System for Training Baseball and Softball Batters

Abstract

A training aid to teach batters a better swing, particularly the proper hand path of such a swing. The training aid has a head portion with at least one planar or flat surface to strike a practice ball, a neck portion having a first shorter run and a second longer run, the first and second runs being at an angle to one another, and a handle portion. The shorter run of the neck portion is connected to the handle portion while the longer run of the neck portion is connected to the head portion.

1 . A system for teaching baseball and softball batters how to swing properly comprising:
 a tee for positioning a ball to be struck by a batter;   a practice batting device for use by said batter in striking said ball on said tee, said practice batting device comprising:
 a head portion, said head portion having at least one planar, front surface and a back surface; 
 a neck portion, said neck portion having a longer run and a shorter run, said longer run being at an angle of at least 5° to said shorter run, said head portion being connected to said longer run; and 
 a handle portion for gripping by the hands of said batter, said handle portion being connected to said shorter run. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the angle between said longer run and said shorter run is from about 15° to about 40°. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein said angle is about 20° to 35°. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said handle portion is substantially coaxial with said shorter run of said neck portion. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein said handle portion has an axially extending long axis and a transversely extending short axis, said long axis being coaxial with an axis of said shorter run. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein a first imaginary plane passing through said long axis of said handle and a second imaginary plane defined by said planar front surface of said head portion intersect in an imaginary line which is perpendicular to said long axis of said handle. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein said handle portion is racetrack shaped when viewed in transverse cross-section. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said handle portion is circular when viewed in transverse cross-section. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said head portion is generally blade shaped. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said head portion has a partially cylindrical, solid portion forming said back surface. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said handle portion includes a grip portion, said grip portion having a first receiving formation for the index finger of a user and a second receiving formation for the thumb of said user. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said handle portion includes a grip portion, said grip portion comprising a laterally outwardly extending trigger. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said head portion, said neck portion and said handle portion are substantially rigid. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said tee is adapted to position said ball generally at the midsection of said batter when said batter is in a stance to strike the ball on said tee.