Baseball and softball training aid

Abstract

A batting training aid includes a base, a vertically-extending brace or leg supported by the base, and a plane attached to an upper end of the brace via a joint. The brace allows for adjustment of the height of the plane, while the joint between the plane and the brace allows the plane to roll, pitch, and/or yaw to mimic optimal swing planes for different pitch locations/angles and batter heights. The training aid can incorporate a batting tee for tee work and/or a resistive medium to approximate contact during dry swings. A guide bar can be provided above the plane to prevent a hitter from swinging down on the ball. Sensors can be incorporated into the training aid to measure one or more swing metrics, such as bat speed; data collected by the sensors can be transmitted to external devices such as smartphones, tablets, personal computers, and the like.

1 - 23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . A batting training aid, comprising:
 a stand including a base and a brace supported by and extending upwardly from the base; and   a planar batting surface attached to an upper end of the brace via a joint, wherein the joint permits the planar batting surface to rotate about a roll axis that extends along an expected direction of bat travel through a hitting zone.   
     
     
         25 . The batting training aid according to  claim 24 , wherein a height of the planar batting surface above the base is adjustable via the base. 
     
     
         26 . The batting training aid according to  claim 25 , wherein the brace comprises a four-bar linkage. 
     
     
         27 . The batting training aid according to  claim 24 , wherein the joint further permits the planar batting surface to rotate about a pitch axis perpendicular to the roll axis. 
     
     
         28 . The batting training aid according to  claim 24 , further comprising a batting tee extending above an upper surface of the planar batting surface. 
     
     
         29 . The batting training aid according to  claim 28 , wherein the batting tee is removably secured to the upper surface of the planar batting surface. 
     
     
         30 . The batting training aid according to  claim 28 , wherein the batting tee comprises an asymmetrical cup-shaped topper. 
     
     
         31 . The batting training aid according to  claim 24 , further comprising a guide bar positioned above and parallel to the planar batting surface. 
     
     
         32 . The batting training aid according to  claim 31 , wherein the guide bar is coupled to the batting training aid such that the guide bar can rotate about an axis extending vertically between the base and the planar batting surface. 
     
     
         33 . A batting training aid, comprising:
 a base;   a planar batting surface; and   a leg having an upper end connected to the planar batting surface and a lower end connected to the base, and wherein a vertical distance between the upper end of the leg and the lower end of the leg is adjustable; and   wherein the connection between the upper end of the leg and the planar batting surface permits the planar batting surface to rotate about a roll axis that extends along an expected direction of bat travel through a hitting zone.   
     
     
         34 . The batting training aid according to  claim 33 , further comprising a batting tee coupled to the planar batting surface. 
     
     
         35 . The batting training aid according to  claim 34 , wherein the batting tee comprises an asymmetrical, cup-shaped tee topper. 
     
     
         36 . The batting training aid according to  claim 34 , wherein the batting tee is rotatably coupled to the planar batting surface such that it can rotate at least 180 degrees about an axis that extends perpendicularly upward from the planar batting surface. 
     
     
         37 . The batting training aid according to  claim 33 , wherein the connection between the upper end of the leg and the planar batting surface permits the planar batting surface to rotate about at least one axis in addition to the roll axis. 
     
     
         38 . The batting training aid according to  claim 37 , wherein the at least one axis in addition to the roll axis comprises a pitch axis that extends perpendicular to the roll axis. 
     
     
         39 . The batting training aid according to  claim 33 , further comprising a guide bar positioned above and parallel to the planar batting surface. 
     
     
         40 . The batting training aid according to  claim 39 , wherein the guide bar is coupled to the batting training aid such that the guide bar can rotate about an axis extending vertically between the base and the planar batting surface. 
     
     
         41 . A batting training aid, comprising:
 a base;   a planar batting surface; and   a leg having an upper end connected to the planar batting surface via a joint and a lower end connected to the base, wherein a vertical distance between the upper end of the leg and the lower end of the leg is adjustable, and wherein the joint permits the planar batting surface to rotate about a roll axis that extends along an expected direction of bat travel through a hitting zone and to be securely positioned in a plurality of roll angles.   
     
     
         42 . The batting training aid according to  claim 41 , further comprising a guide bar positioned above and parallel to the planar batting surface. 
     
     
         43 . The batting training aid according to  claim 42 , wherein the guide bar is coupled to the batting training aid such that the guide bar can rotate about an axis extending vertically between the base and the planar batting surface.