Basketball practice aid

A brace for training basketball players has a base for fitting over an arm of a user. Either the upperarm or forearm of one arm of a user is referred to the "base member," the remaining member being the "moving member," regardless of which member actually moves. A yoke extends away from the base, forming a cradle for receiving the moving member. The yoke restrains the moving member from closing against the base member at less than a certain angle. The yoke also urges the moving member and base member into a predetermined relative rotation with respect to one another. A band attaches the base to the base member. The band may be a flexible, non-extensible strap having fasteners at the ends for opening, closing and adjusting the strap. A hook-and-loop fastener permits adjustment of a single, wide strap along the length of the base. An adjustment member may be provided for adjusting the position of the yoke relative to the base.

BACKGROUND 
1. The Field of the Invention 
This invention relates to athletic training equipment and, more 
particularly, to novel systems and methods for use in basketball shooting 
practice. 
2. The Background Art 
Basketball is a common sport among youths and adults alike. Most amateur 
athletes (basketball players) develop and practice their shooting 
techniques without a coach. Like sandlot baseball, basketball is often 
played with a minimum of equipment, no officiating, no coaching and a 
makeshift court. Basketball is often played on a driveway or in a 
schoolyard. Basketball may be played as a solo practice event or 
one-on-one between friends. Informal teams may form if enough players are 
present. Individuals learn how to shoot a basketball by watching friends. 
Sometimes, questions or comments may be exchanged. However, knowledge and 
skill are limited. Information exchanged or techniques observed are often 
erroneous. Thus, any skills developed in reliance on informal play are 
questionable. Practice of those skills may simply solidify poor 
techniques. 
Some players have a coach accessible. Basketball teams are typically 
coached at junior and senior high schools. However even there, a coach 
cannot average more than a few minutes per day in individual instruction 
with a player. Moreover, a coach has little opportunity to carefully 
observe an individual. Seldom will a coach see a player take the same shot 
numerous times in succession. Individual players also practice alone, but 
spend little practice time being observed by a coach. College and 
professional teams alone have coaches who can spend time observing and 
correcting each player. 
Players need knowledge of what to do. They need to know proper techniques. 
They also need some way to know whether they are executing the techniques 
properly during practice. Finally, players need a reminder with each shot, 
until the proper technique, properly executed is a habit. 
Practicing to aquire a skill is most effective if a proper technique is 
properly executed numerous times. Among other things, practice strengthens 
required or useful muscles. Practice also creates control. However, 
practicing a wrong technique or executing a technique improperly teaches 
wrong technique. Bad practice may be worse than no practice. Poor practice 
limits a player's ability to perform or to improve in any sport or 
activity. 
Practice should employ proper technique for each shot. Proper technique 
should be the only technique practiced. The proper technique should be 
executed properly every time. The technique should be repeated numerous 
times. A youth aspiring to play collegiate or professional basketball 
should shoot approximately 300 shots per day. Those shots should be done 
with proper technique, properly executed, until the technique is habit, 
even reflex. Control is a direct result of this repeated, identical, 
correct, habitual positioning and movement of body members. 
Muscles are also developed with practice. Repetitions or "reps" are part of 
any strength training. Proper strength comes from repeating a motion 
against some resistance, such as a weight, or the body's weight. Muscles 
should be properly "loaded." That, is they should encounter the proper 
resistance forces. If additional loading is added, it must be carefully 
directed to develop muscles in proper balance. A proper balance of the 
strengths of cooperating muscles comes from repeating the motions 
associated with a desired skill. 
A proper range of motion comes from each body member traversing its full 
path of motion associated with the desired skill. Motions by a body member 
are more likely to be correctly executed if begun from a proper position. 
However, young players and untrained participants may fail to practice 
proper techniques such as positioning and motion, moreover, they are 
unlikely to know what they are. Therefore, such individuals will lack both 
the positioning of the arms, hands and shoulder complex. They will lack 
muscular development required to shoot a basketball forcefully and in a 
proper direction required to make a goal shot. 
"Neuromuscular memory" is an expression used to describe the development of 
habits and muscles with practice. It is the sum of habitual patterns that 
become part of any player's technique and conditioning after frequent and 
numerous repetitions of motions. Thus, neuromuscular memory is a 
combination of balanced muscular strength, range of motion and muscular 
control. It is developed by numerous, frequent repetitions of the physical 
positioning and motion associated with a properly executed technique for 
an athletic skill. 
