A control system for controlling a pitch parameter includes a controller, at least one pitch parameter adjustment actuator configured to mount to a pitching machine and cooperate with a component of or operatively connected to an arm assembly to adjust at least one pitch parameter, and at least one position tracking linear scale configured to mount the pitching machine. The at least one pitch parameter adjustment actuator is electrically operated and actuated by the controller. The at least one position tracking linear scale is electrically operated and communicates location data associated with movement of the component to the controller.

A football snap receiving training device for training a player to receive snaps from center includes a base, which is positionable upon a substantially horizontal surface for a user to stand upon. A bracket is attached to and extends upwardly from the base. A swing arm, which is spring loaded, is rotationally attached to the bracket. A gripping element, which is attached to the swing arm distal from the bracket, selectively grips a football that is positioned on the base. An actuator is attached to the base and is operationally engaged to the gripping element to retain the swing arm in a tensioned configuration. A trigger is attached to the base and is operationally engaged to the actuator. Triggering of the trigger by a foot of the user releases the swing arm, which swings so that the football is snapped to the user.

A projectile launching machine includes a base having a front end and a rear end, a front leg assembly extending having a lower end coupled to the front end of the base and an upper end, distal from the lower end and a throwing arm pivotally coupled to the upper end of the front leg assembly at a pivot, the throwing arm having a biased end extending from the pivot and a ball end distal from the biased end, the throwing arm movable between a locked position and a throw position. A biasing member having a first biasing member end is connected to the biased end and a second biasing member end movably coupled to the front leg assembly. An arm release mechanism has a first end connected to the front leg assembly between the lower end and the upper end, and a second end movable between a locking position wherein the throwing arm is in the locked position and a release position wherein the throwing arm is biased by the biasing member to the throw position.

A ball launching apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes a funnel residing at an upper end of a housing. The funnel includes a channel for gravitationally directing a ball into a launch point within an interior compartment of the housing. The apparatus includes a hammer that strikes a ball through a chute, thereby releasing the ball from the housing. Both the distance at which the ball travels and the angle at which the ball leaves the chute may be adjusted by the operator. A method of exercising a dog is also provided herein.

A projectile launching machine includes a base having a front end and a rear end, a front leg assembly coupled to the front end and an upper end, distal from the lower end. A throwing arm is coupled to the upper end of the front leg assembly at a pivot. The throwing arm has a biased end extending from the pivot and a ball end distal from the biased end. The throwing arm is movable between a locked position and a throw position. A biasing member is connected to the biased end and a second biasing member end is movably coupled to the front leg assembly. An arm release mechanism has a first end connected to the front leg assembly and a second end movable between a locking position wherein the throwing arm is in the locked position and a release position.

A control system for controlling a pitch parameter includes a controller, at least one pitch parameter adjustment actuator configured to mount to a pitching machine and cooperate with a component of or operatively connected to an arm assembly to adjust at least one pitch parameter, and at least one position tracking linear scale configured to mount the pitching machine. The at least one pitch parameter adjustment actuator is electrically operated and actuated by the controller. The at least one position tracking linear scale is electrically operated and communicates location data associated with movement of the component to the controller.

A football snap receiving training device for training a player to receive snaps from center includes a base, which is positionable upon a substantially horizontal surface for a user to stand upon. A bracket is attached to and extends upwardly from the base. A swing arm, which is spring loaded, is rotationally attached to the bracket. A gripping element, which is attached to the swing arm distal from the bracket, selectively grips a football that is positioned on the base. An actuator is attached to the base and is operationally engaged to the gripping element to retain the swing arm in a tensioned configuration. A trigger is attached to the base and is operationally engaged to the actuator. Triggering of the trigger by a foot of the user releases the swing arm, which swings so that the football is snapped to the user.

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 multifunctional baseball pitching apparatus includes a base, a housing, a ball-feeding wheel, an inner seat, a hitting rod, a driving device, and an adjusting device. The baseball pitching apparatus adopts the adjusting device to adjust the preload force of a hitting rod and is provided with a plurality of adjusting gears so that the user can perform setting according to requirements, thereby realizing different hitting heights and distances and meeting different needs for hitting baseballs. The baseball pitching apparatus is fully automated, which provides great convenience for training.

A projectile launching machine includes a base having a front end and a rear end, a front leg assembly extending having a lower end coupled to the front end of the base and an upper end, distal from the lower end and a throwing arm pivotally coupled to the upper end of the front leg assembly at a pivot, the throwing arm having a biased end extending from the pivot and a ball end distal from the biased end, the throwing arm movable between a locked position and a throw position. A biasing member having a first biasing member end is connected to the biased end and a second biasing member end movably coupled to the front leg assembly. An arm release mechanism has a first end connected to the front leg assembly between the lower end and the upper end, and a second end movable between a locking position wherein the throwing arm is in the locked position and a release position wherein the throwing arm is biased by the biasing member to the throw position.