Provided is a water track marker (1) for marking a sports track, such as a water ski track, on a water surface (20). The water track marker comprises at least a first marker ejector (11) configured to eject marker projectiles (2) towards the water for creating an instant marking (3) on the water surface (20) upon impact with the water surface (20). Provided is also a method for marking a sports track and a towing boat comprising said water track marker.

This invention provides sports ball having asymmetrical traction and/or asymmetrical surface structure. The asymmetrical traction is useful for differentially controlling ball spin and trajectory height as the ball is projected from a pitching machine. The asymmetrical surface structure is useful for differentially controlling the lateral component of the ball's trajectory. Optionally, the ball is a pitching machine ball. The method also provides a method of projecting the ball from a pitching machine.

A ball throwing machine system comprising: a housing, the housing comprising a bottom of the housing; an adjustable stand with a base, the base in operational communication with the bottom of the housing via a mechanical joint means, and wherein the housing can lockably move with respect to the base, a first ball inlet located in the housing; a first ball corridor located in the housing and in communication with the first ball inlet; a first ball outlet located in the housing and in communication with the first ball corridor and the first ball inlet; a second ball inlet located in the housing; a second ball corridor located in the housing and in communication with the second ball inlet; a second ball outlet located in the housing and in communication with the second ball corridor and the second ball inlet; a single wheel configured to rotate at user adjustable speeds, and further configured to impart spin and velocity to a ball, wherein the outer surface of the single wheel is located on the floor of the first ball corridor, and wherein the outer surface of the single wheel is located on the ceiling of the second ball corridor. A ball throwing machine comprising: a housing, the housing comprising a bottom of the housing; a first ball inlet located in the housing; a first ball corridor located in the housing and in communication with the first ball inlet; a first ball outlet located in the housing and in communication with the first ball corridor and the first ball inlet; a second ball inlet located in the housing; a second ball corridor located in the housing and in communication with the second ball inlet; a second ball outlet located in the housing and in communication with the second ball corridor and the second ball inlet; a single wheel configured to rotate at user adjustable speeds, and further configured to impart spin and velocity to a ball, wherein the outer surface of the single wheel is located on the floor of the first ball corridor, and wherein the outer surface of the single wheel is located on the ceiling of the second ball corridor and wherein the bottom of the housing is configured to moveably and lockably attach to an adjustable stand, and wherein the housing can lockably move with respect to the adjustable stand.

A ball throwing machine system comprising: a housing, the housing comprising a bottom of the housing; an adjustable stand with a base, the base in operational communication with the bottom of the housing via a mechanical joint means, and wherein the housing can lockably move with respect to the base, a first ball inlet located in the housing; a first ball corridor located in the housing and in communication with the first ball inlet; a first ball outlet located in the housing and in communication with the first ball corridor and the first ball inlet; a second ball inlet located in the housing; a second ball corridor located in the housing and in communication with the second ball inlet; a second ball outlet located in the housing and in communication with the second ball corridor and the second ball inlet; a single wheel configured to rotate at user adjustable speeds, and further configured to impart spin and velocity to a ball, wherein the outer surface of the single wheel is located on the floor of the first ball corridor, and wherein the outer surface of the single wheel is located on the ceiling of the second ball corridor. A ball throwing machine comprising: a housing, the housing comprising a bottom of the housing; a first ball inlet located in the housing; a first ball corridor located in the housing and in communication with the first ball inlet; a first ball outlet located in the housing and in communication with the first ball corridor and the first ball inlet; a second ball inlet located in the housing; a second ball corridor located in the housing and in communication with the second ball inlet; a second ball outlet located in the housing and in communication with the second ball corridor and the second ball inlet; a single wheel configured to rotate at user adjustable speeds, and further configured to impart spin and velocity to a ball, wherein the outer surface of the single wheel is located on the floor of the first ball corridor, and wherein the outer surface of the single wheel is located on the ceiling of the second ball corridor and wherein the bottom of the housing is configured to moveably and lockably attach to an adjustable stand, and wherein the housing can lockably move with respect to the adjustable stand.

A tennis ball projecting machine including a support member, a rotatable wheel mounted on one side of the support member, a wheel motor on the other side of the support member, a curved rail below the wheel, a tennis ball hopper above the support member, a surface between the hopper and the machine having a feed opening where at least a portion of the feed opening is on the other side of the support member, and a rotatable body with one or more ball openings that periodically aligns with the feed opening to permit a tennis ball to pass through the feed opening.

Provided is a water track marker (1) for marking a sports track, such as a water ski track, on a water surface (20). The water track marker comprises at least a first marker ejector (11) configured to eject marker projectiles (2) towards the water for creating an instant marking (3) on the water surface (20) upon impact with the water surface (20). Provided is also a method for marking a sports track and a towing boat comprising said water track marker.

A generic ball sport training machine is described. Propulsion modules containing belts are used to sequentially launch balls to replicate the result of an athlete's action. When a ball enters the launch corridor created by one or more propulsion modules, the belts accelerate it to a desired speed, spin magnitude and spin direction. These propulsion modules are assembled in various combinations and integrated with an advanced ball feeder/collection assembly, plus elevation and azimuth direction control, to create a complete functional machine.

A training device for ball sports comprises a launching structure comprising an aperture sized and shaped to allow balls to pass linearly through the aperture along the central axis of the aperture, and a launching means configured to contact a ball within the aperture at a plurality of contact locations spaced around the surface of the ball, and to drive the ball through the aperture, and; a supporting means configured to support the launching structure above a surface; the launching structure and supporting means configured such that in use the launching structure can be rotated about the central axis to alter the position of the contact locations.

A training device for ball sports comprises a launching structure comprising an aperture sized and shaped to allow balls to pass linearly through the aperture along the central axis of the aperture, and a launching means configured to contact a ball within the aperture at a plurality of contact locations spaced around the surface of the ball, and to drive the ball through the aperture, and; a supporting means configured to support the launching structure above a surface; the launching structure and supporting means configured such that in use the launching structure can be rotated about the central axis to alter the position of the contact locations.