No reliable method is available without professional coaching to provide 
the necessary practice of proper techniques. The individual without a 
coach relies only on happenstance to learn and practice proper techniques. 
BRIEF SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
In view of the foregoing, it is a primary object of the present invention 
to teach a basketball player the proper positions and motions of arms, 
hands and shoulders when shooting a basketball. Another object is to 
remind the participants constantly and in a consistent fashion of those 
necessary positions and motions during recreation, individual practice, 
team practice and games. 
Another object is to urge proper positioning and motion with every shot. 
One object of the invention is to position the "throwing hand" of a 
basketball player properly before a shot. Another object is to position 
the hand, associated forearm, and upperarm in proper relationship to one 
another for executing a shot properly. Another object is to urge a player 
to lift the upper arm and extend the forearm away from the upperarm. 
Another object is to urge the player to rotate the forearm with respect to 
the upperarm to position the hand and forearm above and forward of the 
respective shoulder. Another object is to position the arm of a player to 
control subsequent motion and follow-through. 
Another object is to provide a safe, simple method and apparatus useful in 
all types of basketball practice environments. Another object is to 
provide an apparatus organic to (completely self contained with) the user. 
Other related objects are to minimize the complexity of the apparatus, to 
avoid bulky hardware, and to avoid requiring any fixed exercise stations. 
When shooting a basketball, arm and hand positions at the beginning of a 
shot are critical. Initial positions and the physical limitations of body 
members effectively direct subsequent motions. Young players often shoot a 
basketball with two hands, or "throw" it with a motion similar to a "shot 
put." In a shot put, the hand moves from the shoulder and is extended the 
length of the arm. The hand and shoulder are together when the upperarm 
and forearm are hinged closed from the elbow. Usually, as the upperarm and 
forearm open, the shot is released. 
By contrast, in basketball, the "throwing hand" should be positioned 
directly above the shoulder and higher than the head. The upperarm and 
forearm should not be closed together. Neither the upperarm nor the 
forearm should cross in front of the face of a shooting player. The hand 
should swing in a long arc on the forearm, the forearm pivoting about the 
elbow. Before a shot, the elbow should be displaced and moved forward of 
the head. That is, the elbow should be positioned above and in front of 
the shoulder. The upperarm is elevated during most of the motion of the 
forearm. Unfortunately, many players do not ever learn this positioning 
correctly. They do not repeat this positioning and motion in practice. 
They have no way of assessing their own performance of the correct 
positioning and motions. 
A feature of an apparatus consistent with the foregoing objects is a brace 
having a base securable to an arm of a user or player. A yoke attached to 
one end of the base extends away from the base. The yoke may be fixedly 
attached or movably attached to the base. During use, the yoke and base 
remain in fixed relation to one another. 
The yoke orients the forearm of the user with respect to an associated 
upperarm of the user. The yoke controls both relative closure, relative 
rotation, and extension of the forearm and the upperarm of the arm used 
for shooting. The yoke restrains the forearm from closing toward the 
upperarm beyond a predetermined angle. The yoke also urges the forearm 
into the proper rotational position with respect to the upperarm. The yoke 
also orients the shoulder complex to the proper angle. 
The base may be configured to be secured to either the forearm or the 
upperarm (first member) of the arm of a user. As the forearm closes toward 
the upperarm, the yoke receives the second member (either upperarm or 
forearm) to which the base is not attached. 
The yoke thus urges the second member to stop at a predetermined angle in 
the plane formed by a centerline through the forearm and a centerline 
through the upperarm. The yoke also urges a rotation of the plane, by 
urging rotation of the forearm to a predetermined position with respect to 
the upper arm. 
The base and yoke may be fabricated separately and fastened together. An 
adjustable link may be interposed between the base and yoke for adjusting 
their relative positions including relative angles. Alternatively, they 
may be cast or molded monolithically. 
