Baseball Training Device

Abstract

A training device for use by a pitcher in practicing throwing a curve ball and a method for using the training device is described.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A baseball training device comprising a ball cover member, a counterweight member, and a connecting member that connects the ball cover member to the counterweight member. 
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the ball cover member comprises an opening for adding a ball to the interior of said cover member. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein an outer surface of the ball cover member comprises a baseball stitching pattern. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the stitching pattern has a height from 0 to 1cm. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the ball cover member and counterweight member comprise an elastomeric material. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein the elastomeric material is selected from the group consisting of polyurethane, polyurea, silicone, and polyvinyl chloride. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the counterweight member comprises an opening for adding a weighted object to the interior of said counterweight member. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein the object is a ball. 
     
     
         9 . A baseball training device comprising a ball cover member and a counterweight attached to a portion of the ball cover member, thereby giving the device an asymmetric weight distribution. 
     
     
         10 . A training assembly comprising the device of  claim 1  and a ball inserted into the ball cover member. 
     
     
         11 . The assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the assembly weighs between 5 and 8 ounces. 
     
     
         12 . The assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the ball cover member with the inserted ball forms a sphere having a circumference from about 9.0 to about 9.25 inches. 
     
     
         13 . The assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the ball is selected from the group consisting of a tennis ball, handball, golf ball, squash ball, field hockey ball, lacrosse ball, and racquetball. 
     
     
         14 . A training assembly comprising the device of  claim 7 , a ball inserted into the ball cover member, and a weighted object inserted into the counterweight member, said ball, said weighted object, and said training assembly each having a weight, wherein the weight of the training assembly is from about 5.0 to about 5.25 ounces, and wherein the weight of the ball is equal to or greater than the weight of the weighted object. 
     
     
         15 . The assembly of  claim 14 , wherein a weight ratio of the ball to the weighted object is about 50/50, 60/40, 70/30, 80/20, 90/10, and 95/5. 
     
     
         16 . A kit comprising:
 (a) the device of  claim 1 ; and   (b) one or more balls capable of fitting into the ball cover member.   
     
     
         17 . The kit of  claim 16 , further comprising instructions for use of the kit in training a baseball pitcher trainee to throw a curve ball. 
     
     
         18 . A kit comprising:
 (a) the device of  claim 7 ;   (b) a plurality of matched pairs consisting of a ball and a weighted object, each ball having a weight and being capable of fitting into the ball cover member, and each weighted object having a weight and being capable of fitting into the counterweight member, wherein a sum of the weights of the ball and the weighted object for each matched pair is about the same, and wherein a ratio of the weights of the ball and the weighted object for each matched pair is different.   
     
     
         19 . The kit of  claim 18 , wherein the ratio of the weights of the ball and the weighted object for each matched pair is selected from 50/50, 60/40, 70/30, 80/20, 90/10, and 95/5. 
     
     
         20 . The kit of  claim 18 , further comprising instructions for use of the kit in training a baseball pitcher trainee to throw a curve ball. 
     
     
         21 . A method of training a baseball pitcher trainee to throw a curve ball, the method comprising the steps of:
 (a) providing the baseball training device of  claim 1 ; and   (b) allowing the trainee to throw the device while imparting spin to the device.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising a ball in the ball cover member. 
     
     
         23 . A method of training a baseball pitcher trainee to throw a curve ball, the method comprising the steps of:
 (a) providing a first and second training assemblies of  claim 14 , the first training assembly having a ball and weighted object with a first weight ratio, the second training assembly having a ball and weighted object with a second weight ratio, wherein the first weight ratio is less than the second weight ratio;   (b) allowing the trainee to throw the first assembly while imparting spin to the assembly for a period; and   (c) following completion of the period, allowing the trainee to throw the second assembly while imparting spin to the assembly.