System and method for sports practice

Abstract

A practice wall for sports having a plurality of panels arranged in a series of rows and columns. The columns are joined by hinges such that the columns can be folded to create various profiles which will cause a ball to reflect differently depending on the goals of the athlete. In one embodiment the panels can be readily disassembled so the wall can be temporarily erected, stored, and reassembled. In some embodiments the inventive practice wall can be fitted with instrumentation to provide objective performance data to the athlete or a coach.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A practice wall comprising:
 a plurality of panels arranged in a plurality of columns,   wherein each column of said plurality of columns is pivotally attached to an adjacent column such that individual columns may be folded with respect to each adjacent column.   
     
     
         2 . The practice wall of  claim 1  wherein said plurality of panels are arranged in a plurality of rows, and wherein each panel in a lower row includes an upper edge having a first mating feature, and wherein each panel in an upper row includes a bottom edge having a second mating feature such that said first and second mating features join said upper row to said lower row to form said plurality of columns. 
     
     
         3 . The practice wall of  claim 2  further comprising a camera directed generally forward of the practice wall to capture the actions of a person using the practice wall. 
     
     
         4 . The practice wall of  claim 2  further comprising:
 an accelerometer affixed to said wall; 
 a processor in communication with said accelerometer for measuring acceleration in at least one axis; and 
 a program executing in said processor for calculating at least one performance measurement of a person using the practice wall. 
 
     
     
         5 . The practice wall of  claim 2  further comprising:
 a plurality of strain gauges attached to the impact surface of at least on of said panels; 
 a processor in communication with said plurality of strain gauges to measure mechanical stress on said impact surface having said plurality of strain gauges; and 
 a program executing in said processor for calculating at least one performance measurement of a person using the practice wall. 
 
     
     
         6 . The practice wall of  claim 4  further comprising an RFID reader in communication with said processor, wherein said processor can communicate said at least one performance measurement to said user. 
     
     
         7 . The practice wall of  claim 5  further comprising an RFID reader in communication with said processor, wherein said processor can communicate said at least one performance measurement to said user. 
     
     
         8 . A practice wall comprising:
 a plurality of panels arranged in columns and rows; and   a plurality of hinges joining said columns such that each column is foldable with respect to each adjacent column.   
     
     
         9 . The practice wall of  claim 8  wherein each panel of said plurality of panels is interchangeable with any other panel od said plurality of panels. 
     
     
         10 . The practice wall of  claim 9  wherein said wall has at least one vertical edge and the practice wall further comprises comprising trim pieces secured along said at least one vertical edge. 
     
     
         11 . The practice wall of  claim 9  wherein said wall has a top edge and the practice wall further comprises a plurality of trim pieces secured along said top edge. 
     
     
         12 . The practice wall of  claim 8  further comprising instrumentation for generating an output. 
     
     
         13 . The practice wall of  claim 12  further comprising a processor in communication with said instrumentation for processing said output and providing information to a user derived from said processing.