In one general aspect, an apparatus to monitor movement of an object may include an input device configured to trigger pre-selection of a type of performance of the object, at least one sensor used to measure a motion parameter of the object, a controller configured to receive the motion parameter of the object and compare the measured motion parameter with a motion reference, and an output device configured to display, in real-time, a feedback information based on the comparison.

A toy having a ball, a base, and a tether which tethers the ball to the base, where the base has a landing structure and a ring mechanism for removeable attachment of the base to a finger of the player. The landing structure may, for instance, be a cup. Or if the ball has a complementary-dimensioned bore, the ball retaining means may be a spike. The ring mechanism is preferably a pair of straps which may be wrapped around the finger and removably bonded to each other (such as with Velcro®).

Devices and methods are generally provided for indicating the location of a most recent strike on a face of a golf club. One exemplary embodiment of an impact indication device can include a patch that can be attached to the face of a golf club and can display the impact location of a most recent strike without displaying impact locations of previous strikes. The impact locations of previous strikes can be removed from the patch without the user having to do anything more than take another swing. In some embodiments, the device includes a yield-stress material that assist in displaying impact a most recent impact location without displaying previous impact locations. Other features that can allow patches to work in this fashion, as well as methods related to the same, are also provided. Further, disclosures pertaining to a mobile impact recorder are also provided.

A tennis ball may include a non-foamed thermoplastic core defining an internal volume, the core having an outer meltable surface. The core may include a thermoplastic material having a specific gravity of 0.86 to 1.38, a flexural modulus of 2.0 to 50.0 MPa, and a Shore D hardness of 10 to 70. The thickness of the thermoplastic material may be between 3.0 and 8.0 mm and configured to maintain dimensional stability at internal pressures of between zero and 15 psi. The tennis ball may further include a felt cover at least partially covering the core, wherein the tennis ball conforms to ITF and USTA size, weight, deformation and rebound requirements.

A system and methods for athletic drill training using networked devices is presented. The networked devices are placed to lay out a drill for an athlete, and they include a sound source to indicate to the athlete where they should be at a given time. The system and methods are flexible enough to be used for most athletic drills. An input device for indicating the athlete is near the networked device can be added for agility drills.

Principal and secondary regions (106 and 108) of an information-presentation structure extend to an exposed surface (102) respectively at principal and secondary surface zones (112 and 114) variously impacted by a spherical object (104) that rebounds from the surface. The principal region normally appears along the principal zone as a principal color. An impact-dependent portion (138) of the principal region responds to the object impacting the principal zone at an object-contact area (116) by temporarily appearing along a print area (118) of the principal zone as changed color materially different from the principal color. The print area closely matches the object-contact area in size, shape, and location. The secondary region fixedly appears along the secondary zone as a secondary color. Restitution matching is provided across the two zones so that the rebound characteristics of the object are largely independent of whether it contacts the principal or secondary zone.

An adjustable barbell or dumbbell or exercise device includes a handle device having a handle bar engageable into grooves of a number of weight members, a number of plates disposed on the handle bar and engageable between the weight members, and the plates each include an engaging element for engaging with the weight members and for anchoring a selected number of weight members to the handle bar, and a detecting device is attached to the handle device and includes a weight detector connected to a processing unit for sending weighing signals to the processing unit, and a displayer for displaying a total weight of the handle device and the weight members.

An illuminated basketball hoop accessory for removably securing to a basketball hoop mounted at a desired height above a playing surface. An illuminated member forms a hoop approximating a size and shape of the rim. The illuminated member has a plurality of securing members, for example clamps or magnets, for removably securing the illuminated member to the rim. An illuminated member mounting tool is provided for engaging the illuminated member to and disengaging the illuminated member from the rim. The illuminated member thus illuminates the rim to allow for visual identification of the position of the rim in a dark environment, and during daytime provides a convenient means of mounting a net to the basketball hoop.

A catching game that is challenging even when played by one player. The catching game is a paddle-sized hand-held device that preferably incorporates an automatic launcher and an adjustable aperture catcher on the same hand-held device. The automatic launcher incorporates randomness into the launching mechanism, in order to increase the challenge to the player(s). The game also incorporates an electronic sensor to determine when a catch has been made.

A portable target game that can be set up and played anywhere. The game consists of moving targets within a concave backstop, the moving targets being attached to flexible rods such that hits on target fall into the base of the concave backstop. The game is meant to be played with existing, lightweight projectiles such as NERF guns and plastic balls. The concave backstop is foldable such that the game can be folded up with all of the projectiles inside, and disassembled for convenient storage.