Sports swing trainer apparatus and method

Abstract

Method and apparatus for emulating the striking member and ball of selected sports, the striking member having an end portion including portions covered with a selectively engageable contact material such as Velcro™ brand fastener and further having a mass and size substantially in conformity with the mass and size of the striking member commonly employed in the selected sport, and a target member for emulating the playing object of the selected sport or game, the target member having a target portion similarly covered with a selectively engageable contact material such as Velcro™ brand fastener, where the mass and response of the target member is readily altered to emulate the mass and response of a ball under a variety of conditions by selectively attaching one or more momentum elements of varying size to the target member.

1 . A tennis training apparatus comprised of a tennis striking member having a handle portion and an oppositely disposed head portion including a removeable fastener strip;
 a target support frame which may be disposed in a playing field;
 a target member removably attached to and depending from the target support frame in the tennis strike zone, said target member including a target surface having a removeable fastener thereon for removeable engagement with said tennis striking member upon contact with said head portion thereof. 
   
   
   
       2 . The tennis training apparatus as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said target support frame further includes a vertical support frame. 
   
   
       3 . The tennis training apparatus as set forth in  claim 2  wherein said target support frame further includes a secondary support frame fixed to said vertical support frame. 
   
   
       4 . The tennis training apparatus as set forth in  claim 3  wherein said tennis training apparatus further includes a link member for removably engaging said target member. 
   
   
       5 . The tennis training apparatus as set forth in  claim 4  wherein said secondary support frame is selectively adjustable in height with respect to the playing surface. 
   
   
       6 . The tennis training apparatus as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said target member further includes means for selectively engaging a momentum element. 
   
   
       7 . The tennis training apparatus as set forth in  claim 6  wherein said momentum element is a rectangular cloth. 
   
   
       8 . The tennis training apparatus as set forth in  claim 7  wherein said means for selectively engaging said momentum element is further comprised of a multiple hook and loop fastener. 
   
   
       9 . The tennis training apparatus as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the handle portion of said tennis striking member further includes a grip to be grasped by a player. 
   
   
       10 . The tennis training apparatus as set forth in  claim 9  wherein the head portion of said tennis striking member further includes a contact element. 
   
   
       11 . The tennis training apparatus as set forth in  claim 10  wherein said removeable fastener strip is affixed to said contact element. 
   
   
       12 . The tennis training element as set forth in  claim 11  wherein said contact element is a sphere having a diameter not less than the diameter of a regulation tennis ball. 
   
   
       13 . The tennis training element as set forth in  claim 12  wherein said contact element is secured to said handle portion by a connecting rod. 
   
   
       14 . The tennis training apparatus as set forth in  claim 13  wherein said contact element is disposed in the preferred strike zone of a regulation tennis racquet. 
   
   
       15 . The method of training the swing of a tennis player, the method comprising the steps of providing a tennis striking member having a handle portion and an oppositely disposed head portion including a removeable fastener strip;
 providing a target support frame in a playing field;   removably attaching a target member having a target surface to depend from said target support frame;   adjusting the target member to a selected height in the tennis strike zone;   grasping the handle portion of the tennis strike member;   swinging the tennis strike member and striking and removably engaging the target surface with the head portion of the tennis strike member and disengaging the target member from the target support frame;   carrying the target member through the remainder of the swing to simulate the actual swing; and   disengaging the target member from the head portion of the striking member to determine the point of contact there between.   
   
   
       16 . The method as in  claim 15  wherein the method of training the swing of a tennis player includes the further step of attaching a selectively removeable momentum element to the target member while the target member is depending from the target support frame. 
   
   
       17 . A baseball training apparatus comprised of:
 a baseball striking member having a handle portion and an oppositely disposed head portion including a removeable fastener strip;   a target support frame which may be disposed in a playing field; a target member removably attached to and depending from the target support frame in the baseball strike zone, said target member including a target surface having a removeable fastener thereon for removeable engagement with said baseball striking member upon contact with said head portion thereof.   
   
   
       18 . The baseball training apparatus as set forth in  claim 17  wherein said target support frame further includes a vertical support frame. 
   
   
       19 . The baseball training apparatus as set forth in  claim 18  wherein said target support frame further includes a secondary support frame fixed to said vertical support frame. 
   
   
       20 . The baseball training apparatus as set forth in  claim 19  wherein said baseball training apparatus further includes a link member having means for removably engaging said target member. 
   
   
       21 . The baseball training apparatus as set forth in  claim 20  wherein said secondary support frame is selectively adjustable in height with respect to the playing surface. 
   
