A method for improving a player's performance, such as reaction time or swing time by measuring the time it takes a player to change from a load position to a swing position where the player's bat makes contact with the ball when presented with a stimulus emitted from a timer. This method measures the time elapsed by utilizing a timer that configured to emit a stimulus, such as an audible sound, receive an external stimulus, such as the sound of the player's bat making contact with the ball, record the time elapsed, and present the time on a display.

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 device (10) for training a batter for a baseball or softball game has a body (12) that is fitted to the arm of the user, parallel to the humerus bone. A slot (30) on an outer surface of the device body is sized and adapted to receive a shaft portion of a user's bat, at an oblique angle to the humerus bone. The device trains the user to keep the shaft of the bat close to an upper portion of the user's arm below the shoulder and above the elbow. The device also trains the user to employ a rotation of the torso and hips to induce a moment of rotational inertia in the bat, causing the bat to be pulled out of the slot and into a swing plane.

A pitch training ball includes a center portion, a first cap, and a second cap. The center portion is opaque and has a first planar surface at a first end thereof, and a second planar surface at a second end thereof opposite to the first end. The first cap portion has a first base that is adjacent to the first planar surface. The second cap portion has a second that is adjacent to the second planar surface. The first cap, the center portion, and the second cap cooperate to define a baseball shape. The first and second caps are transparent to translucent.

A baseball pitching machine that is configured to precisely index and spin a baseball before pitching the baseball. The machine comprises a baseball spinner and launcher that is configured to spin the baseball using at least one spindle, and then launch or pitch the ball using air (i.e., pneumatic). Preferably, the position of the ball spinner and launcher can be adjusted in terms of position in both the x and y directions (i.e., both side to side, and up and down), as well as its angle. The baseball pitching machine is configured to be controllable such that pitches (in terms of type, location and velocity) can be changed on a pitch-by-pitch basis.

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 baseball bat swing training method includes the steps of attaching a leg coupler to a lead leg of a batter adjacent to a knee of the batter. The leg coupler is configured to be extendable around the lead leg. A baseball bat is provided having a grip terminating with a knob. A tether is attached to the baseball bat grip adjacent to the knob. The tether is attached to the leg coupler. The tether includes a resiliently stretchable area and an area resistant to stretching. A length of the tether is adjusted such that the tether is taut as the batter is positioned in a set position before the batter moves toward a batting swing load position. Resistance to stretching of the tether increases as the batter moves to the batting swing load position.

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.

A protective field screen system that includes a screen frame system (including a screen frame and a protective screen that includes a netting coupled to the screen frame), a base frame to be disposed on a supporting surface, and resilient members. The screen frame coupled to the base frame by way of the resilient members, and the resilient members to deform to facilitate movement of the screen frame relative to the base frame.