Devices, systems, and methods for training baseball and softball batters, to identify types of pitched balls (fast ball, curve ball, slider and changeup) and locations (strike or non-strike zone) of pitched balls in order to increase hitting accuracy. A motion sensor can be triggered by the leading foot of a pitcher. The motion sensor can use cone or fan shaped sensor to detect the passage of a pitched ball from the pitcher. When the motion sensor is triggered, a signal can be sent to a black out lens that blocks the vision of a hitter being trained to identify the types and locations of the pitched balls. The training includes changing the lens from transparent to opaque at selected distances between the hitter and the pitcher. Batters can be trained to keep their eyes on the pitched balls until the ball reaches the batter. Baseball and softball batters can be trained to focus on the contact point between the ball and a swinging bat.

A sports pitching and hitting training apparatus generally including a vertical pole, a base affixed to an end of the vertical pole, and first and second horizontal poles, the first and second horizontal poles being removably affixed to the vertical pole. The vertical pole may have a plurality of apertures extending along the length of the vertical pole, for receiving, securing and supporting an end of each of the horizontal poles. In some embodiments the apparatus includes a pair of vertical zone indicators removably and movably positioned on the first horizontal pole, having a receiving channel at their top end to receive the horizontal pole and provide a point of suspension for the vertical zone indicators from the horizontal pole, to form a zone of interest with the horizontal poles.

A rack support and method of use. The support rack can include a plurality of support slats mounted to a support base. The support slats cooperatively provide a plurality of article mounting channels, and article mounts can be slidably mounted in the channels in order to provide a variety of orientations of the article mounts with respect to the support base. In one embodiment, the support channels are T-shaped, and the article mounts have T-shaped mounting ends that may slidably mount with the T-shaped support channels. Other support channel and mounting end shapes may be used. In some embodiments, the rack support may be used to store articles on a wall with increased article density, economy, reliability, safety, and/or usability.

A holding device (4) for a net (6) of a table-tennis table with two playing area leaves (1, 2) and an underframe (3), wherein the holding apparatus (4) includes two holding units (5) which can be arranged on opposite sides of the two playing area leaves (1, 2), and wherein each of the holding units (5) can be attached on at least one of the playing area leaves (1, 2) or on the substructure (3) and can hold one end of the net (6) and wherein the holding apparatus (4) includes at least one blocking means (7) which is arranged on one of the holding units (5) and, in the mounted state of the holding device (4), can be transferred into a blocking position in which it abuts against the under surfaces of the two playing area leaves (1, 2).

A device to function as a training aid designed to improve the tennis serves, ground strokes and volleys, badminton serves and strokes, volley ball serves and returns, baseball batting, racquet ball serves and returns, and squash serves and returns. It is also useful in any activity where the user seeks to improve striking performance when a sports object is suspended in a particular three-dimensional space location.

A holding device (4) for a net (6) of a table-tennis table with two playing area leaves (1, 2) and an underframe (3), wherein the holding apparatus (4) includes two holding units (5) which can be arranged on opposite sides of the two playing area leaves (1, 2), and wherein each of the holding units (5) can be attached on at least one of the playing area leaves (1, 2) or on the substructure (3) and can hold one end of the net (6) and wherein the holding apparatus (4) includes at least one blocking means (7) which is arranged on one of the holding units (5) and, in the mounted state of the holding device (4), can be transferred into a blocking position in which it abuts against the under surfaces of the two playing area leaves (1, 2).

A sports ball container suitable for resurfacing, storing, and carrying sports balls by abrading a surface of one or more sports balls by applying a reciprocating motion. The ball container includes a bottom wall, a cylindrical side, an open end top portion with screw threads thereon, and a cap. The inner surface of the cylindrical side wall is an abrasive surface configured to abrade one or more balls. A lanyard attached to the top portion of the container may be used for the efficient and convenient transportation and storage of sports balls.

A tray for stacking golf balls into a truncated, inverted pyramidal shape and upon which may be stacked on top a regular pyramidal stack of golf balls that self-supports to retain its shape. The tray includes a base, four diverging walls and a rim. The walls are between the rim and the base. The base has a plurality of curved rails that have convex surfaces within an inward facing side of the tray. The curved rails are separated from each other in succession by flattened regions. The rim has holes for securing rope handles. Golf balls may be poured into a hopper on the rim of the tray to stack the golf balls in the tray first in an inverted pyramid shape manner and then in a regular pyramid shape manner.

An adjustable knob assembly for a ball bat having a tubular handle portion extending about a longitudinal axis. The assembly includes a base and an annular knob. The base includes an end wall and a cylindrical outer wall extending from the end wall. The outer wall is configured to be fixedly coupled to a proximal end of the handle portion of the bat. The outer wall includes a first set of interlocking structure. The annular knob includes an inner radial surface defining a central opening. The inner radial surface includes a second set of interlocking structure. The first and second sets of interlocking structure are positionable between at least a first locked knob position and a second locked knob position.

A golf ball retrieval rake including a telescopic handle and an attachment member on a handle front end which connects the handle to a scoop member. The scoop member includes a J-shaped plate having cylindrical tines disposed on a front side of the plate, which are provided to drag and pull a golf ball into the scoop member to bring the golf ball out of a hazard. Obround slots through a bottom side of the plate, obround openings in the side walls and in the plate rear side, and holes in the rear side permit drainage from the scoop member when a golf ball is retrieved from a water hazard on the golf course and to shake sand from the scoop member when a golf ball is retrieved from a sand trap. A single removable zippered cover encompasses the attachment member, the scoop member, and the tines.