Patent ID: 9220967
Filing Date: 2015-12-29
Classification: A63B,F41J

Abstract:
1. A method for enhancing tennis practice by providing a target and counter display on a tennis court having two horizontal playing surfaces each with a baseline, side lines and service line markings defining backcourt and service areas, and a net extending between said playing surfaces, the method comprising: placing a freely movable target mat horizontally on one of said tennis court playing surface areas defined within said markings, said target mat having a plurality of distinct target areas comprised of concentric circular areas which extend horizontally when so placed on said tennis court playing surface, each target mat area generating a respective corresponding electrical output signal when impacted by a tennis ball hit by a practicing player so as to descend into contact therewith; and locating an upright counter-display on another of said playing surfaces of said tennis court on the other side of said net with a vertical numeric display so as to be viewable by the practicing player on said other side; directing target respective electrical output signals to said counter display; generating numeric displays by said counter display, each responsive to signals from a respective distinct target area, and totaling and displaying the number of impacts of a descending ball with each respective target area in a single practice session of said practice player with different point values assigned to impacts with target areas with total points corresponding to said impacts displayed for said practice session and further providing a series of lights each associated with a respective distinct target area and illuminating a respective light in said series each time a ball impacts a corresponding distinct target area when descending onto a court surface.