Ball Scooping, Flicking, and Hitting Device

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention disclose apparatuses and a method for hitting a ball. According to an embodiment, the apparatus includes an elongated barrel having a longitudinal axis and opposite ends, as well as a pocket formed within a side of the elongated barrel at a first end of the opposite ends. According to another embodiment, the apparatus includes a fastener attached to a second end of the opposite ends. According to yet another embodiment, the method includes scooping a ball into the pocket while holding a second end of the elongated barrel and sufficiently swinging in an upward, circular path, thereby causing the ball to be released from the pocket and lobbed into the air. The method may further include swinging the elongated barrel in a horizontal, circular path while holding the second end, thereby causing the elongated barrel to hit the lobbed ball out of the air.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A ball hitting apparatus comprising:
 an elongated barrel having a longitudinal axis and opposite ends; and   a pocket formed within a side of the elongated barrel at a first end of the opposite ends.   
     
     
         2 . The ball hitting apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the pocket loosely contours to a ball. 
     
     
         3 . The ball hitting apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein a portion of the pocket forms a ramp that allows the ball to exit the pocket. 
     
     
         4 . The ball hitting apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the ramp is capable of lobbing the ball vertically into the air when the elongated barrel is held near a second end of the opposite ends and swung in an upward, circular path. 
     
     
         5 . The ball hitting apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the ramp has an exit trajectory of 90-150 degrees relative to the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         6 . The ball hitting apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein material is removed from the first end to form an angle that undermines the pocket. 
     
     
         7 . The ball hitting apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first end is angled to undermine the pocket at 90-150 degrees relative to the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         8 . The ball hitting apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the elongated barrel is capable of hitting a ball when held near a second end of the opposite ends and swung in a horizontal, circular path. 
     
     
         9 . The ball hitting apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a handle connected to the barrel at a second end of the opposite ends. 
     
     
         10 . The ball hitting apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the handle is connected to the barrel by a fastener. 
     
     
         11 . The ball hitting apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the handle telescopes into and out from the elongated barrel. 
     
     
         12 . The ball hitting apparatus of  claim 9 , further comprising a knob connected to the handle opposite the elongated barrel. 
     
     
         13 . The ball hitting apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the elongated barrel is pressurized. 
     
     
         14 . The ball hitting apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the elongated barrel is hollow. 
     
     
         15 . The ball hitting apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the pocket is mode of a mesh netting. 
     
     
         16 . The ball hitting apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the pocket is made of an elastic material. 
     
     
         17 . A ball hitting apparatus comprising:
 an elongated barrel having a longitudinal axis and opposite ends;   a pocket formed within a side of the elongated barrel near a first end of the opposite ends; and   a fastener attached to a second end of the opposite ends.   
     
     
         18 . The ball hitting apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the fastener fastens the elongated barrel to a barrel of a bat. 
     
     
         19 . The ball hitting apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the fastener is detachable from the elongated barrel, and wherein the fastener slides up a bat from a knob end to reattach to and fasten the elongated barrel to a barrel of the bat. 
     
     
         20 . A method for using a ball hitting apparatus comprising:
 selecting an elongated barrel having a longitudinal axis and opposite ends, the elongated barrel further having a pocket formed within a side of the elongated barrel at a first end of the opposite ends;   scooping a ball into the pocket while holding a second end of the elongated barrel;   sufficiently swinging the the elongated barrel in an upward, circular path while holding the second end of the elongated barrel, thereby causing the ball to be released from the pocket and lobbed into the air; and   swinging the elongated barrel in a horizontal, circular path while holding the second end of the elongated barrel, thereby causing the elongated barrel to hit the lobbed ball out of the air.