Apparatus and method for improving athletic proficiency

Abstract

An apparatus and method for improving batting a baseball is provided. The apparatus includes at least one tube formed with a substantially uniform cross-section perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the tube. Also included is a handle removably attachable to one end of the tube. A grip knob is provided at one end of the handle for restraining hands during swinging. A compressible sleeve is slidably engageable with the handle for providing a hand grip. The apparatus and method for improving batting is used in combination with a training regimen to improve batting skills.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An apparatus for improving batting, comprising: 
 at least one tube having a distal end and a proximal end, wherein the at least on tube is formed with a substantially uniform cross-section perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the at least one tube between the proximal end and the distal end;    a partially tapered handle removably attachable to the proximal end of the at least one tube;    a grip knob fixedly connected to the following end of the partially tapered handle; and    a compressibly clutchable sleeve slidably engageable with the partially tapered handle.    
     
     
         2 . An apparatus for improving batting as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one tube is solid.  
     
     
         3 . An apparatus for improving batting as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one tube is formed with a hollow chamber.  
     
     
         4 . An apparatus for improving batting as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one tube further comprises a monolithic threaded collar extending from the proximal end of the at least one tube, and having a fore end and an aft end.  
     
     
         5 . An apparatus for improving batting as recited in  claim 4 , wherein the monolithic threaded collar is tapered between the fore end and the aft end, and wherein the fore end has a smaller circumference than the aft end.  
     
     
         6 . An apparatus for improving batting as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the partially tapered handle has a leading end, a following end, and is formed with a hollow passage along the longitudinal axis of the partially tapered handle.  
     
     
         7 . An apparatus for improving batting as recited in  claim 6 , wherein the hollow passage includes one or more spaced tiers formed in the internal face adjacent the leading end of the handle.  
     
     
         8 . An apparatus for improving batting as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the partially tapered handle further comprises internal recessed threads in the hollow passage adjacent the leading end of the partially tapered handle, and wherein the internal recessed threads complemetarily mate with the monolithic threaded collar of the at least one tube.  
     
     
         9 . An apparatus for improving batting as recited in  claim 8 , wherein the internal recessed threads are tapered for threadable engagement with the monolithic threaded collar.  
     
     
         10 . An apparatus for improving batting as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the tube includes a head plug for eliminating damage to the apparatus from impact forces.  
     
     
         11 . A system for improving athletic proficiency, comprising: 
 one or more substantially uniform shaped heads having a distal end and a proximal end;    a collar monolithically extending from the proximal end of the one or more substantially uniform shaped heads;    a handle removably attachable to one end of the one or more substantially uniformly shaped heads;    means for attaching the handle to the one for more substantially uniformly shaped heads to form a practice bat for use with an athletic regimen.    
     
     
         12 . A system for improving athletic proficiency as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the one or more substantially uniform shaped heads is formed with a substantially uniform cross-section along the longitudinal axis of the one or more substantially uniform shaped heads.  
     
     
         13 . A system for improving athletic proficiency as recited in  claim 11 , wherein at least one of the one or more substantially uniform shaped heads is solid.  
     
     
         14 . A system for improving athletic proficiency as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the at least one of the one or more substantially uniform shaped heads is hollow.  
     
     
         15 . A system for improving athletic proficiency as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the one or more substantially uniform shaped heads is approximately 1.00 inch in diameter.  
     
     
         16 . A system for improving athletic proficiency as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the collar has a fore end, an aft end, and a surrounding surface between the fore end and aft end.  
     
     
         17 . A system for improving athletic proficiency as recited in  claim 16 , further comprising threads formed in the surrounding surface.  
     
     
         18 . A system for improving athletic proficiency as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the handle is formed with a hollow passage.  
     
     
         19 . A system for improving athletic proficiency as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the handle further comprises internal recessed threads in the hollow passage.  
     
     
         20 . A system for improving athletic proficiency as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the means for attaching the handle to the one for more substantially uniform shaped heads include engaging the recessed threads and the threads formed in the surrounding surface.  
     
     
         21 . A device for practicing batting, comprising: 
 a plurality of heads having different weights;    a collar monolithically extending from one end of the plurality of heads; and    a handle removably attachable to the collar.    
     
     
         22 . A device for practicing batting as recited in  claim 21 , wherein the plurality of heads are formed with a substantially uniform cross-section perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of each of the plurality of heads.  
     
     
         23 . A device for practicing batting as recited in  claim 22 , wherein the cross-section of the plurality of heads is substantially circular.  
     
     
         24 . A device for practicing batting as recited in  claim 21 , wherein each of the plurality of heads is weighted differently.  
     
     
         25 . A device for practicing batting as recited in  claim 21 , wherein the plurality of heads have a distal end and a proximal end, and wherein the collar is formed in the proximal end of the plurality of heads.  
     
     
         26 . A device for practicing batting as recited in  claim 21 , wherein the handle includes a first extension formed with a substantially uniform cross-section perpendicular to the longitudinal axis through the handle.  
     
     
         27 . A device for practicing batting as recited in  claim 21 , wherein the handle includes a tapered extension.  
     
     
         28 . A device for practicing batting as recited in  claim 21 , wherein the collar includes a tapered annular surface.  
     
     
         29 . A device for practicing batting as recited in  claim 22 , wherein the tapered annular surface is further formed with threads.  
     
     
         30 . A device for practicing batting as recited in  claim 21 , wherein the handle is attachable to the collar by engaging the threads formed on the annular surface of the collar with threads formed in one end of the handle.  
     
     
         31 . A method for improving batting, comprising: 
 selecting one of a plurality of heads having different weights;    attaching one end of the one of one of the plurality of heads to a handle to form a practice bat; and    using the practice bat in conformance with one or more exercises in a regimen for improving batting.    
     
     
         32 . A method for improving batting as recited in  claim 31 , wherein the selecting step includes the substeps of: 
 selecting at least one tube having a distal end and a proximal end;    inserting a head plug into the proximal end of the at least one tube;    shaping the at least one tube to be substantially uniform cross-section perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the at least one tube between the proximal end and the distal end; and    further configuring one or more of the at least one tube to include a hollow chamber between the proximal end and the distal end.    
     
     
         33 . A method for improving batting as recited in  claim 31 , wherein the selecting step further includes the substeps of: 
 forming a monolithic collar at one end of the plurality of heads;    tapering the monolithic collar; and    fitting the monolithic collar with threads.    
     
     
         34 . A method for improving batting as recited in  claim 31 , wherein the attaching step includes the substeps of: 
 forming a hollow passage along the longitudinal axis of the handle having a leading end and a following end, the hollow passage having an internal face;    shaping in the internal face with one or more spaced tiers ascending toward the leading end of the handle; and    inserting internal recessed threads in the internal face of the hollow passage for threadable engagement with the monolithic collar.    
     
     
         35 . A method for improving batting as recited in  claim 31 , wherein the using step includes at least the substeps of: 
 applying the overload principle;    alternating application of the regimen among the plurality of heads having different weights; and    practicing control of the plurality of heads having different weights.