Tennis Grip Training Device and Methods of Use

Abstract

Provided is a tennis and other racquet and paddle sport grip training device for use on the grip/handle of a tennis racquet, other racquet types or a paddle. Various forms of the device may be utilized for teaching and practicing the continental grip, the two-handed backhand grip, the one-handed backhand grip and the various forehand grips. The device includes at least one thumb heel plate for the thumb heel area of the dominant hand and the optional non-dominant hand (for the two-handed backhand grip), at least one recessed palm area for the dominant hand and optional non-dominant hand, and a hand divider ridge/plate/pad for the pinky finger heel area of the optional non-dominate hand and the area between the thumb and the index finger of the dominate hand. These features allow the player to more easily, comfortably, consistently, and accurately position his or her hand (s) on the racquet or paddle grip/handle for utilizing and practicing the proper grips for the range of strokes utilized for racquet and paddle sports.

1 . A tennis and other racquet and paddle sport training device for removably or permanently installing onto a grip/handle of a racquet or paddle for positioning a player's dominant hand on the grip/handle to teach or train the player one-handed strokes requiring different grips of the player's dominant hand on the grip/handle of the racquet or paddle, wherein the device comprises:
 i) an annular elongated member for positioning over a grip of a racquet or paddle handle including a top end and a bottom end and at least a top end opening,   ii) a contoured thumb heel plate or pad protrusion extending outward and diagonally downward starting from about one-third down to about two-thirds down from the top end of the device to the bottom end for positioning and supporting a thumb heel area of the player's dominate hand on the device,   iii) a diagonal or horizontal hand divider plate or pad protrusion located from about one quarter down to about half-way down from the top end of the device for positioning and supporting an area between the thumb and the index finger of the player's dominate hand on the device, and   iv) a recessed palm area for positioning and supporting the palma fascia area of the player's dominate hand on the device.   
     
     
         2 . The training device of  claim 1  further including a thumb groove or depression, an index finger groove or depression or a combination thereof for positioning and supporting the thumb and/or index finger of the player's dominate hand on the device. 
     
     
         3 . The training device of  claim 1  further including a middle finger groove or depression, a ring finger groove or depression, a pinky finger groove or depression or combinations thereof for positioning and supporting the middle finger, ringer finger and/or pinky finger of the player's dominate hand on the device. 
     
     
         4 . The training device of  claim 1 , wherein the annular elongated member is positioned over the grip of the racquet handle for teaching or training for teaching or training one-handed tennis strokes selected from the group consisting of the serve, the volley, the eastern one-handed backhand, the semi-western one-handed backhand, the continental forehand, the eastern forehand, the semi-western forehand, the western forehand, the soft semi-western forehand, the soft western forehand and the overhead. 
     
     
         5 . The training device of  claim 1 , wherein the annular elongated member for positioning over a grip of a racquet or paddle handle comprises a one piece sleeve for sliding over a butt end of the grip or handle of the racquet or paddle or two interlocking halves for positioning over and around the grip or handle of the racquet or paddle. 
     
     
         6 . The training device of  claim 5 , wherein the two interlocking halves include a slotted groove or recessed area proximate the top end of the device, a slotted groove or recessed area proximate the bottom end of the device or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The training device of  claim 6 , wherein the two interlocking halves with at least one slotted groove or recessed area are secured together with an adhesive tape, an interlocking hook and fastener strip or a rubber band positioned in the at least one slotted groove or recessed area. 
     
     
         8 . The training device of  claim 1 , wherein the annular elongated member comprises a cellulosic material or a polymeric material selected from the group consisting of polyester, polyurethane, polyamide, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, polylactic acid, polycarbonate, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, ethylene-propylene copolymer, ethylene-propylene-butene terpolymer, neoprene, and silicone based polymers. 
     
     
         9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . The training device of  claim 1 , wherein the racquet or paddle is selected from the group consisting of a tennis racquet, a squash racquet, a racquetball racquet, a pickleball paddle, a platform tennis paddle and a paddle tennis paddle. 
     
     
         13 . The training device of  claim 1 , wherein the other racquet and paddle sport are selected from the group consisting of squash, racquetball, pickleball, platform tennis and paddle tennis. 
     
