A system for improving a basketball player's ability to shoot basketballs towards a basketball hoop having an improved ball sensor is disclosed. An interface allows a player to select various locations for a ball ejector to launch basketballs to. A hollow protrusion extends though the net of the basketball hoop and has a microphone positioned therein. A processor compares audio signals generated by said microphone to pre-recorded sample audio signals of a basketball passing through the net of the basketball hoop to determine if a basketball shot was successfully made.

A device for assisting a user during basketball practice is disclosed. The device includes an ejector that launches a basketball, a control system that detects and records shooting data and programs the ejector, and an interface that has a plurality of indicia and communicates with the control system. A report generator is included that generates a report on the shooting data. In exemplary embodiments, a tracking device may detect the location of the basketball and a sensor may detect if the basketball passes through the goal.

A ball game practice apparatus for receiving and delivering balls. The ball game practice apparatus including a backstop assembly having a framework supporting a flexible covering, the flexible covering including a back portion with an opening and a bottom portion shaped to funnel balls to an exit opening formed therein. A ball elevating device includes a base, a framework extending vertically from the base, an endless conveyor carried by the framework, and a feeder mechanism coupled to the endless conveyor, the feeder mechanism positioned under the exit opening of the bottom portion. A ball throwing device has a hopper and an outlet. The hopper is positioned to receive balls from the endless conveyor and deliver balls through the outlet and the opening.

A sports ball rebounder net has a rebound surface positioned and angled to receive balls and to return or propel those projected balls back to the athlete. The net frame has brackets extending from the rear of each vertical post. The brackets each have an arcuate hole at a first radial distance from a center of rotation, and a series of spaced apart holes along an arc located at a second distance from the center of rotation. One arm of the back support is connected to the first bracket and a second arm connected to the second bracket, each at the respective centers of rotation. The angular position of the back support in respect of the net frame is adjusted by pulling a cord that is attached at each end to a respective plunger associated with each arm of the back support, each of which has a pin that is retracted upon pulling the cord. The respective pins of the plungers mate with one of each series of holes through the bracket attached to the net frame.

An open field game arrangement includes glowing targets and provides responses, such as lights and sounds, when the targets are hit.

A fold-up frame for portable basketball game device includes a base, a rear brace frame, and a backboard brace frame. The base has a base frame, a front leg structure and a rear leg structure. The front leg structure is rotatably coupled to a front side of the base frame, the rear leg structure is rotatably coupled to a rear side of the base frame. Each of the front and rear leg structures are moveable between an extended leg position and a storage leg position. The rear brace frame has a lower brace frame portion and an upper brace frame portion. The lower brace frame portion is rotatably coupled to the rear side of the base frame. The rear brace frame is moveable between a storage rear brace position and an extended rear brace position. The backboard brace frame is rotatably coupled to the upper brace frame portion.

The present invention relates to training devices used in the stick sports, particularly hockey, to improve users or corresponding stick sport players stick-handling and puck passing abilities. Hockey puck rebound device (1) comprises a first support (2) and a second support (22), at least one resilient member (20) extending between the first support (2) and the second support (22) such that the resilient member (20) is secured in a taut manner to provide a resilient spring-back force when struck by a puck (50), a cross-member (30) extending between the first support (2) and the second support (22). Each support (2, 22) comprises at least one channel (7) for inserting and securing the resilient member (20) to the support (2, 22).

A method and an apparatus for playing golf on a hard surface comprises a replaceable striking pad attached to a conventional golf club head by means of at least one attachment means, a spiked ball, a portable ball trap to trap the spiked ball and an optional remotely controlled vehicle to position the portable ball trap. The replaceable striking pad includes a small lip at a bottom end on a front face and a holding ledge having substantially curved edges extending away from the bottom end of the front face. The holding ledge is adaptable to wrap around a bottom sole of the golf club head. The portable ball trap includes a thin flat platform with tapered edges, a central threaded pole positioned on the thin flat platform and a circular frame having a plurality of hinged tabs threaded to the central threaded pole.

A basketball training system includes a server computer and a basketball training machine. The server computer executes a workout module that manages operation of a graphical user interface that presents a graphical representation of a portion of a basketball court and receives user inputs that define a workout program that includes selected ball delivery locations relative to the visual representation. The basketball training machine receives the workout program and delivers basketballs to the selected ball delivery locations.

A system (10) for sports training or game play includes at least two light emitting devices (12) that are positionable at a selected spaced apart distance from one another. The light emitting devices (12) are coupled to a power source (40) and each having at least one electrically powered light source (16, 64, 66) that is powered by the power source (40). A controller (70, 80) remotely and selectively controls the activation and deactivation of the light source (16, 64, 66) of each light emitting device (12).