Pitch training device

Abstract

A pitch training device for teaching proper finger placement for pitches includes a finger grip having a top side, a bottom side, and a peripheral wall extending between the top side and the bottom side. The bottom side is curved, such that the bottom side is complementary to the curvature of the outer surface of a pitching ball. The finger grip extends from the outer surface. The finger grip is positioned on the pitching ball such that the finger grip is configured to properly align the finger for the pitch when the finger is positioned along-side the raised structure. The finger grip is configured to facilitate the transfer of pressure from the finger into rotation of the pitching ball. An adhesive covers at least a portion of the bottom side, affixing the finger grip onto the outer surface.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A gripping mechanism for teaching pitching techniques comprising:
 a finger grip having a top side, a bottom side, and a peripheral wall, the peripheral wall being attached to and extending between the top side and the bottom side, the bottom side being curved, such that the bottom side is configured to complement a curvature of an outer surface of a pitching ball;   the finger grip extending from the outer surface of the pitching ball, wherein the finger grip is configured to position a finger of a user on the pitching ball for a pitch, the finger grip being positioned on the pitching ball such that the finger grip is configured to align the finger relative to a lace on the outer surface for the pitch, wherein the finger grip is configured to be positioned along-side the finger, wherein the finger grip is configured to facilitate transferring pressure from the finger on the finger grip into rotation of the pitching ball; and   an adhesive covering at least a portion of the bottom side, the adhesive affixing the finger grip onto the outer surface.   
     
     
         2 . The gripping mechanism of  claim 1 , the peripheral wall further comprising a first side and a second side, wherein at least one of the first side and the second side is concavely arcuate from the top side to the bottom side, and wherein the concavity of the peripheral wall is configured to align with the finger. 
     
     
         3 . The gripping mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein the finger grip is one of a plurality of finger grips including a first finger grip and a second finger grip. 
     
     
         4 . The gripping mechanism of  claim 3 , wherein the first finger grip is positioned along-side a thumb of the user and the second finger grip is positioned along-side a middle finger of the user, and wherein the first finger grip is spaced from the second finger grip. 
     
     
         5 . The gripping mechanism of  claim 1 , the finger grip comprising rubber or plastic. 
     
     
         6 . A system for teaching pitching techniques comprising:
 a pitching ball having an outer surface;   a lace being positioned on the outer surface;   a finger grip having a top side, a bottom side, and a peripheral wall, the peripheral wall being attached to and extending between the top side and the bottom side, the bottom side being curved, such that the bottom side is configured to complement a curvature of the outer surface;   the finger grip extending from the outer surface of the pitching ball, wherein the finger grip is configured to position a finger of a user on the pitching ball for a pitch, the finger grip being positioned on the pitching ball such that the finger grip is configured to align the finger relative to the lace, wherein the finger grip is configured to be positioned along-side the finger, wherein the finger grip is configured to facilitate transferring pressure from the finger on the finger grip into rotation of the pitching ball; and   an adhesive covering at least a portion of the bottom side, the adhesive affixing the finger grip onto the outer surface.   
     
     
         7 . The gripping mechanism of  claim 6 , the peripheral wall further comprising a first side and a second side, wherein at least one of the first side and the second side is concavely arcuate from the top side to the bottom side, and wherein the concavity of the peripheral wall is configured to align with the finger. 
     
     
         8 . The gripping mechanism of  claim 6 , wherein the finger grip is one of a plurality of finger grips including a first finger grip and a second finger grip. 
     
     
         9 . The gripping mechanism of  claim 8 , wherein the first finger grip is positioned along-side a thumb of the user and the second finger grip is positioned along-side a middle finger of the user, and wherein the first finger grip is spaced from the second finger grip. 
     
     
         10 . The gripping mechanism of  claim 6 , the finger grip comprising rubber or plastic. 
     
     
         11 . A gripping mechanism for teaching pitching techniques comprising:
 a finger grip having a top side, a bottom side, and a peripheral wall, the peripheral wall being attached to and extending between the top side and the bottom side, the bottom side being curved, such that the bottom side is complementary to a curvature of an outer surface of a pitching ball;   the peripheral wall having a first side and a second side, wherein at least one of the first side and the second side is concavely arcuate from the top side to the bottom side;   the finger grip extending from the outer surface of the pitching ball, wherein the finger grip is configured to position a finger of a user on the pitching ball for a pitch, the finger grip being positioned on the pitching ball such that the finger grip is configured to align the finger relative to a lace positioned on the outer surface, wherein the finger grip is configured to be positioned along-side the finger, wherein the finger grip is configured to facilitate transferring pressure from the finger on the finger grip into rotation of the pitching ball, wherein the concavity of the peripheral wall is configured to align with the finger;   the finger grip being one of a plurality of finger grips including:
 a first finger grip being positioned adjacent to a thumb of the user; 
 a second finger grip being positioned adjacent to a middle finger of the user; 
 wherein the first finger grip is spaced from the second finger grip; 
 an adhesive covering the bottom side. the adhesive affixing the finger grip onto the outer surface; and 
 the finger grip comprising rubber or plastic.