A strap may be used to secure the base to the arm of the user. The strap 
may be configured with ends which may be selectively separated and 
attached with a fastener. A hook-and-loop fastener may be used to attach 
the ends at different positions, orientations and lengths to fit the arm 
of a user. Buckles, or "D-rings" with straps, neoprene tensioners, ratchet 
clips, terry bands/straps may also be incorporated. 
Advantages of the apparatus include gauging for a user the correct 
positioning of the shooting hand, with its associated forearm, upperarm 
and shoulder. Another advantage is repeatability of the practiced 
positioning and motions of a user. Another advantage resulting from the 
foregoing is feedback to a user immediately with each shot. Another 
advantage is the provision of virtually perfect solo practice without a 
coach. 
Another advantage is increased leverage of a basketball against the muscles 
in the arm and shoulder. A related advantage is creation of a proper 
length of the stroke of the hand of a user during a shot. Another related 
advantage is strengthening muscles due to the increased leverage. Another 
advantage is physiological or psychological "motor memory" occurring. 
Moreover, another advantage over strength training is that all muscles 
used in the body during a shot are exercised in proper relationship, being 
exposed to the proper forces and moving through the proper range of 
motion, increasing performance and theoretically avoiding muscular/boney 
damage from improper, repetitive movement.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
It will be readily understood that the components of the present invention, 
as generally described and illustrated in the Figures herein, could be 
arranged and designed in a wide variety of different configurations. Thus, 
the following more detailed description of the embodiments of the system 
and method of the present invention, as represented in FIGS. 1 through 24, 
is not intended to limit the scope of the invention, as claimed, but it is 
merely representative of the presently preferred embodiments of the 
invention. 
The presently preferred embodiments of the invention will be best 
understood by reference to the drawings, wherein like parts are designated 
by like numerals throughout. 
The apparatus is best understood by reference to FIGS. 1-23 and 
particularly to FIGS. 1-15. The apparatus 10, also referred to as a brace 
10, is made to have a base 12 securable on an arm of a user. A yoke 14 
extends away from the base 12 for orienting a forearm of the user with 
respect to an associated upperarm of the user. A band 16 or other 
attachment means suitable for wrapping around the arm of a user is 
attached over or otherwise to the base 12 for securing the base to the arm 
of the user. The apparatus may include a pad 18 fitting between the base 
12 and the arm of the user, and a pad 20 for absorbing impacts of the 
member (forearm or upper arm) received into the yoke. The pad 20 is 
preferably a resilient pad having a thickness, stiffness, and energy 
absorption selected to absorb an impact of the member of the arm of the 
user. 
The base 12 has a toe 22 and a heel 24. A bicep pocket 26 is formed 
therebetween along the inside surface 54 of the wall 30 of the base 12. 
Hypothetically, the bicep pocket 26 has a centerplane 27 passing 
vertically through it, for reference. The base 12 is curved to fit around 
a portion of a member (upperarm or forearm) of an arm of a user. The base 
12 is connected to the yoke 14 (also curved to receive another member of 
the same arm of a user) by the joint 28, or dihedral joint 28. The length 
32, width 34, and depth 35 of the base are selected to provide comfortable 
bearing area and to prevent sliding or rotation of the base 12 on the arm 
of the user. The pad 18 may be formed of a suitable material to achieve 
these effects. For example open-cell polymer foam, such as polyurethane is 
suitable, as is a combination of closed cell polymer foam lined with a 
fabric of cotton. 
The depth 35 and thickness 36 are selected to achieve structural strength. 
The resulting contact angle 38 is defined by the width 34, depth 35 and 
the radius 40 from the centerline 39. A suitable contact angle is from 10 
to 180 degrees with the range of 90 to 130 degrees preferred. A 120 degree 
contact angle 38 is suitable. 
The edge 42 may be treated at any or all of its locations to prevent 
chafing or scraping against the skin of a user. Suitable treatments may 
include, for example, the addition of a roll 44, bead 45, flare 16 as 
shown in FIGS. 12-14. A combination of the roll 44, bead 45 and flare 16 
may be used at various locations, and sometimes at the same location along 
the edge 42. 
