Training apparatus for object hitting sports

Abstract

A training apparatus is provided for sports involving hitting an object. The training apparatus has a hitting sports club and a visual hitting aid attached to the club at a preferred location for hitting the object, for example, a ball or puck. The training apparatus is useful in assisting a user in visualizing the proper swing and contact zone for hitting or striking an object in a preferred ball or puck target contact zone.

1 . A training apparatus, comprising:
 a hitting sport club including an elongate body having a first end and a second end, said body defining a handle portion proximate said first end and a ball or puck contact portion proximate said second end, the contact portion comprising a target wallop zone; and   a visual hitting aid securely attached to the club within the target wallop zone, the hitting aid being substantially in the form of a ball or puck conventionally hit by the club.   
     
     
         2 . The training apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the club is substantially in the shape of a baseball bat, softball bat, hockey stick, or golf club. 
     
     
         3 . The training apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the hitting aid is in the form of a baseball, a softball, hockey puck, or a golf ball. 
     
     
         4 . The training apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the hitting aid is removable. 
     
     
         5 . The training apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the hitting aid is openable having a hollow portion wherein training weights can be added. 
     
     
         6 . The training apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the hitting aid has a substantially flat hitting surface. 
     
     
         7 . A baseball or softball training apparatus  10 , comprising:
 a baseball or softball bat  20  including an elongate body  30  having a first end  34  and a second end  38 , said body defining a handle portion  40  proximate said first end  34  and a hitting contact portion  45  proximate said second end  38 , the ball contact portion  45  comprising a target wallop zone  50 ; and   a visual hitting aid  25  securely attached to the bat  20  within the target wallop zone  50 , the hitting aid  25  being substantially in the form of a baseball or softball.   
     
     
         8 . The training apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the hitting aid is removable. 
     
     
         9 . The training apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the hitting aid is openable, the hitting aid being hollow allowing training weights to be added. 
     
     
         10 . The training apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the hitting aid has a substantially flat hitting surface. 
     
     
         11 . The training apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the training apparatus is made of aluminum. 
     
     
         12 . The training apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the training apparatus can be separated into two parts for easy transport or storage. 
     
     
         13 . A training attachment for a hitting sport club comprising:
 a visual hitting aid; and   an attachment means for securely attaching said visual hitting aid to a hitting sport club, the sport club having a target wallop zone, wherein the attachment means is sufficient to securely attach the hitting aid to the club within the target wallop zone, wherein the hitting aid is substantially in a form of a regulation ball or puck conventionally hit by the club.   
     
     
         14 . The training attachment of  claim 13 , wherein the club is a baseball bat, softball bat, hockey stick, or golf club. 
     
     
         15 . The training attachment of  claim 13 , wherein the hitting visual aid is in the form of a baseball, a softball, hockey puck, or a golf ball. 
     
     
         16 . The training attachment of  claim 15 , wherein the attachment means is a bolt wherein the hitting aid is screwed on to the club and/or a sleeve that slips over the club and hitting aid attaching the hitting aid to the baseball or softball bat within the target wallop zone. 
     
     
         17 . The training attachment of  claim 13 , wherein visual hitting aid is openable having a hollow portion wherein training weights can be added. 
     
     
         18 . The training attachment of  claim 17 , wherein the hitting aid has a substantially flat hitting surface. 
     
     
         19 . A sport training assembly comprising:
 a hitting sport club including an elongate body having a first end and a second end, said body defining a handle portion proximate said first end and a ball or puck contact portion proximate said second end, the contact portion comprising a target wallop zone;   a visual hitting aid, the hitting aid being substantially in the form of a regulation ball or puck conventionally hit by the club;   an attachment means for securely attaching said visual aid to the club within the target wallop zone.   
     
     
         20 . The sport training assembly of  claim 19 , further comprising a travel bag, the club in the form of a baseball bat or softball bat that is separable into two parts, a first handle part and a second ball contact part, for easy transport or storage in the travel bag, wherein the hitting aid is substantially in the form of a baseball or softball and openable having a hollow portion wherein training weights can be added.