ROD AND HEAD ASSEMBLY FOR A TENNIS BALL TRAINING SYSTEM

A training tool for tennis has a head assembly, a stand assembly, and a vertical polymer flexible rod assembly connecting the substantially polymer head assembly to the stand assembly. The vertical polymer flexible rod assembly oscillates when a ball member held in the head assembly is hit by a racket. The system is operably coupled to sensors and a processor designed to detect how effectively a user has hit the retained ball member with a racket. The head assembly is disposed on a top end of the vertical polymer flexible rod assembly at a concave portion of a proximal face of a retaining plate member designed to contiguously abut at least a distal surface of the top end of the vertical polymer flexible rod assembly, the retaining plate member coupled to a distal surface of a ball cup member by the proximal face of the retaining plate member.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The inventive concept relates generally to a rod and head assembly for a tennis ball training system.

BACKGROUND

Currently, there are many ways to teach tennis players to properly hit a ball. One of these ways is with a coach, but this solution fails to meet the needs of the market because coaching can be expensive and may require a second person to hit or otherwise present balls to be hit by a player. A coach or player may use a machine to launch balls, but such a solution also fails to meet the needs of the market because such machines can be expensive and cumbersome, require many tennis balls for a training session, and the coach and player may spend time collecting hit balls that could otherwise be time used for training. Both coaches and ball launching machines also require a court to be effective and are not suitable for use in the home or other restricted areas. Stationary solutions where a tennis ball or its likeness are presented to a player solve some of the above problems, especially those pertaining to training in a critical zone of how a player handles a ball substantially within the last three feet of ball travel, but such solutions offer limited feedback to coaches or players about the effectiveness of hits, especially at those times when a player may wish to practice without a coach being present. Stationary solutions also lack an optimal balance between durability and desirable performance qualities desired to emulate hitting an airborne ball. Therefore, there exists a need in the market for an improved solution for a stationary tennis ball trainer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The first element of the inventive concept is a head assembly for a tennis ball training system that has a polymer ball cup member with a substantially concave proximal face portion and a rim portion assembly. The concave proximal face portion is designed to be coupled to a ball member by the rim portion assembly of the concave proximal face portion, substantially the entirety of the concave proximal face portion supporting and contiguously abutting a first surface portion of the ball member. The rim portion assembly is comprised of at least one removable, helically threaded retaining ring member coupled to a proximal, helically threaded lip portion of the ball cup member. An interior surface of the retaining ring member is substantially contiguously abutting a second surface portion of the ball member, the sum of the first and second surface portions of the ball member greater than fifty percent of a total surface area of the ball member. At least one optical sensor assembly is outwardly disposed along the concave proximal face portion of the ball cup member. At least one light-emitting diode (LED) member and at least one light detecting photodiode member is designed to detect a spin force from the first ball surface portion when a racket impacts the ball member. A metallic or polymer textured surface or color patterned surface or both may be disposed on the first ball surface portion to aid in spin detection. At least one three-axis impact sensor assembly is disposed in an interior portion of the ball cup member designed to detect trajectory forces imparted on the ball member when the racket impacts the ball member. A distal surface of the ball cup member opposite the rim portion assembly is coupled by at least one helically threaded attachment member to a substantially vertical polymer flexible rod assembly, the vertical polymer flexible rod assembly bearing at least one flex sensor assembly designed to detect bending of the polymer flexible rod assembly. At least one LED light member is disposed on a top portion of the ball cup member and designed to emit at least one light color in one or more defined patterns. At least one electrical coupling member is disposed on the distal surface of the ball cup member electrically coupled to the at least one optical sensor assembly, the at least one three-axis impact sensor assembly, and the at least one LED light member. The at least one optical sensor assembly, the at least one three-axis impact sensor assembly, and the at least one flex sensor assembly are electrically coupled to a computer system, the computer system having a controller through which the computer system calculates and communicates results from the sensor data by way of at least one algorithm or memory enabled program.