The vents 50 (See FIG. 7) may be formed to pass in a radial direction 51 
through the base. The vents 50 may be extended to open (render 
discontinuous) the edge 42, forming fingers 52. The fingers 52 are 
preferably stiff, but flexible. The fingers allow an impact against the 
yoke 14, absorbing the impact by flexing. Because the fingers 52 can bend 
in the radial direction 51 as well as flex apart in the circumferential 
direction 49, the force exerted by the edge 42 of the toe 22 on the arm of 
a user is reduced in the embodiment of FIG. 9. 
A band 18, such as a strap 102 may be wrapped or fastened about the outer 
surface 56 to extend in a circumferential direction 49. The band 18 
secures the base to the arm of a user. The band 18 should also limit the 
separation distance 57 between the fingers 52. For example, the strap 102 
of FIG. 11 may be connected or made to have a suitable restraint against 
excessive opening of the separation distance 57 during flexure of the 
fingers 52. 
The base 12 need not have a bicep pocket 26. The base 12 can be configured 
to fit over the forearm of a user. In this embodiment, upon closure of the 
forearm toward the upper arm, the yoke 14 receives the upperarm. Thus, 
whether the base 12 is placed on the upperarm or forearm, the yoke 14 
serves to orient the forearm with respect to the upperarm upon an attempt 
at closure, movement of the wrist toward the shoulder. The base member is 
the forearm or upperarm to which the base 12 is attached. The moving 
member is the remaining member (upperarm or forearm) that is received into 
the yoke 14. 
The yoke 14 increases leverage on the moving member with the height 70 of 
the wall 68 forming the cradle 66 in the yoke 14. The height 70 is 
selected to optimize the leverage of the yoke 70 on the moving member 
while minimizing bulk. Safety and comfort also figure in the selection of 
the height 70. The yoke 14 and base 12 need not meet at a dihedral joint 
28. However, the dihedral joint 28 makes possible a strong, light yoke 14. 
The yoke may be made of a flexible material, such as high density 
polyurethane foam, that will collapse, bend or give. The yoke then will 
give in a forward longitudinal direction 53A upon impact, but resist a 
force in a backward longitudinal direction 53B. (See FIGS. 1 and 15.) The 
yoke may have a width 72, thickness 74, wrap angle 76, radius 78, and 
depth 82 selected to permit collapse toward the center of curvature 79. 
The wrap angle 76 may be from 5 to 180 degrees, depending on coverage of 
the arm of a user, and the radius 78. In the embodiment of FIG. 10, the 
radius may be considered that of any arm that would fit into the yoke 14 A 
wrap angle is preferably from about 70 degrees to about 130 degrees. The 
pad 20 need not cover the entire wrap angle but may cover approximately 
the center third of the wrap angle 76. Alternatively, the pad 20 may be 
positioned and sized to cover only a third of the inside surface 94 of the 
yoke 14. The extensive, remaining inside surface 94 beside the pad 20 is 
preferably smooth and slippery to form a guide and to prevent chafing as 
the arm (moving member) of the user is urged into alignment. 
A center of curvature 79 need not be a single point, nor a single line in 
the radial direction 51. Any point on the yoke 14 may have its own center 
of curvature 79. The cradle 66 need not be formed as a right circular 
cylinder. The cradle 66 portion of the yoke 14, between the head 62 and 
the knee 64, may be formed to meet individual needs or skill levels. for 
example, the relative height 70, width 72, wrap angle 76 and radius 78 can 
be selected for a player's size, skill, and comfort. 
The base 12 and yoke 14 meet to form a stop angle 80, and a sweep angle 83, 
defined by a yoke centerline 81 and a base centerline 39. The base 
centerline 39 corresponds (is aligned with, oriented similarly to) the 
base member, and the yoke centerline 81 similarly corresponds to the 
moveable member. 
The sweep angle 83 may be thought of as approximately the angle of rotation 
of the forearm about the upperarm, with respect to the bicep pocket 26 in 
the base 12. The sweep angle 83 may be from about negative 15 to about 
positive 45 degrees, depending on a user's physical development. 
The sweep angle 83 may also be thought of as the angle made by a yoke 
centerline 81 with respect to the base 12, and specifically the 
centerplane 27 of the bicep pocket 26. One embodiment of the apparatus may 
be made with a sweep angle of zero degrees. The position of the base 12 in 
the circumferential direction 49 is adjustable around the arm, thus, the 
sweep angle 83 of zero degrees. 
