A protective screen system having a protective screen made up of a protective screen frame and a primary net, and including a protective screen safety apparatus coupled to the protective screen. The protective screen safety apparatus includes one or more spacing connectors adapted to couple a structure such as a protective screen frame, and support and suspend a safety net in front of and spaced from the protective screen frame to minimize bounce back of a ball from the protective screen frame. Methods of protecting a batter with the protective screen safety apparatus are provided. Retrofitting and adjustable protective screen safety apparatus are described, including embodiments adapted to minimize damage to chain-link fences, as are other aspects.

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 softball pitching aid enables one to practice throwing rise balls and drop balls at slower speeds than that required by a standard softball. It comprises a ball with opposing convex surfaces at either end of and disposed about a central axis and a plurality of symmetrical slots protruding into its outer surface and disposed circumferentially along the central axis. The ball is constructed of polyurethane foam or other lightweight material. When thrown correctly, the slots interact with ambient air to cause the ball to rise or drop. The slots and lightweight material allow the ball to rise or drop at lower speeds. The slots further provide guidance for gripping the ball and leverage for increasing its spin rate during flight. The ball further comprises a two-tone coloring scheme that, in conjunction with the symmetrical slots, provides instant visual feedback during flight as to whether it was thrown correctly.

A sensor system and method of using the system synergistically to improve the accuracy and usefulness of measured results is described. The system is comprised of electronically linked components that act as markers to trigger events, producers that gather data from sensors and aggregators that combine the data from a plurality of producers using triggers from marker devices to select the data of interest. The system is shown to be applicable to selection of data regions of interest and to analysis of the data to improve accuracy. The analysis of the data of any particular sensor within the system makes use of extrinsic data, being data generated by other sensors and intrinsic data, that is data or data limits that are known to be true from nature, laws of physics or just the particular information the user wants to acquire. The system is demonstrated on the analysis of Doppler radar measurements of a thrown object.

An Athletic Glove with an Enhanced Grip and Range of Motion provides for improved play in cold weather conditions. The glove may be comprised of a primary layer of flexible material with a low coefficient of friction and low adhesive properties, and tactile layers with a high coefficient of friction or high adhesive property layer on the front portions of the throwing fingers, whereby an athlete may achieve a natural tactile feel while wearing the glove. For example, a baseball glove may include high coefficient of friction material on the thumb, pointer, and middle fingers while the palm and remaining digits are of a low coefficient of friction material. A baseball glove may additionally include high coefficient of friction material on the inner side of the ring finger where the ring finger contacts the baseball. The athletic glove may also include striations or furrows in the high coefficient of friction areas to improve tactile feel in wet playing conditions.

A pitching screen assembly adapted to be readily converted between a deployed configuration and a non-deployed configuration including: a first ground-engaging support member having a first end, a second end, and a midpoint, wherein the first end and the second end define a length therebetween; a second ground-engaging support member having a first end, a second end, and a midpoint, wherein the first end and the second end define a length therebetween; a frame sub-assembly having an internal aperture contained therein; a protective screen, wherein the protective screen covers at least a portion of the internal aperture of the frame sub-assembly; wherein the frame sub-assembly is associated with the first ground-engaging support member and the second ground-engaging support member; and wherein the frame sub-assembly is rotatably displaceable along a first axis (X) that is generally orthogonal to the length of the first ground-engaging support member and the length of the second ground-engaging support member.

A device to create repeatability in the overhead throwing motion to support the arm speed used by baseball position players and baseball pitchers includes a ball with a towel attached at the apex of the ball. The towel is attached with a fastening bar and two fasteners.

The present invention provides a portable pitching mat having a first side with a first end and a second end, wherein the first side is substantially flat and has a weight attached proximal to the first end; a second side, wherein the second side engages an artificial turf substrate with a plurality of anchors; and a pitching rubber on the first side proximal to the first end. Also provided is a portable mat having a first side with a first end and a second end, wherein the first side is substantially flat; a second side, wherein the second side has a plurality of recessed regions; and a plurality of substrates, wherein each of the plurality of substrates comprises a first face that reversibly engages one of the plurality of recessed regions on the second side; and a second face that engages an artificial turf surface with a plurality of anchors.

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.