The second element of the inventive concept coupled to the first element includes a bendable shaft assembly for a head assembly of a tennis ball training system that has a vertical polymer flexible rod assembly coupled at a top end of the vertical polymer flexible rod assembly to a distal surface of the ball cup member by a retaining plate member. The retaining plate member has a concave portion on a proximal face of the retaining plate member designed, when coupled to the distal surface of the ball cup member, to secure the head assembly to the top end of the vertical polymer flexible rod assembly. The retaining plate member is coupled to a distal surface of a ball cup member by the proximal face of the retaining plate member. At least one flex sensor assembly is designed to detect bending of the polymer flexible rod assembly. A ribbon wire member is disposed longitudinally along the length of the vertical polymer flexible rod assembly and a metal base plate member. The ribbon wire member is electrically coupled to a power source by a bottom portion of the ribbon wire member. A top portion of the ribbon wire member is coupled to an electrical coupling member on a distal surface of the ball cup member, the top portion of the ribbon wire member disposed to substantially abut the proximal face of the retaining plate member. A top portion of the metal base plate member is couple by two or more helically threaded attachment members—the helically threaded attachment members disposed through two or more hole members disposed through the metal base plate member—to the vertical polymer flexible rod assembly and a back plate member, the helically threaded attachment members disposed through one or more attachment hole members disposed through a bottom portion of the vertical polymer flexible rod assembly and coupled to a corresponding two or more threaded hole members of the back plate member, an upper portion of the vertical flexible polymer rod member designed to oscillate from racket impact energy imparted on the ball cup member. At least one base hole member on a bottom portion of the base plate member is designed to be aligned with at least one pin member and attachment hole member of a substantially hollow vertical sleave member of a stand assembly.

The inventive concept may be used for other racket sports such as racket ball and pickle ball.

The inventive concept in one embodiment uses a PATTSS flow that would be utilized within the computer system to train a student. PATTSS stands for (Power, Accuracy, Timing, Trajectory, Spin, Sweet spot.). Power is the energy delivered to a ball. Accuracy is where the player places the ball. Timing is when the player hits the ball. Trajectory is how the ball travels. Spin is the rotation the player imparts on the ball. Sweet spot is the place of impact on the racket where impact is sought to take place substantially in the center of the racket face. Additional sensors beyond those disclosed for this embodiment such as load cells may be applied to determine sweet spot, or statistical assessments may be considered based on the probability that certain results will be achieved through results obtained from the other PATTSS categories, for example, that a ball is statistically likely to behave in a desired way after a hit if the ball is consistently hit in the sweet spot. The data obtained from these sensors may have a broader range of uses beyond reporting a performance score such as to provide the statistical data needed for using the inventive concept with virtual reality or augmented reality systems. A person wearing eyewear for virtual reality or augmented reality such as goggles, glasses, or contact lenses, may see the virtual flight of a ball incoming before a hit on the ball member or outgoing after a hit on the ball member.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Following are more detailed descriptions of various related concepts related to, and embodiments of, s and apparatus according to the present disclosure. It should be appreciated that various aspects of the subject matter introduced above and discussed in greater detail below may be implemented in any of numerous ways, as the subject matter is not limited to any particular manner of implementation. Examples of specific implementations and applications are provided primarily for illustrative purposes.

Referring to the figures,FIG.1illustrates three components of the inventive concept: 1) a head assembly100, 2) a stand assembly110, and 3) a vertical polymer flexible rod assembly120connecting the head assembly100to the stand assembly110, the vertical polymer flexible rod assembly120also providing important functions for using the solution. Important is the oscillating of the flexible rod assembly120after a user hits a ball member130held by a polymer ball cup member140of the head assembly100. The inventive concept allows a user to know how effectively he or she hit the ball member130with a racket even though the ball member130is retained in the head on a top end of the vertical polymer flexible rod assembly121. With reference toFIG.3, a concave portion on a proximal face of the retaining plate member311is designed, when coupled to a distal surface of the ball cup member149, to circumscribe the top end of the vertical polymer flexible rod assembly121, coupling the head assembly100to the top end of the vertical polymer flexible rod assembly121.

