A non-spherical training ball for training a pitcher to throw a ball with proper technique is provided. The training ball has a hollow body having a spherical surface forming a spherical cap having a height greater than the radius of the sphere from which the spherical cap is formed and a substantially planar surface forming the spherical cap plane. Sidewalls form the hollow cavity of the hollow body, the sidewalls have a spherical surface sidewall portion forming the spherical surface of the hollow body and a planar surface sidewall portion forming the substantially planar surface of the hollow body. The sidewall thickness of the planar surface sidewall portion has a thickness greater than the sidewall thickness of the spherical surface sidewall portion.

A bat, which has a hollow barrel and an internal assembly configured to resist deformation of the hollow barrel, is disclosed. The internal assembly includes multiple rods disposed longitudinally within the hollow barrel. The internal assembly can include a deformable ring having a substantially circular outer wall having a diameter less than an inner diameter of the hollow barrel and multiple holes, with each hole configured to at least partially receive a rod of the multiple rods. The bat can have an end cap including end cap holes extending partially through the end cap, with each end cap hole configured to at least partially receive a rod.

An apparatus and method to apply an identification marking patch to the wrist strap of a baseball glove. The invention described here allows for temporary identification and marking on baseball gloves by a removable applicator band that connects to the glove. This results in countless customization options that does not permanently mark a player's name or design on the glove. Aside from changing markings, the user can also remove the applicator entirely, thus bringing the glove back to its original state without compromising the leather.

Systems and methods for tracking a sports ball assembly in real time during a sporting event are disclosed. A structure of the sports ball assembly is also disclosed. The sports ball assembly comprises at least one electronic circuit embedded or attached to a sports ball. The sports ball assembly is in network communication with a server processor via at least two receivers within a sports arena. The sports ball assembly generates and transmits UWB data packets comprising movement-related data for the sports ball assembly in real time at a predetermined rate. The at least two receivers receive the UWB data packets and transmit to the server processor with time stamps. The server processor is operable to determine a movement of the sports ball assembly based on the UWB data packets and the time stamps received from the at least two receivers.

A device for training a person to throw a ball includes a body. The body defines a first planar surface, a second planar surface, and a curved surface. The first planar surface is defined at a first end of the body. The second planar surface is defined at a second end of the body. The curved surface is defined between the first planar surface and second planar surface. The device has a center of mass that is located outside of the geometric center of the device.

A football device includes an outer skin and an inner bladder to be inflatable and substantially resemble and perform like an actual football. The football device includes a sensor unit that can sense various performance metrics and wirelessly communicate data to another device such as a mobile device. To maintain a feel and performance as close to an actual football as possible, a battery powering the sensor unit is wirelessly recharged.

A throwing apparatus and method a throwing apparatus has a main body connected to a base. A cocking arm is connected with the main body at a main body axle and movably connected with a release arm. A throwing assembly is connected to a throwing assembly bracket connected to the main body at the main body axle, where the throwing assembly includes an adjustable angle assembly movably connectable with the throwing assembly, the throwing assembly configured to support a projectile, where the projectile is held at selected angles in relation to the throwing assembly by the adjustable angle assembly and where the release arm is configured to releasably connect with the throwing assembly. A power assembly is provided with a first end and a second end, where the first end is connected with the throwing assembly bracket and the second end is connected with the main body.

A training device includes an adjustable and free-standing base, a rod affixed to the base and extended upward therefrom, a first coupling attached to a distal end of the rod, a swivel arm attached to the first coupling and extended vertically downward relative to the rod, a gripping implement connected to the swivel arm and being configured to support a distal end of a baseball/softball bat at an elevated pre-swing position, and a second coupling attached to the gripping implement and extended along a curvilinear path terminating beneath the gripping implement, wherein the second coupling further supports the baseball/softball bat. The gripping implement is configured to freely swing about a bottom end of the swivel arm and detachably receive a hitting end of the baseball/softball bat.

A baseball grip training device is provided for use with a baseball bat, comprising a base adapted to contact a bat grip, wherein the base includes one or more shaped surfaces adapted to receive one or more of an index finger and a middle finger of a user; a retaining member extending from the base shaped to surround one or more of the index finger and the middle finger of the user; and a bat contacting surface adapted to contact the bat grip, wherein the bat contacting surface and the shaped surfaces are separated by a predetermined distance to lift the index finger and the middle finger of the user away from the bat grip sufficient to place greater reliance on the remaining fingers to hold the bat grip during a swing of the bat. The device is preferably constructed from a resilient material.

A sports training apparatus includes a flat mat having visible indicia adapted to indicate placement of at least one foot of a user of the apparatus, and a foot restraint adapted to hold a front foot of the user so that the front foot remains in contact with a top surface of the flat mat. The front foot is in an intended direction of a swing of a sports implement.