Visual aid hitting tool and methodology for baseball, softball and other sports

Abstract

A visualization tool with a gridwork aid to better help ball players visualize aspects of the game in practice. A system, device, technique, apparatus, and kit are envisioned that allow a ball player in practice to better visualize placements and positions for a batter to better hit the ball, whether done alone in the privacy of their home or outside, or with others. Plastic, paper and other non-electronic, electronic and smartphone versions of the present invention are implemented to provide improved tools for personal visualization for developing game skills, and recording the batting sessions.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A visualization tool comprising:
 a portable surface with a grid thereon,   wherein said grid has a plurality of pitch locations thereon, said plurality of pitch locations arranged in a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns,   a given pitch location being defined by a particular row and a particular column within said grid, and   wherein said pitch locations are color coded;   a home plate indicia, said home plate indicia placed along a lower portion of said portable surface and below said grid, when vertically aligned,   wherein said home plate indicia is representative of an actual home plate,   whereby said visualization tool, when vertically aligned, provides a visualization aid to a player in practice.   
     
     
         2 . The visualization tool according to  claim 1 , wherein said portable surface comprises a plastic material. 
     
     
         3 . The visualization tool according to  claim 3 , wherein said plastic is vinyl. 
     
     
         4 . The visualization tool according to  claim 1 , wherein said portable surface comprises a paper material. 
     
     
         5 . The visualization tool according to  claim 1 , wherein said grid has a configuration selected from the group consisting of ten rows and eight columns, ten rows and seven columns, and eight rows and seven columns. 
     
     
         6 . The visualization tool according to  claim 1 , wherein said home plate indicia comprises extenders. 
     
     
         7 . The visualization tool according to  claim 1 , further comprising an affixation, said affixation selected from the group consisting of clips, holes, carabiners, tape, glue, adhesives, Velcro and combinations thereof,
 whereby the visualization tool is secured to other media in an upright position for use.   
     
     
         8 . The visualization tool according to  claim 1 , wherein each said pitch location in said grid has a circle subscribed therein, said circle representing a ball size. 
     
     
         9 . The visualization tool according to  claim 8 , wherein each said circle in each said pitch location in said grid has a smaller circle subscribed therein, said smaller circle representing a ball size. 
     
     
         10 . A visualization tool comprising:
 a substantially planar box having a substantially planar surface with a grid thereon, respective positions within said grid corresponding to discrete pitch locations, a given pitch location being defined by a particular row and a particular column within said grid; and   a plurality of lights within said box and under said grid, at least one respective light correlated to each of said discrete pitch locations within said grid,   wherein a given light within said plurality of lights, upon activation, lights up said given pitch location, providing a visual cue to a user of said visualization tool,   whereby said visualization tool, when vertically aligned, provides a visualization aid to a user in practice.   
     
     
         11 . The visualization tool according to  claim 10 , further comprising, on said substantially planar surface, a home plate indicia, said home plate indicia placed along a lower portion of said substantially planar surface and below said grid, when vertically aligned. 
     
     
         12 . The visualization tool according to  claim 11 , wherein said home plate indicia comprises extenders. 
     
     
         13 . The visualization tool according to  claim 10 , wherein said grid has a configuration selected from the group consisting of ten rows and eight columns, ten rows and seven columns, and eight rows and seven columns. 
     
     
         14 . The visualization tool according to  claim 10 , further comprising an affixation, said affixation selected from the group consisting of clips, holes, carabiners, tape, glue, adhesives, Velcro and combinations thereof,
 whereby the visualization tool is secured to other media in an upright position for use.   
     
     
         15 . The visualization tool according to  claim 10 , wherein said plurality of lights are arranged in an array of bulbs. 
     
     
         16 . The visualization tool according to  claim 15 , wherein each bulb is an LED. 
     
     
         17 . The visualization tool according to  claim 10 , wherein each said pitch location in said grid has a circle subscribed therein, said circle representing a ball size, at least one bulb in said array illuminating said circle. 
     
     
         18 . The visualization tool according to  claim 17 , wherein each said circle in each said pitch location in said grid has a smaller circle subscribed therein, said smaller circle representing a ball size, at least one bulb in said array illuminating said smaller circle. 
     
     
         19 . The visualization tool according to  claim 18 , wherein a plurality of bulbs illuminate said circle and said smaller circle. 
     
     
         20 . The visualization tool according to  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a remote, said remote comprising a version of said grid on a screen, said remote in wireless communication said grid and said corresponding discrete pitch locations,   whereby another person can control said visualization tool remotely through a plurality of command buttons.   
     
     
         21 . The visualization tool according to  claim 20 , wherein said command buttons are selected from the group consisting of power, brightness, set, separate, release, take, random and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         22 . The visualization tool according to  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a visual cue unit, said visual cue unit comprising a number of visual cues for a user of said visualization tool,   wherein said visual cues are selected from the group consisting of power, brightness, set, separate, release, off-speed, random and combinations thereof.   
     
     
         23 . The visualization tool according to  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a smartphone app, said smartphone app comprising a version of said grid on a screen, said smartphone app in wireless communication said grid and said corresponding discrete pitch locations,   whereby another person can control said visualization tool remotely through a plurality of command buttons,   wherein said command buttons are selected from the group consisting of power, brightness, set, separate, release, take, random, record, pause, stop and combinations thereof.