     
         14 . A racquet or paddle including the training device of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         15 - 30 . (canceled) 
     
     
         31 . A continental grip training device for removably or permanently installing onto a grip/handle of a racquet or paddle for positioning a player's dominant hand on the grip/handle to teach or train the player the strokes associated with a continental grip, wherein the device comprises:
 i) an annular elongated member for positioning over a grip of a racquet or paddle handle including a top end and a bottom end and at least a top end opening,   ii) a contoured thumb heel plate or pad protrusion extending outward and diagonally downward from the device starting from a B8 bevel of the handle at about midway down from the top end of the device to a B1 bevel of the handle at the bottom end of the device for positioning and supporting a thumb heel area of the player's dominate hand on the device,   iii) a horizontal or diagonal plate or pad protrusion located about a third down from the top end of the device and extending outward and across B8, B1 and B2 bevels of the handle for positioning and supporting a palm area between the thumb and the index finger of the player's dominate hand on the device, and   iv) a recessed palm area for positioning and supporting a palma fascia area of the player's dominate hand on the device.   
     
     
         32 . The continental grip training device of  claim 31  further including a thumb groove or depression, an index finger groove or depression or a combination thereof for positioning and supporting the thumb and/or index finger of the player's dominate hand on the device. 
     
     
         33 . The continental grip training device of  claim 31  further including a middle finger groove or depression, a ring finger groove or depression, a pinky finger groove or depression or combinations thereof for positioning and supporting the middle finger, ringer finger and/or pinky finger of the player's dominate hand on the device. 
     
     
         34 . The continental grip training device of  claim 31 , wherein the annular elongated member for positioning over a grip of a racquet or paddle handle comprises a one piece sleeve for sliding over a butt end of the grip or handle of the racquet or paddle or two interlocking halves for positioning over and around the grip or handle of the racquet or paddle. 
     
     
         35 . The continental grip training device of  claim 34 , wherein the two interlocking halves include a slotted groove or recessed area proximate the top end of the device, a slotted groove or recessed area proximate the bottom end of the device or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         36 . The continental grip training device of  claim 35 , wherein the two interlocking halves with at least one slotted groove or recessed area are secured together with an adhesive tape, an interlocking hook and fastener strip or a rubber band positioned in the at least one slotted groove or recessed area. 
     
     
         37 . The continental grip training device of  claim 31 , wherein the annular elongated member comprises a cellulosic material or a polymeric material selected from the group consisting of polyester, polyurethane, polyamide, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, polylactic acid, polycarbonate, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, ethylene-propylene copolymer, ethylene-propylene-butene terpolymer, neoprene, and silicone based polymers. 
     
     
         38 . The continental grip training device of  claim 31 , wherein the racquet or paddle is selected from the group consisting of a tennis racquet, a squash racquet, a racquetball racquet, a pickleball paddle, a platform tennis paddle and a paddle tennis paddle. 
     
     
         39 . The continental grip training device of  claim 31 , wherein the other racquet and paddle sport are selected from the group consisting of squash, racquetball, pickleball, platform tennis and paddle tennis. 
     
     
         40 . (canceled) 
     
     
         41 . A two-handed backhand grip training device for removably or permanently installing onto a grip/handle of a racquet or paddle for positioning a player's bottom dominant hand and top non-dominant hand on the grip/handle to teach or train the player a two-handed backhand stroke, wherein the device comprises:
 i) an annular elongated member for positioning over a grip of a racquet or paddle handle including a top end and a bottom end and at least a top end opening,   ii) a first contoured thumb heel plate or pad protrusion extending outward and downwardly along a B1 bevel of the handle starting from proximate the top end of the device to about one-third down from the top end of the device for positioning and supporting a thumb heel area of the player's top non-dominate hand on the device,   iii) a second contoured thumb heel plate or pad protrusion extending outward and diagonally downward starting from about two-thirds down from the top end of the device at a B8 bevel of the handle to the bottom end of the device at the B1 bevel of the handle for positioning and supporting a thumb heel area of the player's bottom dominate hand on the device,   iv) a diagonal or horizontal hand divider plate or pad protrusion located about half-way down from the top end of the device and extending outward and across B8, B1 and B2 bevels of the handle for positioning and supporting a pinky finger heel area of the player's top non-dominate hand and an area between the thumb and the index finger of the player's bottom dominate hand on the device,   v) a first recessed palm area for positioning and supporting a palma fascia area of the player's top non-dominate hand on the device, and   vi) a second recessed palm area for positioning and supporting the palma fascia area of the player's bottom dominate hand on the device.   
     
     
         42 - 72 . (canceled)