A sensing system and method determines whether a slow pitch softball has been delivered in a strike zone. The system includes: a dual, mirror image slow-pitch software home plate; the home plate having an upper surface and a lower surface; the lower surface configured for attachment to ground; the upper surface comprising a pressure or impact sensing array covering at least edges of the upper surface of the home plate; the sensing array having a battery source for powering the system; the sensing array issuing an electrical signal when sensing pressure or impact; and the electrical signal connected to an audio or visual output device that indicates receiving of the electrical signal by a visual or audio emission.

According to one exemplary embodiment, an apparatus, system, method and/or computer program product may provide an athletic training performance analysis apparatus including at least one athletic training performance analysis device including at least one electronic sensor coupled to the at least one athletic training performance analysis device; at least one user interface coupled to the at least one athletic training performance analysis device configured to interact with a user to receive a user selection of at least one training performance analysis routine, the at least one user interface may include: at least one electronic computer processor coupled to the at least one electronic sensor; at least one input device coupled to the at least one electronic computer processor to receive the user selection; at least one output device coupled to the at least one electronic computer processor to provide output to the user; at least one electronic memory coupled to the at least one electronic computer processor; and at least one of: wherein the at least one electronic computer processor is configured to save or retrieve the at least one training performance analysis routine from the at least one memory; where the at least one electronic computer processor is configured to electronically monitor and electronically analyze the at least one training performance analysis routine based on the at least one electronic sensor; wherein the at least one electronic computer processor is configured to randomize at least one challenge by the at least one athletic training performance analysis device; or wherein the electronic computer processor is configured to at least one of: combine a plurality of previously saved of the at least one training performance analysis routine, or shuffle a plurality of previously saved of the at least one training performance analysis routine.

A batting tee and/or hitting training device is provided that includes a platform, a support extending upwardly from the platform and a holder disposed on the support opposite the platform for holding the ball to be hit. The holder includes a lower tubular member and an upper ball-retaining portion that are integrally formed with one another.

A batting tee that can be used by righthanded and lefthanded hitters to expand their batting zone. The batting tee comprises of two weighted legs that extend from a point of origin, an angle of twenty-five degree is created between the two weighted legs. Each weighted leg is hollow and defines an upper and a lower linear channel that can receive a block that sustains a screw in post. The post has a ball holder. A triangular weighted sheet attaches to an inside side of each weighted leg. Each leg defines a block insertion point at a location that is at a furthest distance from the point of origin, the block insertion points are defined on the upper part and the power part of each leg.

A pitching training tool includes: a hollow ball; a shaft; and a wing. The shaft has one end attached to the ball, and another end attached to the wing. The ball and the wing are spaced apart from each other by a length equal to or greater than a sum of a diameter of the ball and a length of the wing with the shaft interposed between the ball and the wing.

A swing trainer balance block apparatus for improving balance during swing training includes a foot board having a board top side, a board bottom side, a board front side, a board back side, a board left side, and a board right side. The board top side receives a portion of a user's foot. A base support is coupled to the foot board. The base support is coupled to the board bottom side and is elastically deformable to create instability in the foot board. One swing trainer balance block apparatus is used beneath each of the user's feet to stimulate stabilizer muscles while practicing swinging a baseball bat or a golf club.

A method is provided for preventing back injuries related to sport motions or swings that includes setting an attachment height of a distal end of an elastic of a warmup and training device, the attachment height set to define an angle α backwards from vertical above center of a practice motion specific to a sport to be practiced, attaching a handle to a proximal end of the elastic where a type of the handle corresponds to the sporting activity to be performed, performing the practice motion while holding the handle and stretching the elastic, and returning to the beginning of the practice motion to repeat the activity.

A baseball or softball alignment training device comprising a first leg having a general length and having a first end at one end of the general length and a second end at the distal end opposite from said first end. A second leg having a general length and having a first end at one end of the general length and a second end at the distal and opposite from said first end. Aa first hinge member carried by the second end of said first leg. The first hinge member having a first abutment edge. The second hinge member carried by the second end of the second leg. The second hinge member having a second abutment edge. The first and second hinge members pivotally interconnected and wherein the first abutment edge of the first hinge member abuts the second abutment edge of the second hinge member at a position wherein the first leg and the second leg are perpendicular to each other forming a right angle.

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.

Articles, kits, and methods for enabling an individual to improve their top-hand grasp of a handled object, such as a baseball bat. An article has an arcuate inner portion having a groove that extends along a length thereof, configured to reversibly engage the handled object. The article also has an irregular outer portion with a thumb support that arcuately extends from the irregular outer portion, configured to reversibly engage the individual's top-hand. During use of the article in a method of the invention, the article enables the individual to grasp the handled object with the fingers of their top-hand, rather than the palm and thumb of their top-hand, to improve acceleration, velocity, precision, accuracy, and form of the individual's swing when the article is not used, as well as improved safety and consistent grip technique when it is used.