FIGS.1and2illustrate the head assembly100, including a ball cup member140that is a substantially spherical, concave proximal face portion of the ball cup member241designed to contain approximately 60% of the ball member130, with a surface of the concave proximal face portion of the ball cup member242being disposed substantially contiguous with a first surface portion of the ball member131. In this example embodiment, the retaining ring member hole210is 15% smaller than the ball member130and is defined by a helically threaded retaining ring member220affixed to a helically threaded proximal lip portion of the ball cup member243. An interior surface of the retaining ring member221being substantially contiguously abutting a second surface portion of the ball member132, the sum of the first and second surface portions131,132being greater than fifty percent of a total surface area of the ball member130. The retaining ring member220in the example embodiment allows the approximately 60% of the ball member130to be inserted substantially within the ball cup member140and secured there. At least greater than 50% of the ball member130in all embodiments would be contained by the ball cup member140. The user strikes the ball member130on an exposed 40% to 49% of the ball member130, representing a third surface area of the ball member133. The ball cup member140is made from a high-impact polycarbonate that can withstand the impact of a tennis racket, both the strings and the metal, carbon composite, or wood of the frame.

FIGS.1and2further illustrate an optical sensor assembly230designed to determine ball member130spin. This optical sensor assembly230accounts for the fact that ball members130such as a tennis ball will deform when hit, as tennis balls are designed to do, but the spin on the tennis ball can be calculated before deformation becomes significant enough to distort calculations of spin. An infrared sensor that may serve as the optical sensor assembly230is disposed on the outside surface of the concave proximal face portion of the ball cup member241and is similar or the same as an optical sensor assembly230used on a computer mouse trac ball wherein a LED laser233laser beam is projected onto a targeted first surface portion of the ball member131at an acute angle from perpendicular to the targeted first surface portion of the ball member131and reflects to a light sensor234. Because the optical sensor assembly230can leverage the speed of light reflecting substantially from the ball member130to create data from the behavior of the ball member130, limited thereafter, with reference toFIG.8, only by the speed of the microprocessor829using the data, the microprocessor829can obtain the information needed to determine spin from micro-changes in the first surface portion of the ball member131position. With reference toFIG.8, a computer system800can, therefore, track the spin that would have been imparted on a free tennis ball before the ball member130in the ball cup member140substantially deforms. There are no moving parts and no need for a momentum-based or force-impact sensor to determine the spin on the ball member130. A three-axis impact sensor assembly240is arrayed on three axes within the head assembly100and positioned distally to the proximal face portion of the ball cup member242to detect head movement. The three-axis impact sensor assembly240is made from force impact sensors that detect changes of movement along three axes x, y, and z, which will vary depending upon the force and angle of impact on the ball member130, thereafter transferred to the head assembly100.

FIGS.1and2further illustrate an embodiment where at least one tri-colored light-emitting diode member (LED) light member250is mounted at a top portion of the ball cup member241, electrically and operably coupled by at least one electrical coupling member253to the sensor assemblies230,240. At least one light detecting photodiode optical sensor assembly230is designed to detect spin force from the first surface portion of the ball member131when the racket impacts the ball member130. The LED light member250can produce up to 256 different colors of light and has periodic light production capabilities from which to produce flashes of different lengths, patterns, and intensities. The colors and patterns serve to provide feedback and instruction, for example, to tell a user that the spin, timing, or trajectory of the ball member130as that ball member130would move if not held by the ball cup member140are correct or incorrect, or to signal which hit to perform next. A process underlying how the LED light member250is used, with reference toFIG.10, is an Eye Coach PATTSS flow process1000. The LED light member250will also be operably connected to a flex sensor260within the polymer flexible rod assembly120holding the head assembly100, the flex sensor260detecting the bend of the polymer flexible rod assembly120and operably connected to the three-axis impact sensor assembly240to match bend with the timing of an impact. As a training tool, the intent is for a student to time the impact of his or her racket on the ball member130when the oscillating polymer flexible rod assembly120is straight up and with substantially no bend. The LED light member250will present a color, pattern, or both within 1/10thsecond of impact with a racket, for example, a color communicating feedback about the shot, such as the spin and placement on the racket-sweet spot- and a pattern communicating the next shot to attempt, such as a spin or backhand. More than one LED light member250may be mounted, for example, one for showing a color and another for showing a pattern. The LED light member250in this embodiment will be timed to shut off at the critical moment before a racket hit accorded to the Eye Coach PATTSS flow process1000training method so that the user will not be distracted by the LED light member250in the moment when the user must focus on the ball member130, the representative 3 feet a tennis ball represented by the ball member130travels before the racket makes contact. The LED light member250can be used in lieu of, or to complement, or to be complemented by, audio instructions where the light-base instructions better allow for a setting where multiple students train and where audio feedback or instructions could be distracting. Audio signals, when used, may provide verbal feedback or instructions. Audio signals may also be used to provide spin feedback to account for some loss of feel by a ball member130that is not spinning in the head ball cup member140and whether the player his impacted the ball member130on the sweet spot of the racket. Just as a baseball player and people in the stands can hear a certain quality of impact when a player hits a home run, a tennis player will know a certain quality of sound associated with a good hit, a sound which can be emulated to provide added feedback and the satisfaction of a good hit. An example of use would be to have audio communicate the success of the shot, perhaps with a color indicator LED light member250as well, and then have a flash or audio signal communicate the next shot to take. Such could be a programmed item where either light or audio could be a solo, dual, or omitted source of feedback.

