Free Throw Training Aid

Abstract

A free throw training aid including a frame adapted for positioning on a floor below a hoop attached to a backboard. The free throw training aid includes a pair of spaced apart ball guides attached to the frame, extending diagonally from the frame along a plane that lies substantially perpendicular to the backboard. A substantially horizontal standard attaches between the pair of spaced apart ball guides. A shooter is intended to shoot a basketball over the horizontal and between the spaced apart ball guides. Visual feedback is provided to the shooter or an observer by comparing the angle of the based upon a comparison of the pair of spaced apart ball guides to a flight of the ball after it passes over the horizontal standard and upon its decent to the rim and the entry angle as the ball enters the hoop.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A free throw training aid for placement on a floor in front of a basketball backboard having a basketball hoop, the free throw training aid comprising:
 a frame adapted for positioning on the floor below the basketball hoop;   a pair of spaced apart ball guides attached to the frame, each of the pair of spaced apart ball guides extending diagonally from the frame along a plane that lies substantially perpendicular to the backboard; and   a substantially horizontal standard disposed between the pair of spaced apart ball guides;   means for adjusting a height of the substantially horizontal standard above the floor; and   means for adjusting a distance of the substantially horizontal standard from the backboard.   
     
     
         2 . The free throw training aid of  claim 1  wherein the means for adjusting a height of the substantially horizontal standard further comprises means for simultaneously adjusting a height of the substantially horizontal standard above the floor and a distance of the substantially horizontal standard from the backboard. 
     
     
         3 . The free throw training aid of  claim 1  wherein the pair of spaced apart ball guides further comprises a pair of spaced apart ball guides attached to and extending diagonally from the frame at an angle substantially equal to forty-five degrees. 
     
     
         4 . The free throw training aid of  claim 1  wherein the pair of spaced apart ball guides further comprises a pair of spaced apart ball guides attached to and extending diagonally from the frame at an angle in a range equal to forty degrees to fifty degrees. 
     
     
         5 . The free throw training aid of  claim 1  wherein the pair of spaced apart ball guides further comprises a pair of telescoping spaced apart ball guides. 
     
     
         6 . The free throw training aid of  claim 1  wherein the pair of spaced apart ball guides further comprises means for adjusting a distance between the pair of spaced apart ball guides. 
     
     
         7 . The free throw training aid of  claim 1  further comprising means for adjusting a distance between the pair of spaced apart ball guides. 
     
     
         8 . The free throw training aid of  claim 1  further comprising:
 the frame adapted to be configured alternately in a storage configuration wherein the device has a maximum height of seventy-nine inches and a maximum width of thirty-five inches; 
 the device being further adapted to be configured alternately in an erected configuration wherein the pair of spaced apart ball guides attached to the frame, each extend diagonally from the frame; and 
 the substantially horizontal standard is set at an elevation from the floor equal to a height of the hoop plus zero to twenty-four inches, and the substantially horizontal standard is set in front of the backboard at a distance in the range of twenty-four inches to forty-eight inches. 
 
     
     
         9 . The free throw training aid of  claim 1  further comprising a ball collection net. 
     
     
         10 . The free throw training aid of  claim 1  further comprising a ball return gutter. 
     
     
         11 . The free throw training aid of  claim 1  further comprising a ball storage caddy. 
     
     
         12 . A free throw training aid for placement on a floor in front of a basketball backboard having a basketball hoop, the free throw training aid comprising:
 a frame adapted for positioning on the floor below the basketball hoop;   a first telescoping ball guide attached to the frame and extending diagonally from the frame along a plane that lies substantially perpendicular to the backboard;   a second telescoping ball guide attached to the frame and extending diagonally from the frame along a plane that lies substantially perpendicular to the backboard in a spaced apart relationship to the first telescoping ball guide;   a substantially horizontal standard disposed between the first ball guide and the second ball guide; and   the frame including an incremental height indicator configured to indicate a height of the substantially horizontal standard relative to the frame.   
     
     
         13 . The free throw training aid of  claim 1  further comprising:
 the first ball guide attached to and extending diagonally from the frame at an angle substantially equal to forty-five degrees; and 
 the second ball guide attached to and extending diagonally from the frame at an angle substantially equal to forty-five degrees. 
 
     
     
         14 . The free throw training aid of  claim 12  further comprising:
 the first ball guide attached to and extending diagonally from the frame at an angle in a range equal to forty degrees to fifty degrees; and 
 the second ball guide attached to and extending diagonally from the frame at an angle in a range equal to forty degrees to fifty degrees. 
 
     
     
         15 . The free throw training aid of  claim 12  wherein the pair of spaced apart ball guides further comprises means for adjusting a distance between the pair of spaced apart ball guides. 
     
     
         16 . The free throw training aid of  claim 1  further comprising means for adjusting a distance between the first ball guide and the second ball guides. 
     
     
         17 . The free throw training aid of  claim 1  further comprising:
 the frame adapted to be configured alternately in a storage configuration wherein the device has a maximum height of seventy-nine inches and a maximum width of thirty-five inches; 
 the device being further adapted to be configured alternately in an erected configuration wherein the pair of spaced apart ball guides attached to the frame, each extend diagonally from the frame; and 
 the substantially horizontal standard is set at an elevation from the floor equal to a height of the hoop plus zero to twenty-four inches, and the substantially horizontal standard is set in front of the backboard at a distance in the range of twenty-four inches to forty-eight inches. 
 
     
     
         18 . The free throw training aid of  claim 1  further comprising a ball collection net. 
     
     
         19 . The free throw training aid of  claim 1  further comprising a ball return gutter. 
     
     
         20 . The free throw training aid of  claim 1  further comprising a ball storage caddy.