Sports swing training system and method of operation

Abstract

A sports swing training system and method of operation trains the proper swing of a shaft to hit a sports target, such as a ball or puck so as to drive the sports target at a proper direction and velocity. The assembly provides a base. A height adjustable rod extends perpendicularly from base. A spring positions between the base and the bottom end of the rod to enable side-to-side swaying by the rod. A target holder attaches to top end of rod to retain a first sports target. A hub and a washer disposed at the bottom end of rod are rotatable about the rod. A rotating tethering mechanism extends from the hub, so as to enable tethering the interchangeable sports targets to a cable. The cable attaches to the tethering mechanism from a proximal end and attaches to a second sports target from an opposite end.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A sports swing training system, the system comprising:
 a base;   a height adjustable rod extending perpendicularly from the base, the rod defined by a bottom end and a top end;   a spring disposed between the base and the bottom end of the rod, the spring enabling side-to-side swaying by the rod;   a target holder detachably attached to the top end of the rod, the target holder retaining at least one first sports target,   whereby swinging at the first sports target displaces the first sports target from the target holder, and causes the rod to sway upon contact;   a tethering mechanism rotatable about the top end of the rod; and   a cable defined by a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of the cable joined with the tethering mechanism from the proximal end, the distal end of the cable detachably attached to at least one second sports target,   whereby swinging at the second sports target urges the second sports target to rotate in a circular pattern about the rod,   whereby the first and second sports targets are interchangeable.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the base has a disc shape, or a truncated cone shape. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the target holder comprises a cylinder. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a height adjustment fastener configured to fasten the rod at a fixed height. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the height adjustment fastener comprises a threaded bolt or a pin. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the tethering mechanism comprises a disc defined by a central aperture and an edge. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the tethering mechanism comprises a bi-hook shaped protrusion extending from the peripheral region of the disc. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the first end of the cable ties around the bi-hook shaped protrusion. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the cable is resilient. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a hub and a washer disposed at the bottom end of the rod. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the hub and the washer are operable to rotate about the rod. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the tethering mechanism extends from the hub. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first sports target includes at least one of the following: a baseball, a softball, and a cricket ball. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the second sports target includes at least one of the following: a hockey puck, a soccer ball, and a volleyball. 
     
     
         15 . A sports swing training system, the system comprising:
 a base;   a height adjustable rod extending perpendicularly from the base, the rod defined by a bottom end and a top end;   a height adjustment fastener configured to fasten the rod at a fixed height;   a hub disposed at the bottom end of the rod;   a washer disposed at the bottom end of the rod,   whereby the hub and the washer are operable to rotate about the rod;   a spring disposed between the base and the bottom end of the rod, the spring enabling side-to-side swaying by the rod;   a target holder detachably attached to the top end of the rod, the target holder retaining at least one first sports target,   whereby swinging at the first sports target displaces the first sports target from the target holder, and causes the rod to sway upon contact;   a tethering mechanism rotatable about the top end of the rod, the tethering mechanism extending from the hub; and   a cable defined by a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of the cable joined with the tethering mechanism from the proximal end, the distal end of the cable detachably attached to at least one second sports target,   whereby swinging at the second sports target urges the second sports target to rotate in a circular pattern about the rod,   whereby the first and second sports targets are interchangeable.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the tethering mechanism comprises a disc defined by a central aperture and an edge. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the tethering mechanism comprises a bi-hook shaped protrusion extending from the peripheral region of the disc. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the first sports target includes at least one of the following: a baseball, a softball, and a cricket ball. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the second sports target includes at least one of the following: a hockey puck, a soccer ball, and a volleyball. 
     
     
         20 . A method for operation of a sports swing training system, the method comprising:
 positioning a rod in a vertical orientation on a flat surface, the rod being defined by a bottom end and a top end, the rod further being joined to a base by a spring, whereby the rod sways when force is applied thereto;   extending a cable to a rotatable tethering mechanism at the bottom end of the rod;   attaching at least one second sports target to the distal end of the cable;   facing, by a user, the rod in a swinging stance at a predetermined distance;   swinging a shaft at the second sports target, whereby swinging at the second sports target urges the second sports target to rotate in a circular pattern about the rod;   resting at least one first sports target on a target holder at the top end of the rod;   swinging the shaft at the first sports target, whereby swinging at the first sports target displaces the first sports target from the target holder, and causes the rod to sway upon contact; and   interchanging first and second sports targets.