FIGS.1and2further illustrate that sensors in this embodiment will be connected through wire members254, and a central ribbon wire member256bent so that it is driven into a ribbon wire connector member257when a user hits the ball member130. Connections may also be wireless with associated antenna. The positioning of the central ribbon wire member256is important for system durability given that wires withstand being pressed better than stretched. The ribbon wire member256will be enclosed, and a supplementary cap portion258may be included to help protect the ribbon wire member256and seat the head assembly100. The ribbon wire member256is electrically coupled to a power source160by a bottom portion of the ribbon wire member259. A top portion of the ribbon wire member251is coupled to a distal surface of the ball cup member140, the top portion of the ribbon wire member251disposed to substantially abut, as illustrated inFIG.3, the proximal face of the retaining plate member311.

FIGS.1,3, and4illustrate an embodiment of the vertical polymer flexible rod assembly120. The head assembly100is coupled to the top portion of the vertical polymer flexible rod assembly121, a bow-flex style polymer rod assembly, at a distal surface of the ball cup member140, by a retaining plate member310with four bolt attachment hole members320and associated helically threaded attachment members321wherein the vertical polymer flexible rod assembly120is sandwiched between the head assembly100in a concave proximal face portion of the retaining plate member311. The position is maintained by projection members331inserted through the four projection attachment hole members330A of the retaining plate member310and four projection attachment hole members330B of at the top portion of the vertical polymer flexible rod assembly121that are at least partially slidable to account for impact but that have the role to keep the head assembly100aligned and on the vertical polymer flexible rod assembly120as projection members that are unthreaded. The attachment hole members in the bow may further be reinforced by rubber, hollow, cylindrical pin members332so that the rubber, hollow, cylindrical pin members332are subjected to potentially wearing forces instead of the vertical polymer flexible rod assembly120, and so that the rubber, hollow, cylindrical pin members332can be replaced without replacing the entire vertical polymer flexible rod assembly120. Also at the top portion of the vertical polymer flexible rod assembly121is the ribbon wire member256and the ribbon wire connector member257with the retaining plate member310serving as a backstop so the ribbon wire member256may be subject to compression, which it can withstand better than stretching. The vertical polymer flexible rod assembly120eliminates a requirement for a metal spring.

