to the puck sorting system. The puck launching system includes a sloped tube operable to receive oriented hockey pucks and convey hockey pucks to a puck launcher. The puck launcher is configured to shoot hockey pucks via a spinning launching wheel driven by a launching motor.

A computerized method for determining an operability status of a ball-throwing machine is disclosed that includes operations of obtaining sensor data collected by a sensor during deployment of the ball-throwing machine to perform operations according to a training program including launching a series of balls, wherein the sensor is disposed on the ball-throwing machine, parsing the sensor data into segments, comparing the segments to a sequence of predetermined signatures, wherein the sequence of the predetermined signatures is ordered according to actions specified by the training program, and wherein the predetermined signatures represent known sensor data values for the operations performed according to the training program, and when at least a first threshold percentage of the segments are indicated as being inconsistent with the sequence of predetermined signatures, determining that the ball-throwing machine is operating abnormally.

A launch wheel of a ball-throwing machine including a coupling insert that includes one or more coupling mechanisms configured to clamp onto a motor shaft. Deflectable arms of the coupling mechanism are drawn together via a screw extending along a chord of the coupling insert. A manufacturing process of the wheel frame includes over-molding a wheel frame onto the coupling insert. End portions of the coupling insert extend beyond a hub of the wheel frame and include a smooth surface configured define a shut-off interfaces with an injection mold for the wheel frame. Each smooth surface extends inward from its respective end of the coupling insert beyond a corresponding coupling mechanism. A centralized knurled portion of an outside circumferential surface ensures secure attachment of the coupling insert with the wheel frame resulting from the over-molding process. Lateral and longitudinal slits extending partially through the coupling insert define the deflectable arms.