System and apparatus for swing instruction

Abstract

Described is a system and apparatus for swing instruction in any sport in which players use a swinging apparatus including T-ball, baseball, softball, tennis, racquetball, golf and hockey. The apparatus comprises a body comprising a substantially planar upper surface and positionable on a support surface, a home plate marking on said body, at least one step target marking adjacent to said home plate marking and at least one foot placement marking adjacent to said step target marking.

1 . An apparatus for use in baseball, softball or t-ball for training how to step and swing a bat, the apparatus comprising:
 a body comprising a substantially planar upper surface and positionable on a support surface;   a home plate marking on said body;   at least one step target marking adjacent to said home plate marking; and   at least one foot placement marking adjacent to said step target marking.   
   
   
       2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one foot placement marking includes at least one line parallel to a side edge of the home plate marking. 
   
   
       3 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one foot placement marking includes a first set of lines parallel to a first side edge of the home plate marking. 
   
   
       4 . The apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein the at least one foot placement marking includes a second set of lines parallel to a second side edge of the home plate marking, the second side edge being opposite the first side edge. 
   
   
       5 . The apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein each of the lines in the first and second sets is separated by a predetermined distance. 
   
   
       6 . The apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein the predetermined distance is approximately one inch. 
   
   
       7 . The apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein each of the lines in the first and second sets is associated with at least one of a height identifier and a bat size identifier. 
   
   
       8 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one step target marking is disposed adjacent a leading side of the at least one foot placement marking. 
   
   
       9 . The apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein the at least one step target marking includes a first step target marking adjacent a first leading side of the first set of lines and a second step target marking adjacent a second leading side of the second set of lines. 
   
   
       10 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one step target marking has a width substantially equal to a width of the at least one foot placement marking. 
   
   
       11 . A device, comprising:
 a planar substrate;   a first reference marking formed on the substrate;   a second reference marking formed on the substrate, the second reference marking indicative of a standing position relative to the first reference marking; and   a third reference marking formed on the substrate the third reference marking indicative of a lead foot position relative to the second reference marking.   
   
   
       12 . The device according to  claim 11 , wherein the first reference marking is one of a home plate marking, a home plate cut-out and an axis of the second reference marking. 
   
   
       13 . The device according to  claim 11 , wherein the second reference marking includes a plurality of parallel lines separated from each other by a predetermined distance. 
   
   
       14 . The device according to  claim 13 , wherein each of the parallel lines is associated with at least one of a height identifier, a bat size identifier and a racquet length identifier. 
   
   
       15 . The device according to  claim 11 , wherein the substrate includes at least one anchor arrangement preventing movement of the substrate relative to a surface the substrate is disposed upon. 
   
   
       16 . The device according to  claim 11 , further including:
 a textured material covering at least a portion of at least one of the second and third reference markings.   
   
   
       17 . The device according to  claim 16 , wherein the textured material has a higher coefficient of friction than the substrate. 
   
   
       18 . The device according to  claim 11 , wherein the third reference marking is formed on a leading side of the second reference marking and along a substantially transverse axis of the first reference marking. 
   
   
       19 . A system, comprising:
 an swing instruction apparatus including a body having a substantially planar upper surface and positionable on a support surface, the body including a home plate marking, at least one step target marking adjacent to the home plate marking and at least one foot placement marking adjacent to the step target marking; and   a ball stand positioned over the home plate marking, the ball standing holding a ball a predetermined height above the body.   
   
   
       20 . The system according to  claim 19 , wherein the ball stand is a T-ball stand. 
   
   
       21 . An apparatus for use in tennis for training how to step and swing a racquet, the apparatus comprising:
 a body comprising a substantially planar upper surface and positionable on a support surface;   a stance marking on said body;   at least one baseline marking adjacent to the stance marking; and   at least one step target marking adjacent to the at least one baseline marking.