The base 10 is simply rotated to the proper position (typically slightly 
outboard of the bicep) before being attached on the upper arm. The user 
may set the base 12 on one upper arm and rotate the associated forearm 
until the wrist, elbow and shoulder intersect approximately the same 
vertical plane. Then, the user closes the forearm toward the shoulder 
until the forearm rests against the inside surface 94 of the cradle 66 of 
the yoke 14. Then the user secures the base 12 against the upper arm with 
the strap 102. 
As with the base 12, a flare 84, bead 85 (not shown) similar to the bead 
45, or roll 86 can be formed at the edge 88 of the yoke 14. (See FIGS. 
11-15.) These treatments of the edge 88 promote safety and comfort of the 
user, while improving strength and stiffness of the yoke 14. 
In one presently preferred embodiment, the sides 90A, 90B may be 
advantageously formed in one preferred embodiment of a material selected 
to be smooth and slippery. This arrangement reduces chafing or other 
discomfort, although the sides are not ideally contacted by a user. That 
is, a user ideally aligns the forearm to be received into the pocket 92. 
The forearm then comes to rest against the inside surface 94 of the cradle 
66 or a pad 20 secured thereto. If a user does not rotate the forearm of 
the shooting hand into a proper position, the forearm will be urged toward 
the centerline 81 by the sides 90A, 90B. A pad 20 is used to absorb the 
impact of closure of the arm of a user against the yoke 14. 
The bands 16 as seen in FIGS. 1, 11, 16-21, and 23 may be configured as a 
strap 102 or straps 102. The band 16 may be closed on itself. The band 16 
may form a continuous loop. Such a band 16 would preferably be elastically 
extendible for positioning around an arm of a user. The strap 102 is 
preferably a single piece of material such as a durable, strong, 
inextensible fabric. Nylon webbing is a suitable material and is available 
in a variety weaves. The strap 102 is preferably open ended as illustrated 
in FIG. 11. The fasteners 104 attached to the strap 102 are preferably a 
hook pad 106A and a loop pad 106B forming a hook-and-loop type of fastener 
104. 
Alternate fasteners 104 are less preferred, but may be made serviceable and 
adjustable. Examples of such fasteners 104 contemplated include buckles on 
straps, hook and eye fasteners, laces through eyelets, snaps, zippers, 
double "D"-rings on straps, multiple straps having hook-and-loop pads 
(panels) for attaching at one end, ratcheting straps, clips, levers, and 
buttons. 
Connection of the hook pad (panel) 106A to the loop pad (panel) 106B need 
not form the strap 102 into a cylinder. The two edges 107, 108 need not 
remain parallel. That is the ends 107A, 108A of edges 107, and 108, 
respectively, need not align with the two ends 107B, 108B. Since the upper 
arm (and forearm, in some embodiments of the apparatus) is not of a 
constant diameter, either edge 107 or 108 will probably traverse a longer 
path around the arm of a user. Thus, the fastener 104 is preferably one 
that will enable this important adjustability to accommodate the shape of 
the arm of a user. 
Moreover, a larger width 112 creates a larger load bearing area against the 
arm of a user. An optional elastic section 110 may be inserted for 
relieving stress due to impacts of other players against a user. The 
result of either of these options is lower stress (continuous and impact 
derived, respectively) on the skin, muscle, tendons, bones and other 
components of the arm of a user. Thus the width 112 of a preferred strap 
102 covers a substantial fraction of the length 32 of the base 12. A short 
elastic section 110 may be comprised of an elastic material that is 
relatively stiff. Relatively stiff means here that the size and stiffness 
is such that only an impact or other load larger than would normally be 
comfortable for a user will elongate the elastic section 110. 
A pad 18 is optional. The pad 18 may be selected for comfort and for 
holding securely against the skin of an active user. A suitable embodiment 
may include a pad 18 having a width 122 that almost covers the inside 
surface 54 of the base 12. However the thickness 124 may be very thin, 
from a few thousandths of an inch to about an eighth of an inch is 
preferred. A binding layer 126 may be a separate layer of permanent or 
removable adhesive, a double-sided adhesive tape, or a solvent film. 
However, a pad may be removably attached also. 
