Patent ID: 9033344
Filing Date: 2015-05-19
Classification: A63F

Abstract:
1. An apparatus, comprising: a ball striker mechanism to control a ball striker in a three-dimensional space, wherein the ball striker mechanism has a first handle and a second handle to impart a first control, a second control, and a third control, wherein the ball striker has a bat to hit a ball thrown toward the ball striker, wherein the ball is thrown from a ball launcher mechanism above a surface of a playing field for a significant portion of a trajectory, wherein the first control is configured to rotate the ball striker about a vertical axis using the first handle, wherein the second control is configured to adjust a lateral position of the ball striker by laterally sliding the ball striker mechanism using either the first handle or the second handle, the lateral position of the ball striker being substantially perpendicular to the trajectory of the ball, and wherein the third control is configured to swing the bat to hit the ball using the second handle.