Training device and method for guiding a ball throwing movement

Abstract

A training device guides the throwing arm of a person in a ball throwing movement in a forward throwing direction. The training device comprises a base arranged to be supported on the ground, an upright support member extending upwardly from the base and a guide member on the upright support member which has a generally concave inner surface extending upwardly and forwardly from a generally vertical starting end to a generally horizontal releasing end. The user grasps a ball in the hand of their throwing arm and displaces the ball alongside the guide member from the starting end to the releasing end in a ball throwing movement to throw the ball in the forward throwing direction of the training device.

1 . A method of guiding a throwing arm of a person in a ball throwing movement in a forward throwing direction, the method comprising:
 providing a guide member extending between a starting end and a releasing end;   supporting the guide member such that the guide member curves upwardly and forwardly in the forward throwing direction from the starting end positioned rearwardly of the person to the releasing end spaced above a head of the person; and   displacing the hand of the throwing arm of the person alongside the guide member from the starting end of the guide member to the releasing end of the guide member in a ball throwing movement.   
   
   
       2 . The method according to  claim 1  including locating the starting end of the guide member near a height of a shoulder of the person. 
   
   
       3 . The method according to  claim 1  including positioning the starting end of the guide member to be near vertical in orientation. 
   
   
       4 . The method according to  claim 1  including positioning the releasing end of the guide member to be near horizontal in orientation. 
   
   
       5 . The method according to  claim 1  including supporting the guide member to follow a curve substantially located in a vertical plane parallel to the forward direction. 
   
   
       6 . The method according to  claim 1  including supporting the guide member such that the guide member has a concave inner surface facing the person and having a substantially constant radius from the starting end to the releasing end. 
   
   
       7 . The method according to  claim 1  including placing a ball in the hand of the throwing arm of the person and sliding the ball along the guide member from the starting end to the releasing end. 
   
   
       8 . The method according to  claim 1  including positioning the ball in the hand of the throwing arm of the person such that only the ball engages the guide member. 
   
   
       9 . The method according to  claim 7  including releasing the ball from the hand of the throwing arm of the person after the ball is disengaged from the guide member. 
   
   
       10 . The method according to  claim 1  including supporting the guide member at an adjustable height relative to the ground and adjusting the height of the guide member relative to the person. 
   
   
       11 . The method according to  claim 1  including placing the feet of the person spaced apart along a forward axis extending in the forward throwing direction from the starting end of the guide member. 
   
   
       12 . A training device for guiding a ball throwing movement of a person in a forward throwing direction, the device comprising:
 a base arranged to be supported on a supporting surface;   a guide member having a generally concave inner surface arranged to receive a ball slidably therealong between a starting end and a releasing end of the guide member;   an upright support member arranged to support the guide member on the base at a location spaced upwardly from the ground such that the inner surface of the guide member is curved upwardly and forwardly into the forward throwing direction from the starting end to the releasing end.   
   
   
       13 . The device according to  claim 11  wherein the starting end of the guide member is near vertical in orientation. 
   
   
       14 . The device according to  claim 11  wherein the releasing end of the guide member is near horizontal in orientation. 
   
   
       15 . The device according to  claim 11  wherein the upright support member is arranged to support the guide member at an adjustable height relative to the base. 
   
   
       16 . The device according to  claim 11  wherein the upright support member is arranged to be readily releasable from the guide member and the base. 
   
   
       17 . The device according to  claim 11  wherein the guide member comprises two side members oriented parallel and spaced apart from one another to receive a ball therebetween, both side members extending between the starting end and the releasing end of the guide member. 
   
   
       18 . The device according to  claim 11  wherein the base includes a plurality of stake receiving apertures formed therein, the stake receiving apertures being arranged to receive ground penetrating stakes therein for securement of the base to the ground. 
   
   
       19 . The device according to  claim 11  wherein the upright support member is supported on the base so as to be readily separable from the base and wherein there is provided a ball support member arranged to be supported on the base interchangeably with the upright support member, the ball support member being arranged to support a baseball thereon at a batting height when the ball support member is supported on the base. 
   
   
       20 . The device according to  claim 11  wherein there is provided a swing training device arranged to be supported on the upright support member together with the guide member at a location spaced laterally outwardly from the upright support member, the swing training device comprising a depending member extending downwardly from a top end supported on the guide member for relative pivotal movement about a horizontal axis parallel to the forward throwing direction and a target member supported on the depending member spaced below the guide member so as to be arranged to be supported at a batting height.