Removable adhesive can be useful for attaching a shim 128. A shim 128 may 
be a pad 18 sized to decrease the inside radius 40 of the base. Thus, a 
shim 128 may be used to size a standard brace 10 or apparatus 10 for a 
smaller user. A brace 10 may also be used for different players from time 
to time by adding a shim 128. 
The pad 20 may be sized to have a width 142 that does not cover the inside 
surface 94 of the yoke 14. The width 122 is preferably about a half to 
about a third of the width 72 of the yoke 14. That is, the pad 20 operates 
by virtue of its selected thickness 144, energy absorption and resilience 
to cushion impacts from the arm of a user coming to rest in the yoke 14. 
By contrast, the sides 90A, 90B may benefit the user by being smooth, 
slippery and exposed to prevent wear or chafing against the skin. A 
binding layer 146 operates similarly to the binding layer 126 discussed. 
Also, a pad 20 could be a shim 148 (not shown) sized as the shim 128 to 
accommodate the size or orientation (stop angle 80 or sweep angle 83) of 
the member received in the yoke. 
Suitable materials for the apparatus 10 include metals, polymeric, and 
elastomeric materials. Combinations of materials are contemplated also. 
For example styrene compounds, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), 
polyvinyl chloride (PVC), vinyl, nylon, polyurethane, olefinics such as 
polyethylene and polypropylene, polycarbonate, natural and synthetic 
elastomers such as rubber, and metals including aluminum, iron, and steel. 
Various combinations of these materials can also be used. Also, reinforced 
resins may form a matrix around fibers of KEVLAR.TM., polyethylene, 
graphite, glass, steel or aluminum for improving tensile strength. 
Likewise, a polymer selected may be expanded, "foamed," to reduce weight, 
improve safety, increase cross section for stiffness or strength, to 
soften the material, promote rounded edges, or to reduce cost. 
The embodiments of FIGS. 16-23 operate similarly to the embodiments of 
FIGS. 1-15. However The embodiments of FIGS. 16-23 are more readily 
adaptable to molding with comparatively soft, foamed polymers. Suitable 
materials would include styrofoam, low density polyurethane, low density 
polyethylene and similarly performing materials. The large, block-like 
shape of the brace 10 FIG. 16 is readily adaptable to use by children in 
primary schools. 
Multiple straps 102 through the base 12 or a single wide strap over the 
base 12 may be suitable. The slots 48 may be formed in the base, 
traversing in a circumferential direction 49 around the arm to which a 
strap 102 is secured. The embodiment of FIG. 23 may rely on a strap 102 
that is a closed, elastic loop similar to a sweat band. A primary school 
child could easily slip the brace on and off. The large size of the brace 
would render the brace effective, yet very safe. A low density 
polyurethane such as is commonly used for sleeping pads could exert enough 
force to be useful. However, such a material could not exert enough force 
upon impact to cause injury. 
FIG. 24 illustrates yet another preferred embodiment of an apparatus having 
a base 12 pivotably connected to a yoke 14. The yoke 14 may be pivotably 
attached to the base 12 at the joints 58A, 58B. In one presently preferred 
embodiment, an adjustable member 60 connects between the base 12 and yoke 
14. Brackets 158, 160 may be of the clevis type for holding a threaded eye 
rod 162 and reverse-threaded eye rod 164 of the adjustable member 60, 
respectively, connected by a turnbuckle 166. The turnbuckle 166 may be 
knurled as shown, and can be configured to adjust the orientation of the 
yoke 14 with respect to the base 12. The stop angle 80 may be set at a 
desired value. The base 12 and yoke 14 may also be made adjustable in a 
similar manner to control the sweep angle 83. 
Other adjustment mechanisms may include, for example, fixed blocks fastened 
to restrain the yoke 14 at a desired position; multiple adjustment 
members, and bendable metal skeletons inside plastic outer covers forming 
the apparatus 10. In one embodiment, the yoke 14 may be adjusted by 
warming and softening the plastic material of which the apparatus 10 is 
formed. The yoke 14 may alternatively be made rigidly attachable at a 
selected one of a plurality of locations along the base 12. 
The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without 
departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described 
embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative, and 
not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by 
the appended claims, rather than by the foregoing description. All changes 
which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are 
to be embraced within their scope.