Multi-ball device for pitching training

Abstract

Described herein are ball devices that can be used for training athletes how to properly throw, and more specifically, that can be used to train softball pitchers. The ball devices described here, referred to as multi-balls, include two or more balls (e.g., softballs and/or baseballs): a primary ball, and one or more secondary balls. The secondary ball(s) can be attached to the primary ball in any number of different arrangements. The secondary ball(s) can be detachable from and re-attachable to the primary ball to allow for customization. The attachability/detachability can be achieved using any number of mechanisms, such as but not limited to a threaded connection. Multi-balls according to the present disclosure provide improvement over prior art double balls, including better customization, better weight distribution, better suitability for visual pitch analysis, and better suitability for less experienced/younger/smaller pitchers, among other improved capabilities.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A multi-ball device, comprising:
 a primary ball; and   first and second secondary balls attached to said primary ball.   
     
     
         2 . The multi-ball device of  claim 1 , wherein said two secondary balls are attached on opposite sides of said primary ball. 
     
     
         3 . The multi-ball device of  claim 2 , wherein said secondary balls are smaller than said primary ball. 
     
     
         4 . The multi-ball device of  claim 1 , further comprising third and fourth secondary balls attached to said primary ball. 
     
     
         5 . The multi-ball device of  claim 4 , wherein said secondary balls are arranged in a plane at quadrants of said primary ball. 
     
     
         6 . The multi-ball of  claim 1 , wherein said secondary balls are detachable from said primary ball. 
     
     
         7 . The multi-ball of  claim 6 , wherein said first and second secondary balls are replaceable on said primary ball with third and fourth secondary balls. 
     
     
         8 . The multi-ball of  claim 1 , wherein said multi-ball is symmetric. 
     
     
         9 . The multi-ball of  claim 1 , wherein said multi-ball is asymmetric. 
     
     
         10 . A multi-ball device, comprising:
 a primary ball; and   one or more secondary balls detachably attached to said primary ball.   
     
     
         11 . The multi-ball device of  claim 10 , comprising a plurality of said secondary balls. 
     
     
         12 . The multi-ball device of  claim 10 , wherein each of said one or more secondary balls is attached to said primary ball by a threaded connector. 
     
     
         13 . The multi-ball device of  claim 10 , wherein said primary ball comprises an attachment aperture for each of said one or more secondary balls. 
     
     
         14 . The multi-ball device of  claim 13 , wherein each of said attachment apertures is a threaded aperture. 
     
     
         15 . The multi-ball device of  claim 13 , wherein each of said secondary balls comprises a connector for connection to a respective aperture of said primary ball. 
     
     
         16 . The multi-ball device  claim 15 , wherein each of said attachment apertures is a threaded aperture, and wherein each of said connectors is a threaded connector. 
     
     
         17 . The multi-ball device of  claim 10 , wherein said primary ball comprises a symmetric arrangement of apertures for connection to said one or more secondary balls. 
     
     
         18 . A method, comprising:
 removing a first secondary ball from a primary ball; and   connecting a second secondary ball to said primary ball in the place of said first secondary ball;   wherein said second secondary ball is a different size than said first secondary ball.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein said connection is a threaded connection. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein said threaded connection comprises a threaded connector of said secondary ball and an attachment aperture of said primary ball.