Exercise Apparatus for Ball Game

Abstract

An exercise apparatus has several selectably activatable target objects arranged to register hits by a movable playing object. The target objects are arranged on a wall and are connected to a control unit. The control unit is arranged to activate the selected target object and an indicator which is arranged to identify the activated target object and is connected to and arranged at the target object, for a period determined by the control unit. The indicator is arranged above the target object. A method of training the playing skills of a team player is provided by using the exercise apparatus.

1 . An exercise apparatus comprising several selectably activatable target objects arranged to register hits by a movable playing object, the target objects being arranged on a wall and being connected to a control unit which is arranged to activate the selected target object and an indicator which is arranged to identify the activated target object and is connected to and arranged at said target object, for a period determined by the control unit wherein the indicator is arranged above the target object at a height reasonably corresponding to a height of a team player using the exercise apparatus. 
     
     
         2 . The exercise apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the wall is formed from several wall sections, at least some of the wall sections being provided with a target object. 
     
     
         3 . The exercise apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the control unit is arranged to activate the target objects in a random order. 
     
     
         4 . The exercise apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the length of the activation period and the interval between the activation periods are adjustable. 
     
     
         5 . The exercise apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the target object is provided with means arranged to register hits by the playing object on the target object. 
     
     
         6 . The exercise apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein several wall sections are interconnected and define a practice area. 
     
     
         7 . The exercise apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the movable playing object is a ball. 
     
     
         8 . The exercise apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the indicator includes at least a light source or a sound source arranged at the target object. 
     
     
         9 . The exercise apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one target object includes means for registering the hit parameters of the movable playing object taken from the group comprising a hit area and a strike velocity. 
     
     
         10 . The exercise apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein an information screen is arranged to display a range of hit parameters recorded in the control unit. 
     
     
         11 . A method of training the playing skills of a team player by the use of an exercise apparatus, the method comprising:
 defining a practice area by means of a wall provided with several target objects;   activating a control unit connected to the exercise apparatus;   bringing a movable playing object into the practice area;   letting the control unit activate a target object arranged on the wall and letting the activated target object be identified by means of an indicator connected to and arranged at said target object for a period determined by the control unit, the indicator being arranged above the target object at a height reasonably corresponding to a height of the team player;   recording the hits of the playing object on the target object; and   activating further target objects in a sequence and recording the hits of the playing object on the target objects.   
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 11 , further comprising:
 activating the target objects in a random order.   
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 11 , further comprising:
 adjusting the length of the period of activation of each target object and/or the length of the intervals between each activation period.   
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 10 , further comprising:
 giving one or more of the target objects a graduated sectioning in hit areas.   
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 11 , further comprising:
 registering the strike velocity of the playing object at hits on at least one of the target objects.