Tennis training device and method of instruction

Abstract

Provided is a tennis training device for training a tennis player to hit a tennis ball to a targeted area with consistency. The device includes a target mat placeable on a surface for the tennis player to aim toward when hitting the tennis ball. The target mat includes a mat body and a detector coupled to the mat body. The detector is configured to detect contact between the tennis ball and the mat body and to generate a detection signal in response to said detection. The target mat further includes a transmitter in communication with the detector to receive the detection signal therefrom. The tennis training device includes a scoring device including a receiver in communication with the transmitter to receive the detection signal therefrom. A signaling device is in communication with the receiver and configured to generate a scoring signal in response to receipt of the detection signal.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A tennis training system for training a tennis player to hit a tennis ball to a targeted area with consistency, the tennis training device comprising:
 a target mat placeable on a surface for the tennis player to aim toward when hitting the tennis ball, the target mat including:
 a mat body; 
 a detector coupled to the mat body and configured to detect contact between the tennis ball and the mat body and to generate a detection signal in response to detection of contact between the tennis ball and the mat body; and 
 a transmitter in communication with the detector to receive the detection signal therefrom; and 
   a scoring device including:
 a receiver in communication with the transmitter to receive the detection signal therefrom; and 
 a signaling device in communication with the receiver and configured to generate a scoring signal in response to receipt of the detection signal. 
   
     
     
         2 . The tennis training system of  claim 1 , wherein the detector is configured to detect an acoustic signal in response to the tennis ball contacting the mat body. 
     
     
         3 . The tennis training system of  claim 1 , wherein the detector is configured to detect a pneumatic signal in response to the tennis ball contacting the mat body. 
     
     
         4 . The tennis training system of  claim 3 , wherein the mat body defines an internal reservoir filled with a fluid. 
     
     
         5 . The tennis training system of  claim 1 , wherein the transmitter is configured to wirelessly communicate the detection signal. 
     
     
         6 . The tennis training system of  claim 5 , wherein the transmitter is configured to communicate the detection signal over a WiFi communication network. 
     
     
         7 . The tennis training system of  claim 1 , wherein the receiver is in wireless communication with the transmitter. 
     
     
         8 . The tennis training system of  claim 1 , wherein the signaling device is configured to generate a visual scoring signal. 
     
     
         9 . The tennis training system of  claim 1 , wherein the signaling device is configured to generate an acoustic scoring signal. 
     
     
         10 . A tennis training system for training a tennis player to hit a tennis ball to a targeted area with consistency, the tennis training device comprising:
 a first target mat placeable on a surface and including:
 a first mat body; 
 a first detector coupled to the first mat body and configured to detect contact between the tennis ball and the first mat body and to generate a first detection signal in response to detection of contact between the tennis ball and the first mat body; and 
 a first transmitter in communication with the first detector to receive the first detection signal therefrom; and 
   a second target mat placeable on a surface and including:
 a second mat body; 
 a second detector coupled to the second mat body and configured to detect contact between the tennis ball and the second mat body and to generate a second detection signal in response to detection of the contact between the tennis ball and the second mat body; and 
 a second transmitter in communication with the second detector to receive the second detection signal therefrom; 
   a scoring device including:
 a receiver in communication with the first transmitter to receive the first detection signal therefrom and the second transmitter to receive the second detection signal therefrom; and 
 a signaling device in communication with the receiver and configured to generate a scoring signal in response to receipt of one of the first and second detection signals. 
   
     
     
         11 . The tennis training system recited in  claim 10 , wherein the signal device is configured to generate a first scoring signal in response to receipt of the first detection signal and a second scoring signal in response to receipt of the second detection signal. 
     
     
         12 . The tennis training system of  claim 10 , wherein at least one of the first and second detectors is configured to detect an acoustic signal in response to the tennis ball contacting the respective one of the first and second mat bodies. 
     
     
         13 . The tennis training system of  claim 10 , wherein at least one of the first and second detectors is configured to detect a pneumatic signal in response to the tennis ball contacting the respective one of the first and second mat bodies. 
     
     
         14 . The tennis training system of  claim 10 , wherein at least one of the first and second transmitters is configured to wirelessly communicate the respective one of the first and second detection signals. 
     
     
         15 . The tennis training system of  claim 10 , wherein the receiver is in wireless communication with the first and second transmitters. 
     
     
         16 . A tennis training system configured for use with a remote receiver, the tennis training device being operative to train a tennis player to hit a tennis ball to a targeted area with consistency, the tennis training device comprising:
 a target mat placeable on a surface for the tennis player to aim toward when hitting the tennis ball, the target mat including:
 a mat body; 
 a detector coupled to the mat body and configured to detect contact between the tennis ball and the mat body and to generate a detection signal in response to detection of the contact between the tennis ball and the mat body; and 
 a transmitter in communication with the detector to receive the detection signal therefrom and wirelessly connectable to the remote receiver to wirelessly communicate the detection signal thereto. 
   
     
     
         17 . The tennis training system of  claim 16 , wherein the detector is configured to detect an acoustic signal in response to the tennis ball contacting the mat body. 
     
     
         18 . The tennis training system of  claim 16 , wherein the detector is configured to detect a pneumatic signal in response to the tennis ball contacting the mat body. 
     
     
         19 . The tennis training system of  claim 16 , wherein the transmitter is configured to communicate the detection signal over a WiFi communication network. 
     
     
         20 . The tennis training system of  claim 16 , wherein the transmitter is configured to communicate the detection signal over a Bluetooth communication network.