Baseball/softball batter training device

Abstract

A practice device for training baseball players, softball players, and umpires. The device trains batters to help the batter identify when to swing or not swing at a pitched based on a combination of what the ball-strike count is on the batter and where the pitched ball will pass through the strike zone for that batter.

1 . A training device comprising:
 a backstop frame;   a plurality of colored hitting zone indicators disposed on the backstop frame wherein the plurality of colored hitting zone indicators denotes a specific hitting zone;   a simulated bat handle;   a simulated ball; and   a scoring device disposed on the backstop frame that assists in keeping score of at least one of either a good hitting decision or a bad hitting decision.   
   
   
       2 . The training device of  claim 1  wherein at least one of either the good hitting decision or the bad hitting decision includes using the simulated bat handle to one of either swing or not swing at the simulated ball when the simulated ball is thrown against the plurality of colored indicators. 
   
   
       3 . The training device of  claim 2  wherein the at least one of either the good hitting decision or the bad hitting decision includes correlating the decision to either swing or not swing the simulated bat handle with a simulated ball-strike count on a batter. 
   
   
       4 . The training device of  claim 3  wherein the primary backstop frame includes a home plate frame that is operatively disposed from a lower edge of the primary backstop frame in a manner that allows the home plate frame to pivot upward toward the primary backstop frame. 
   
   
       5 . The training device of  claim 4  further comprising a home plate that is disposed on the home plate frame such that the orientation of the home plate is similar to the orientation of a home plate as used on a standard baseball field. 
   
   
       6 . The training device of  claim 5  wherein the primary backstop frame includes a back frame brace that generally retains the primary backstop frame in an substantially upright position wherein the back frame brace is pivotally attached to the primary backstop frame. 
   
   
       7 . The training device of  claim 6  wherein one of the plurality of colored hitting zone indicators is a backstop panel that is dark-colored and is attached to the primary backstop frame. 
   
   
       8 . The training device of  claim 7  wherein the backstop panel is generally attached to the primary backstop frame by stretching the backstop panel within an backstop panel opening of the primary backstop frame and attaching the backstop panel to the primary backstop frame with a plurality of resilient attachment devices. 
   
   
       9 . The training device of  claim 8  further comprising at least one alignment strip mounted vertically to the backstop panel. 
   
   
       10 . The training device of  claim 9  wherein at least one of the plurality of colored hitting zone indicators is a red panel. 
   
   
       11 . The training device of  claim 10  wherein at least one of the plurality of colored hitting zone indicators is a green panel. 
   
   
       12 . The training device of  claim 11  wherein at least one of the plurality of colored hitting zone indicators is a yellow panel. 
   
   
       13 . The training device of  claim 12  wherein the backstop panel, the yellow panel, the green panel, and the red panel include hook and loop elements that allow each of those panels to be removably located and positioned on any of the other of those panels. 
   
   
       14 . The training device of  claim 13  wherein the red panel has a height of about 8 inches and a width of about 11 inches, wherein the green panel has a width equal to about the width of the strike zone under standard baseball rules and a height of sufficient to match an official strike zone as determined by the physical size and shape of the batter, and wherein the yellow panel has a height that is at least one baseball diameter greater than the height of the green panel and a width that is at least one baseball diameter greater than width of the green panel. 
   
   
       15 . The training device of  claim 14  wherein the simulated bat handle is substantially shorter than a standard bat and include a weight disposed in the bat. 
   
   
       16 . The training device of  claim 15  wherein the simulated ball include hook and loop elements that allow the simulated ball to be retained into a contact position when the simulated ball contacts at least one of either the backstop panel, the yellow panel, the green panel, or the red panel. 
   
   
       17 . The training device of  claim 16  wherein the scoring device disposed on the backstop frame comprises a horizontal member upon which a plurality of tally rings reside. 
   
   
       18 . A training device comprising:
 a backstop frame having a primary backstop frame, a home plate frame, and a back brace frame wherein the primary backstop frame includes a backstop opening made from a lightweight material and wherein the back brace frame biases the primary backstop frame toward a substantially upright position;   a dark-colored primary backstop panel having a yellow hitting zone panel, a green hitting zone panel, a red hitting zone panel, and at least one alignment strip disposed on the dark-colored primary backstop panel;   a practice ball;   a simulated bat;   a scoring device comprising a horizontal member upon which a plurality of tally rings reside.   
   
   
       19 . The training device of  claim 18  wherein the backstop frame, the primary backstop frame, the home plate frame, and the back brace frame are made from a lightweight material. 
   
   
       20 . The training device of  claim 19  wherein the dark-colored primary backstop panel, the yellow hitting zone panel, the green hitting zone panel, the red hitting zone panel, the at least one alignment strip, and the practice ball comprise hook and loop elements that allow the practice ball to be retained on at least one of either the dark-colored primary backstop panel, the yellow hitting zone panel, the green hitting zone panel, or the red hitting zone panel when the practice ball is thrown toward the dark-colored primary backstop panel.