Basketball training aid

A basketball training aid designed to teach a user how to correctly grip, set up, and release a basketball. The device includes a material that wraps around the top (prone side) of the hand and bottom half of the underside (supine side) of the hand, without limiting wrist extension and flexion during a basketball shot. The glove includes a splint support material on top of the index, middle, and ring fingers, running from the middle of the digits to the bottom half of the top (prone side) of hand. The splint support material prevents premature finger flexion at the base of the fingers during the release of the shot, ensuring an open hand at follow through. Additionally, the design encourages proper finger separation and proper extension of wrist joint on set up, keeps the ball off the palm of the hand, and promotes proper position for dribbling a basketball effectively.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

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DESCRIPTION OF ATTACHED APPENDIX

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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a basketball hand-training device for improving a person's ability to place their hand in the correct shooting position, as well as finishing with proper follow through. In addition, the invention is used to teach proper hand positioning for maximum efficiency while dribbling the basketball.

The uses of basketball shooting and dribbling devices posted above are known to consist of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements. While these devices fulfill their objectives (some more than others), the device I will propose includes objectives which are not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art for basketball shooting trainers, either alone or in any combination thereof.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In the game of basketball, the primary skill that determines the success of a team or individual is the art of proper shooting. Coaches have researched their teaching methods extensively in order to find the correct way to properly shoot a basketball. From amateurs to professionals, using a device that teaches proper biomechanical release of a basketball will result in higher success and excitement for the game of basketball.

Biomechanical movement is directly related to the success of the basketball shot. In order to shoot a basketball for a high percentage, a player needs to use the correct body joints, and muscles attached, together as one unit. Incorporating the least amount of body joints (and muscles) will result in increased muscle memory retention and less chance for biomechanical errors. Past prior art devices unfortunately disregard this important concept, resulting in performance issues regarding the kinetic chain principle of shooting movements.

The most important biomechanical aspect for proper shooting is a proper release at the wrist joint, and the elimination of finger flexion at finger joints. The ability to maintain an open hand at the release of a shot is vital to proper shooting. This will negate the use of the 26 bones (and muscles attached) of a person's hands and fingers during the basketball shot, resulting in a dependence on shooting through the shoulder, elbow, and wrist joints. Negating the finger joints for proper shooting will result in; an increase in muscle memory for shooting success; proper front to back hinging at the wrist joint, without side to side wrist hinging which causes improper ball rotation; improved ball rotation because of proper front to back hinging at wrist joint, and; increased strength or range of a player's basketball shot because of reliance on muscles of larger body joints (elbow, shoulder, and wrist).

Proper hand positioning is another important skill for the proper basketball shot. The ability to stabilize the basketball in hand from start to finish, as the wrist joint hinges forward will result in an increase in performance. The invention proposed includes a device that will allow proper finger separation in order for players to control the basketball from the start of their shot to the finish of their release.

U.S. Pub. No. US 2007/0270248 A1 on Nov. 22, 2007 by Robert French claims to provide maximum separation of shooting fingers as well as to keep the ball off the palm of the hand. However, this device has limitations. The foam material located between the shooter's fingers is unnatural, raising the basketball one inch off the hand, causing the ball to be located too high on the fingers. This results in loss of power since the ball is not located on the finger pads, but rather on the top two digits of the fingers only. Furthermore, removal of the foam device leaves an absence of material to create the affect proposed.

It has been well documented by prior art that the ball should not remain on the palm of the hand in order to create fingertip control. U.S. Pub. No. US 2007/0270248 A1 on Nov. 22, 2007 by Robert French uses a foam material to create this effect. Though very true, once again, it will unnaturally raise the ball too high for reasons mentioned above. Ultimately, this device keeps the ball off the palm of the hand but does not address proper wrist extension during the set-up of a shot. Therefore, keeping the ball off the palm of the hand does not guarantee proper mechanics and efficiency of wrist flexion during the shot release.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,833,237 issued to Strug on Nov. 10, 1998 provides a basketball-gripping device to prevent the basketball ball on the palm of a user's hand. This is achieved by a trapezoid cross-section that straps around the bottom of the hand. The surface of the device is contoured to correspond to the shape of the basketball. This device has limitations in that it does not assist the player in positioning the hand correctly on the ball (with fingers spread apart), but only provides a means of keeping the ball off the palm of the hand. Furthermore, the device does not provide a solution for preventing wrist flexion on the release of a shot.

Another very important critical element to the basketball shot is proper wrist extension on the initial set up for the shot. The increased wrist extension before the release of the shot will result in increased finger control and shot power because of the higher velocity created by wrist joint flexion. Because of years of throwing baseballs as youngsters before shooting a basketball, players tend to shoot with limited wrist bend. My proposed invention improves wrist extension because of the design. The location and firmness of the splint support material above the fingers prevents flexion at the base of the finger joints. If a player tries to shoot a basketball without maximizing wrist bend at that joint, the fingertips will not rest on the basketball. Therefore, a shooter must extend his or her wrist further in order to have his or her index fingers come in contact with the ball. Thus, the device results in perfect hand positioning on every repetition.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,149,085 on Sep. 22, 1992 by Sanchez claims to develop proper positioning and release of the basketball. A strap is connected between two bands (one on wrist and the other around the middle of hand). When the bands stretch to a tension point as the wrist rotates forward, it triggers a sensing mechanism. However, the device is limited, since it does not include any design system to monitor the proper position of wrist extension before the release of the shot, or prevent wrist flexion on the follow through.