FIGS.1and5illustrate an embodiment of the vertical polymer flexible rod assembly120that is supported at a bottom portion of the vertical polymer flexible rod assembly129by a backplate member510and a metal base plate member530that form a base mount assembly500. The backplate member510has at least three threaded attachment hole members in a top portion of the metal base plate member531and at least three upper attachment hole members520A in a bottom of the metal base plate member mirrored by at least three non-threaded attachment hole members520C through the top portion of the metal base plate member and at least three non-threaded attachment rod hole members520B through a lower portion of the vertical polymer flexible rod assembly129wherein a plate helically threaded attachment member521disposed through each attachment hole member sandwiches the greater assembly500and129together. This embodiment of the backplate member510has at least three additional threaded attachment hole members in a middle portion of the metal base plate member535and at least three upper attachment hole members526A in a bottom of the metal base plate member mirrored by at least three non-threaded attachment hole members526C through the top portion of the metal base plate member and at least three non-threaded attachment rod hole members526B through a lower portion of the vertical polymer flexible rod assembly129wherein a plate helically threaded attachment member521disposed through each attachment hole member further sandwiches the greater assembly500and129together. The attachment hole members520A-520C and526A-526C in this portion of the vertical polymer flexible rod assembly120may also further be reinforced by plate rubber, hollow, cylindrical pin members522so that the rubber on the plate rubber, hollow, cylindrical pin members522are subjected to potentially wearing forces instead of the polymer of the vertical polymer flexible rod assembly120. The plate rubber, hollow, cylindrical pin members522can be replaced without replacing the entire vertical polymer flexible rod assembly120. An upper portion of the vertical polymer flexible rod assembly120is designed to oscillate from racket impact energy imparted on the ball cup member140and the associated head assembly100. At least one bottom base attachment hole member540on a bottom portion of the base plate member539is designed to be aligned with at least one removable lock pin member545and, with reference toFIG.1, at least one hole member of a substantially hollow vertical sleave member170of the stand assembly110. The thickness of the plate members510,530in this embodiment is about one-sixth of an inch thick, though other thicknesses could be used, and in this embodiment is made from galvanized steel, though other metals or polymers could be used. The bottom portion of the metal base plate member530is mounted to the stand assembly110through a series of the at least one removable lock pin member545on the hollow vertical sleave member170. The at least one attachment hole members540disposed through the bottom portion of the metal base plate member539and the hollow vertical sleave member170allows, in this embodiment, the height of the vertical polymer flexible rod assembly120and head assembly100to be set higher or lower by substantially eighteen inches at six-inch intervals in the preferred embodiment though other spacings could be used.

FIGS.1,6, and7includes elements of the stand assembly110inclusive of right and left polymer boot members610A-610B at right and left proximal ends of the stand assembly111A-111B, the polymer boot members610A-610B disposed partially over each of right and left horizontal leg members115A-115B, the polymer boot members610A-610B having a concave, compressible space620A-620B above a base portion of each polymer boot members619A-619B for shock absorption. An Allen wrench slot portion635A-635B is disposed in the polymer boot members610A-610B to secure at least one Allen wrench630, the Allen wrench slot portion635A-635B having an elongate horizontal portion and a shorter vertical depression portion in which fits substantially an entire Allen wrench and may also have a cog or otherwise an at least semirigid flap or spur of polymer636that secures the Allen wrench so that it cannot slide out on its own. The screw members on the preferred embodiment will be Allen-head screw members640with fine threads designed to handle more torque than similarly sized helically threaded connectors with strait or Phillips heads.

FIGS.1,2, and8illustrate the computer system800designed to receive, process, dispense, store, and analyze data, wherein the preferred embodiment puts these items within or attached to the stand assembly110and wherein those elements would not be subject to the forces of training impact. The computer system800would also, therefore, be a part of the most durable element of the system and may be its own standalone module coupled to the stand assembly110. These elements will be designed to work independently of a network or smart device but could also be designed for an Internet of Things (IoT) environment801as might be a training environment where the state of the systems in use can be monitored and items, such as needed maintenance, detected before such items can damage other parts of the system. Where audio is used, a speaker assembly883is included and operationally coupled to the microprocessor829. The computer system800can be standalone, can be made to use apps from a smartphone, or both. The system may also be gamified so that users can play against their own performance or against the performance of others. Two load cells832,834may be provided for added data to determining whether the ball member130is properly struck with a racket by the user.