   
       22 . The baseball training apparatus as set forth in  claim 17  wherein said target member further includes means for selectively engaging a momentum element. 
   
   
       23 . The baseball training apparatus as set forth in  claim 22  wherein said momentum element is a rectangular cloth. 
   
   
       24 . The baseball training apparatus as set forth in  claim 23  wherein said means for selectively engaging and mounting said momentum element is further comprised of a multiple hook and loop fastener. 
   
   
       25 . The baseball training apparatus as set forth in  claim 17  wherein the handle portion of said baseball striking member further includes a grip to be grasped by a player. 
   
   
       26 . The baseball training apparatus as set forth in  claim 25  wherein the head portion of said baseball striking member further includes a contact element. 
   
   
       27 . The baseball training apparatus as set forth in  claim 26  wherein said removeable fastener strip is affixed to said contact element. 
   
   
       28 . The baseball training element as set forth in  claim 27  wherein said contact element is a sphere having a diameter substantially the same diameter as a regulation baseball. 
   
   
       29 . The baseball training element as set forth in  claim 28  wherein said contact element is secured to said handle portion by a connecting rod at the proximate position of the preferred strike zone. 
   
   
       30 . The baseball training apparatus as set forth in  claim 29  wherein said contact element is disposed in the preferred strike zone of a regulation baseball bat. 
   
   
       31 . The method of training the swing of a baseball player, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing a baseball striking member having a handle portion and an oppositely disposed head portion including a removeable fastener strip;   providing a target support frame in a playing field;   removably attaching a target member having a target surface to depend from said target support frame;   adjusting the target member to a selected height in the baseball strike zone;   grasping the handle portion of the baseball strike member;   swinging the baseball strike member and striking and removably engaging the target surface with the head portion of the baseball strike member and disengaging the target member from the target support frame;   carrying the target member through the remainder of the swing to simulate the actual swing; and   disengaging the target member from the head portion of the striking member to determine the point of contact therebetween.   
   
   
       32 . The method as in  claim 31  wherein the method of training the swing of a baseball player includes the further step of attaching a selectively removeable momentum element to the target member while the target member is depending from the target support frame. 
   
   
       33 . A hockey training apparatus comprised of
 a hockey striking member having a handle portion and an oppositely disposed head portion including a removeable fastener strip;   a moveable target member including a generally vertically upstanding target surface having a removeable fastener thereon for removeable engagement with said hockey striking member upon contact with said head portion thereof, said target member further having a horizontal, freestanding base;   and a momentum element selectively, removably attached to said base of said target element.   
   
   
       34 . The hockey training apparatus as set forth in  claim 39  wherein the head portion of said hockey striking member further includes a contact element. 
   
   
       35 . The hockey training apparatus as set forth in  claim 40  wherein said removeable fastener strip is affixed to said contact element. 
   
   
       36 . The hockey training element as set forth in  claim 41  wherein said contact element is a sphere. 
   
   
       37 . The hockey training element as set forth in  claim 42  wherein said contact element is secured to said handle portion by a connecting rod at the proximate position of the preferred strike zone. 
   
   
       38 . The hockey training apparatus as set forth in  claim 43  wherein said contact element is disposed in the preferred strike zone of a regulation hockey stick. 
   
   
       39 . The hockey training apparatus as set forth in  claim 39  wherein said momentum element is rectangular. 
   
   
       40 . The hockey training apparatus as set forth in claim  45  wherein said momentum element is cloth. 
   
   
       41 . The hockey training apparatus as set forth in claim  46  wherein said momentum element further includes means for selectively attaching a second momentum element to said momentum element. 
   
   
       42 . The method of training the swing of a hockey player, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing a hockey striking member having a handle portion and an oppositely disposed head portion including a removeable fastener strip;   providing a moveable target member including a generally vertically upstanding target surface having a removeable fastener thereon for removeable engagement with said hockey striking member upon contact with said head portion thereof, said target member further having a horizontal, freestanding base;   adjusting the target member to a selected position in the hockey puck strike zone;   attaching a momentum element selectively, removably attached to said base of said target element;   grasping the handle portion of the hockey strike member;   swinging the hockey strike member and striking and removably engaging the target surface with the head portion of the hockey strike member;   carrying the target member through the remainder of the swing to simulate the actual hockey swing; and disengaging the target member from the head portion of the hockey striking member to determine the point of contact therebetween.   
   
   
       43 . The method of training the swing of a hockey player as set forth in claim  48  wherein the step of attaching a momentum element includes the further step of attaching a second momentum element to said momentum element by a means for selectively attaching said second momentum element.