A variety of prior art claim to improve a player's ball-handling by keeping the ball away from the palm of their hand for more finger tip control. Although very true, their devices fail to comply with a very effective biomechanical principle of dribbling. While dribbling, one should be able to dribble at high speeds, by repetitively flexing and extending at the wrist joint. However, incorporating the wrist action with the flexion and extension at the base of the finger joints, results in loss of speed and increases in injuries (finger jams). To increase your efficiency and speed of dribbling, a player needs to maintain finger extension through the entire movement. Because of the proposed design system, the glove does not allow finger flexion, while spreading the fingers out properly to allow maximum efficiency when dribbling a basketball.

In reviewing all that has been previously proposed, there appears to be a need for a significantly improved product, which more effectively positions the user in the most advantageous biomechanical position through the entire shot process. This will result in greater success for users, as well as teaching principles for coaches, trainers, and parents.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary objective of the invention is to teach proper shooting and ball-handling techniques.

Another objective of the invention is to provide a training aid to reinforce proper biomechanical release techniques on the basketball shot. This includes a device that prevents premature flexion of the base of finger joints. The device will allow the player to keep his or her finger joints extended, which in turn will allow proper kinetic chain release of the shot, while preventing improper hinging of the wrist joint. Furthermore, because the device will always keep the fingers extended, it will greatly increase a player's ball-handling efficiency and form.

A further objective of the invention is to provide ideal finger separation, which will allow the ball to rest on the finger pads and fingertips correctly while remaining in a balanced position on the shot set up. This will also allow maximum balance while gripping a basketball during shot set up.

Another objective of the invention is to position the ball properly on the hand without resting on the palm, without having to add a pad or object that is unnatural to the hand.

Furthermore, another objective is to design the unit to promote proper wrist extension during the set up of the shot. This will greatly increase the power and form of the players who use the device. When wearing the device, one will not be able to grip the basketball properly without maximum extension of the wrist joint. When the glove is being worn and the wrist isn't extended fully, the index finger will not be able to rest on the basketball. Extending the wrist further into proper position will allow the index finger to rest underneath the ball.

Once the wearer has developed the appropriate positioning habits, the shooting aid may be removed, the basketball will feel easier to grip or otherwise handle with the hand that previously had been wearing the device.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to the drawings,FIG. 1shows the top view of a player wearing the glove31. The glove covers the top of the hand, from the top of the index finger11, middle12, and ring finger13, to the bottom22of the wrist10. The material can be neoprene, vinyl, naugahyde, or leather applications. The material on the top of the hand, is shaped to contour the correct finger separation position for the fingers111213during the shot.

FIG. 2shows the lay out version of the device. This includes a space to insert the thumb and palm16, allowing the strap14to wrap around the underside of the hand. After placing the glove31on top of the hand and inserting the thumb16, the strap will wrap around the bottom of hand20, then securely and conventionally fastens to the top of the glove with hook and loop material17. The bottom edge of the device will wrap around the bottom side of palm19just above the wrist joint10. The outer material of the glove31is connected at a point15between the thumb slot16and index finger11.

FIG. 3shows the bottom view of a worn device. The material runs below the finger pads of the hand26and toward the bottom of the hand19, around the thumb and palm at the point of the wrist10. The glove material is connected at the inside of the hand between the thumb and index finger15, allowing complete movement of the thumb joint16. Finger straps18for the fingers111213, consist of a stretchable material located between the digits of the fingers. This material18can be braided elastic, knitted elastic, hook and loop, neoprene, vinyl, naugahyde, or leather applications. The function of the straps18is to anchor the glove to the top of the hand which will prevent finger flexion at release of the shot.

FIG. 4shows the undercarriage of the glove21consisting of a material that can be neoprene, vinyl, hook and loop, naugahyde, cordura, or leather applications. The undercarriage21houses the splint support material24. The splint support material24is wedged tightly between the undercarriage21and top of the glove material. Therefore, the material for the top of the glove is connected to the undercarriage21. The splint support material can include wood, stainless steel, aluminum, plastic, rubber, or metals.

The angle of the splint support material24provides the separation between fingers that is crucial to proper shooting. The splint support material24, also prevents finger flexion at the base28of fingers111213on the follow through of the shot. This is because the splint material runs from the top of fingers111213toward the bottom of hand22. The strap14wraps around the bottom of the hand and connects to the top of the hand17(FIG. 2) by hook and loop fastening material27.

FIG. 5shows the side view of a worn glove on the right hand. The bottom edge of glove19wraps around the top part of the thumb and the base of the palm without hindering the wrist10. Stretchable material18wraps around the digits of the fingers111213, in order to prevent finger flexion at the base of the fingers28. The stretchable material18attaches to the undercarriage21of the glove, as well as the material at the top of the glove31.

FIG. 6shows the incorrect set up form for a basketball shot. The wrist10has insufficient extension, resulting in loss of power by the shooter. If the wrist10is not sufficiently extended in proper position, the device will cause the index finger11to be raised off the ball30since the finger splints24prevents improper finger flexion. With the ball30improperly raised off the index finger11, the ball30will incorrectly rest on the palm29. Unlike prior art, the design of the splint material24is made in such a way that it not only prevents wrist flexion on the shot release, but also promotes perfect wrist extension on every shot set up.FIG. 7shows the correct wrist10extension angle, which forces the index finger11to be in contact with the ball30. In turn, the ball will be resting on the finger pads28and fingertips111213and not on the palm29.

FIG. 8shows the correct follow through of the basketball shot. The wrist10finishes in full flexion, with an open hand and fingers111213held in extension, pointing directly toward the basketball hoop. The flexible material18prevents flexion of the fingers111213at the base of hand28, in order to create the proper finish for the basketball shot. The bottom part of the glove wraps around the bottom side of thumb19, but is curved upward on the bottom part of the top of hand22. This is designed intentionally as to not hinder wrist flexion or extension on the shot release.