Wearable training device for pitching

Abstract

A movement assessment apparatus in the form of a wearable training apparatus for pitching is provided. The apparatus has a wearable form embodying a transducer device operatively associated with an engagement point along the external surface of the wearable form. A patch may externally cover and thus identify this engagement point. In use, so that when the wearable form is worn on the forearm below the elbow of a human wearer, wherein the patch is facing up and turned slightly inwards, the transducer device will produce a sound when compressed between the forearm and back side of the rib cage of the wearer. This intersection of the forearm and back side of the rib cage is indicative of proper pitching form.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of teaching underhand pitching of a softball, the method comprising:
 providing a wearable adapted to receive an arm of a human wearer; and   placing a wearable below an elbow of the human wearer, wherein the wearable has an engagement point facing up and slightly inwards, and   wherein the engagement point is operatively associated with a transducer configured to convert a force to an audible sound.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further attaching a visual indicium over the engagement point. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the visual indicium protrudes beyond an exterior surface of the wearable by up to approximately one-quarter of an inch. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the visual indicium is a patch. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the wearable is a wristband. 
     
     
         6 . A method of teaching underhand pitching of a softball, the method comprising:
 providing a wearable adapted to receive an arm of a human wearer, wherein the wearable has an engagement point, and wherein the engagement point is operatively associated with a transducer configured to convert a force to an audible sound; and   placing the wearable along the arm adjacent the associated elbow so that the engagement point is facing up and slightly inwards so that when the arm moves in a vertical plane through an underhand pitching motion the audible sound is produce.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the production of the audible sound is cause by contact of the engagement point against a back side of a rib cage of the human wearer. 
     
     
         8 . A device for training underhand pitching, the device comprising:
 a wearable adapted to receive an arm of a human wearer;   an engagement point along an exterior surface of the wearable; and   the engagement point is operatively associated with a transducer configured to convert a force to an audible sound.   
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 8 , further comprising a visual indicium covering the engagement point and the visual indicium protruding up to approximately a quarter inch therefrom. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the wearable is a wristband, wherein the visual indicium is a patch, and wherein the transducer is fully embedded in the wristband.