FIGS.1and8further illustrate a USB port888for data, control operation of the speaker883, clear stored data, with reference toFIG.9, control operation of a microphone984, cause data to be displayed on a display860, cause training data to be stored in the microprocessor or CPU829, to control operation of the USB port888, control operation of the Wii port896, and control connection to an external device such as but not limited by an Xbox, Wii, or Nintendo. The display860can display items including amount of practice time elapsed, total hits, total good hits, remaining practice time, whether ball spin has been initiated, indicate on/off status and/or provide a system ID. The microprocessor829for controlling operation of the present inventive concept is also housed in a base assembly174as well as being powered by one or more battery members160or similar devices stored in a power pack188and operationally coupled to a charging port187.

With reference toFIGS.2and9, the microprocessor829is operably coupled to the electronic components in the inventive concept. There are several Input/Output (I/O) signals and ports on the device such as a Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) I/O signal981, an Audio Output (Speaker)883, as well as for Video Output985, and Data signal outputs. The device will also have multiple wireless capabilities, such as Bluetooth or Wi Fi wireless connections887to routers. These interfaces with other electronic devices provide for remote interaction, training, and programming. The main function is to monitor and record all inputs, calculate that raw information, and provide real-time feedback. Sensor230,240,260and feedback profiles may be programmed into the local memory of the inventive concept or may be in the cloud or on an operationally coupled device such as a smartphone or computer pad. Parameters for performance will be programmed into different levels, and multiple voice responses may randomly be given via the speaker883for the same result. i.e.: “Well done”, “Good job”, “That's the way”, “Way to go”, and several others, may be pre-programed audio type responses generated from the device for a good hit, or the user might receive audio cues, such as a sound emulating a well hit or poorly hit ball, or visual signals from the light-emitting diode member/LEDs. A microphone984may be provided to allow communications between a user and the microprocessor829. A USB port888is provided to allow easy transfer of data stored in the microprocessor829. The microprocessor829may be coupled to an Xbox or Nintendo or such device as desired, wirelessly or directly. The digital display controller992allows display of data resulting from use of the inventive concept in a suitable format for easy viewing and understanding. The data to be displayed can include amount of time practiced, total hits, total good hits, remaining practice time, direction of ball spin, an indicator showing that the device is operable as well as log-in information. Also associated with the microprocessor829is a keypad894allowing inputting of commands to the microprocessor829. A Wi-Fi interface896allows wired connection to the Internet while a wireless connection887also has an antenna998to facilitate wireless Wi-Fi connection. These Wi-Fi connections permit communications with remote teachers or other persons or machines.

FIG.10, illustrates the PATTSS flow1000which, in this embodiment, would be utilized within the computer system800to train a student. PATTSS10of the PATTSS flow1000stands for (Power, Accuracy, Timing, Trajectory, Spin, Sweet spot.). Power is the energy delivered to a ball. Accuracy is where the player places the ball. Timing is when the player hits the ball. Trajectory is how the ball travels. Spin is the rotation the player imparts on the ball. Sweet spot is the place of impact on the racket. Additional sensors beyond those disclosed for this embodiment (230,240,260) may be applied to determine sweet spot or statistical assessments may be considered based on the probability that certain results will be achieved through results obtained from the other PATTSS categories, for example, that a ball is statistically likely to behave in a desired way after a hit if the ball is consistently hit in the sweet spot.

FIG.11A-11Dillustrates a method of using the head assembly100and the bendable shaft assembly120for the tennis ball training system for a user, the method including the step of1100, selecting a training program from the computer system800, the computer system800operationally coupled to the head assembly100, the bendable shaft assembly120, the at least one optical sensor assembly230, the at least one three-axis impact sensor assembly240, and the at least one flex sensor assembly260, the training program from at least one or more of learning, practice, and competition. The method further includes the step of1105, selecting a skill from at least one or more selected from a group of time, repetition, ball speed, ball delivery, the skill quality developed from at least one or more from the PATTSS10group of power, accuracy, timing, trajectory, spin, and location of ball impact on the racket. The method further includes the step of1110, selecting the start of a training session and beginning the training session. The method further includes the step of1115, hitting with the racket the ball member130held by the head assembly100, the success of each hit determined by the at least one optical sensor assembly,230, the at least one three-axis impact sensor assembly240, the at least one flex sensor assembly260disposed as a part of the head assembly100and the bendable shaft assembly120. The method further includes the step of1120, the training session following substantially two tracks for evaluated action, a first track11if the at least one or more from the PATTSS10group of power, accuracy, timing, trajectory, spin, and location of ball member impact on the racket metrics indicate hit success and a second track12if the at least one or more from the PATTSS10group of power, accuracy, timing, trajectory, spin, and location of ball member impact on the racket metrics indicate hit failure. The method further includes the step of1125, successful hits leading toward completing a training program, wherein a successful hit may be considered at least one or more of power, accuracy, timing, trajectory, spin, and the location of impact of the ball member130on the racket, the location of impact sought being the sweet spot in substantially the center of the racket face, success also a measure of where and how the impacted ball member130would travel and land. The method further includes the step of1130, failed hits leading toward adjusting at least one or more of the training program, skill, and skill quality, the adjustment designed to foster the user achieving metrics of success. The method further includes the step of1135, recording training program data. The method further includes the step of1140, ending the training program session.

