Practice sport projectile having a through-hole with transverse indicator

Abstract

There are disclosed non-standard sport projectiles having a material with a high flexural modulus, and an axle at the axis of rotation. The axle extends through at least one linear through hole. Non-standard sport projectiles are disclosed with cushioned ends. A tee device is disclosed for driving the non-standard sport projectiles. Inflatable targets are disclosed for golf games with non-standard sport projectiles.

1 . A non-standard practice sport projectile for use within a relatively small geographic area, the non-standard projectile for practicing a striking motion associated with a sport, the non-standard sport projectile comprising:
 a generally rigid body comprising a material with a high flexural modulus, the generally rigid body having an external surface and a geometric center;   at least one linear through-hole extending completely through the generally rigid body, the at least one linear through-hole defining a longitudinal axis extending therethrough;   an axle extending through the at least one linear through-hole, the axle defining an axis therethrough, the axis of the axle disposed substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis of the at least one linear through-hole, and the axis of the axle located at an axis of rotation after striking the generally rigid body; and   at least one strike surface on the external surface of the generally rigid body,   such that striking the strike surface causes a rotation of the non-standard sport projectile to have a more aerodynamic phase and a less aerodynamic phase.   
   
   
       2 . The non-standard practice sport projectile of  claim 1  selected from a group consisting of a golf ball, a football, a soccer ball, a tennis ball, a baseball, and a hockey puck. 
   
   
       3 . The non-standard practice sport projectile of  claim 1  wherein the external surface is selected from a group consisting of a cylindrical solid surface, a convex solid surface, a spherical solid surface, and an elliptical solid surface. 
   
   
       4 . The non-standard practice sport projectile of  claim 1  wherein the linear through hole is selected from a group consisting of a single though-hole that extends through the geometric center and a plurality of through holes that symmetrically surround the geometric center. 
   
   
       5 . A method of practicing a physical movement that is associated with a sport in which a projectile is hit by an object, comprising the steps of:
 arranging a non-standard sport projectile having at least one linear through hole and an axle extending through the at least one through-hole so as to align the axle with an object to hit the projectile, the non-standard sport projectile comprising a high flexural modulus;   hitting the non-standard sport projectile with the object; and   causing rotation of the non-standard sport projectile, and the axle providing an indication about alignment of the object upon hitting the non-standard sport projectile.   
   
   
       6 . A non-standard practice sport projectile for use within a relatively small geographic area, the non-standard projectile for practicing a striking motion associated with a sport, the non-standard sport projectile comprising:
 a generally rigid body comprising a material with a high flexural modulus, the generally rigid body having an external surface and a geometric center;   at least one linear through-hole extending completely through the generally rigid body;   a cover for disposition on the generally rigid body and having a region of a cushion material at interfaces of the at least one linear through-hole with the generally rigid body, the cushion material having a hardness less than the generally rigid body; and   at least one strike surface between the interfaces of the cover, such that striking the strike surface causes a rotation of the non-standard sport projectile to have a more aerodynamic phase and a less aerodynamic phase, and the cushion material reducing an impact force at the interfaces of the at least one linear through-hole with the generally rigid body.   
   
   
       7 . The non-standard practice sport projectile of  claim 6  selected from a group consisting of a golf ball, a football, a soccer ball, a tennis ball, a baseball, and a hockey puck. 
   
   
       8 . The non-standard practice sport projectile of  claim 6  wherein the external surface is selected from a group consisting of a cylindrical solid surface, a convex solid surface, a spherical solid surface, and an elliptical solid surface. 
   
   
       9 . The non-standard practice sport projectile of  claim 6  wherein the linear through hole is selected from a group consisting of a single though-hole that extends through the geometric center and a plurality of through holes that symmetrically surround the geometric center. 
   
   
       10 . The non-standard sport projectile of  claim 9  wherein the external surface includes a solid external surface and two hole surfaces, and wherein a ratio of an area of the solid external surface to an area of the two hole surfaces is in the range of from about 1-to-1 to about 12-to-1. 
   
   
       11 . The non-standard practice sport projectile of  claim 10  selected from a group consisting of a golf ball, a football, a soccer ball, a tennis ball, a baseball, and a hockey puck. 
   
   
       12 . The non-standard practice sport projectile of  claim 10  wherein the solid external surface is selected from a group consisting of a cylindrical solid surface, a convex solid surface, a spherical solid surface, and an elliptical solid surface. 
   
   
       13 . The non-standard practice sport projectile of  claim 12  selected from a group consisting of a golf ball, a football, a soccer ball, a tennis ball, a baseball, and a hockey puck. 
   
   
       14 . A method of practicing a physical movement that is associated with a sport wherein a projectile is hit by an object, comprising the steps of:
 placing a cover on a non-standard sport projectile, the non-standard sport projectile comprising a material with a high flexural modulus;   arranging the non-standard sport projectile having at least one linear through-hole to be hit by an object;   hitting the non-standard sport projectile with object; and   causing rotation of the non-standard sport projectile, such that the non-standard sport projectile has a more aerodynamic phase and a less aerodynamic phase.   
   
   
       15 . A system having a non-standard practice sport projectile for use within a relatively small geographic area, the non-standard projectile for practicing a striking motion associated with a sport, and a tee for use with the non-standard practice sport projectile, the system comprising:
 the non-standard sport projectile comprising:
 a generally rigid body comprising a material with a high flexural modulus, the generally rigid body having an external surface and a geometric center; 
 at least one linear through-hole extending completely through the generally rigid body; and 
 at least one strike surface on the external surface of the generally rigid body, such that striking the strike surface causes a rotation of the non-standard sport projectile to have a more aerodynamic phase and a less aerodynamic phase; and 
   the tee comprising an inclined ramp between a first end and a second end, the first end disposed higher than the second end, the first end configured to support the non-standard practice support projectile for striking by an object.   
   
   
       16 . The non-standard practice sport projectile of  claim 15  wherein the object is a golf driver, and the first end of the tee is configured to support the non-standard practice support projectile for striking by the golf driver. 
   
   
       17 . A target system for a non-standard practice sport projectile comprising a material with a high flexural modulus, the target system comprising an inflatable portion having a plurality of targets arranged at suitable distances for at least one non-standard practice sport projectile. 
   
   
       18 . The target system of  claim 1  further comprising a water return system for returning balls from the targets to a golfer.