Apparatus and methods for batting practice and playing baseball

Abstract

A modified ball and modified bat are provided in which the ball is approximately a half-sphere and the bat has a constant diameter that is significantly reduced from the diameter of the designated hitting area on a conventional bat. Instructions are provided detailing the pitching methods necessary to thrown standard pitches, i.e. the fastball, knuckleball, screwball, slider, curveball, sinkerball, splitfinger fastball, and rising fastball. The methods include grip positions, arm motions and release techniques for such pitches. Due to the in-flight characteristics of the modified ball, the standard pitches are easier to throw, allowing a larger number of individuals to assist as pitchers in batting practice, for batters that need to become familiar with the standard pitches and the arm motions associated with such pitches. The reduced diameter bat causes the practicing batter to be more precise in the swing in order to make contact with the ball. When the modified ball is substituted as the ball in an otherwise typical baseball game, the unusual bounces of the modified ball while in play add an element of fun and uncertainty to the game. The modified bat in such a baseball game also provides an entertaining change of pace.

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims:  
     
         1 . A baseball batting practice method, comprising: 
 selecting a spherical unit from which a segment has been removed to leave a unit comprised of an exterior spherical portion and a flat area, the removed segment being sized such that a perpendicular line from the center of the flat area to the opposite side of the remaining spherical portion is equal to or between forty-five and fifty-five percent of the original spherical unit diameter;    gripping the unit in a manner to enable one of several standard pitches;    initiating the throwing motion;    moving the arm in a manner to enable the chosen standard pitch; and releasing the unit at a time and in a manner to enable the chosen pitch and to direct the unit to a target area in proximity to a human batter, to enable the human batter to attempt to identify standard pitches and hit the unit with a bat and thereby improve the human batter's batting skills.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the removed segment is one-half of the original spherical unit.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the bat is a typical baseball bat.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the bat is a thinner than a typical baseball bat.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the bat has a substantially constant diameter, the diameter being smaller than a typical baseball bat in the designated hitting portion of the typical baseball bat.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the standard pitches comprise a fastball, knuckleball, screwball, slider, curveball, sinkerball, splitfinger fastball, and rising fastball.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the chosen standard pitch is the fastball, the unit is gripped vertically and released straight overhand.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the chosen standard pitch is the knuckleball, the unit is gripped by placing the flat area of the unit in the palm of the throwing hand and thrown and released straight overhand.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the chosen standard pitch is the screwball, the unit is gripped vertically, thrown underhand, and released while twisting the hand to the right (for right hand throwers) or to the left (for left hand throwers).  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the chosen standard pitch is the slider, the unit is gripped vertically and thrown and released at the three-quarter side arm position.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the chosen standard pitch is the curveball, the unit is gripped vertically and thrown and released at the one-half side arm position.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the chosen standard pitch is the sinkerball, the unit is gripped with the flat area up and thrown and released at the one-half side arm position.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the chosen standard pitch is the splitfinger fastball, the unit is gripped the flat area up and thrown and released at the three-quarter side arm position.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the chosen standard pitch is the rising fastball, the unit is gripped with the flat area down, thrown one-half side arm, and released while slightly tilting the unit forward.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the unit is constructed from rubber.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising providing an instructional table describing the grips, arm movements and release methods for the various standard pitches, for pitcher enablement, and for the batter to learn to identify the standard pitches associated with arm movements, to enable the batter to improve by recognizing the arm movement while batting and anticipating the standard pitch associated with the identified arm movement.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the instructional table includes illustrations of arm positions.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the instructional table includes illustrations of ball gripping positions.  
     
     
         19 . Substitute game apparatus for playing baseball, comprising a modified ball, the ball comprising a spherical unit from which a segment has been removed to leave a unit comprised of an exterior spherical portion and a flat area, the removed segment being sized such that a perpendicular line from the center of the flat area to the opposite side of the remaining spherical portion is equal to or between forty-five and fifty-five percent of the original spherical unit diameter.  
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , further comprising a modified bat, the bat having a substantially constant diameter, the diameter being smaller than a typical baseball bat in the designated hitting portion of the typical baseball bat.  
     
     
         21 . A method for playing baseball comprising: 
 substituting, for the ball, a modified ball, the modified ball comprising a spherical unit from which a segment has been removed to leave a unit comprised of an exterior spherical portion and a flat area, the removed segment being sized such that a perpendicular line from the center of the flat area to the opposite side of the remaining spherical portion is equal to or between forty-five and fifty-five percent of the original spherical unit diameter; and    playing the game using the modified ball.    
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising substituting, for the bat, a modified bat, the modified bat having a constant diameter and playing the game using the modified bat.  
     
     
         23 . A modified ball for a game in which a player attempts to stike the ball with a hitting device, the ball comprising a spherical unit from which a segment has been removed to leave a unit comprised of an exterior spherical portion and a flat area, the removed segment being sized such that a perpendicular line from the center of the flat area to the opposite side of the remaining spherical portion is equal to or between forty-five and fifty-five percent of the original spherical unit diameter.