FIG.11A-11Dfurther illustrates that the method of using the head assembly100and the bendable shaft assembly120for the tennis ball training system may include the step of1145, starting a warm-up mode before starting the training session, the warmup measuring at least one or more of the skill quality developed from at least one or more from the PATTSS10group of hit power, accuracy, timing, trajectory, spin, and location on the racket.

FIG.11A-11Dfurther illustrates that the method of using the head assembly100and the bendable shaft assembly120for the tennis ball training system may include the step of1150, the warmup mode including selecting warmup time, ball dynamics, and at least one or more of predictable and unpredictable hit requirements.

FIG.11A-Dfurther illustrates that the method of using the head assembly100and the bendable shaft assembly120for the tennis ball training system may include the step of1155, the at least one flex sensor assembly260detecting bending of the polymer flexible rod assembly120, the bend providing data for at least partially determining the timing for hitting the ball member130.

FIG.11A-1Dfurther illustrates that the method of using the head assembly100and the bendable shaft assembly120for the tennis ball training system may include the step of1160, the at least one three-axis impact sensor assembly240disposed in an interior portion of the ball cup member140detecting trajectory forces imparted on the ball member130when the racket impacts the ball member130, the forces imparted on the ball member130determining the skill quality of at least one or more from the PATTSS10group of power, accuracy, timing, trajectory, spin, and the location of impact of the ball member130on the racket.

FIG.11A-11Dfurther illustrates that the method of using the head assembly100and the bendable shaft assembly120for the tennis ball training system may include the step of1165, the sensor assemblies230,240,260data and at least one algorithm calculating at least one or more of racket hit power, accuracy, timing, trajectory, and spin delivered to the ball member130and racket impact location of the ball member130, the calculations operationally conveyed to at least one or more of the virtual reality and the augmented reality system from the at least one or more from, as illustrated inFIG.12a group of 1200: screens, goggles, glasses, and contact lenses, wherein at least the user sees a virtual flight of an outgoing virtual ball member1210after hitting the ball member130with the racket.

FIG.11A-11Dfurther illustrates that the method of using the head assembly100and the bendable shaft assembly120for the tennis ball training system may include the step of1170, the sensor assemblies230,240,260data and at least one algorithm calculations cuing an at least one incoming virtual ball member1210wherein the incoming virtual ball member1210optically overlays the ball member130when the user should hit the ball member130with the racket.

FIG.12illustrates the group of virtual and augmented reality screen, goggles, glasses, and contact lenses1200and the virtual ball member1210.

The following patents are incorporated by reference in their entireties: U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,070,520, 8,333,671, 2013/0196794, and 7,169,067.

While the inventive concept has been described above in terms of specific embodiments, it is to be understood that the inventive concept is not limited to these disclosed embodiments. Upon reading the teachings of this disclosure many modifications and other embodiments of the inventive concept will come to mind of those skilled in the art to which this inventive concept pertains, and which are intended to be and are covered by both this disclosure and the appended claims. It is indeed intended that the scope of the inventive concept should be determined by proper interpretation and construction of the appended claims and their legal equivalents, as understood by those of skill in the art relying upon the disclosure in this specification and the attached drawings.