Abstract:
A throwing training apparatus includes at least one, but preferably two approximately parallel planar guides that are positioned behind a user relative to a throwing target. The guides have at least a portion that is planar, wherein the throwing target is in the plane of the planar portion. In one embodiment, the planar guides may be configured as tubular arcs of, e.g., approximately 180 degrees, such that the have a C shape. While a user moves his or her hand in a throwing motion, the planar guides provide tactile feedback to the user indicating when the user is breaking a desired planar throwing motion. With repetition of the throwing motion using the present invention, one may develop muscle memory of the proper throwing form, which will enable one to consistently throw with the proper form without the aid of the training apparatus.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates to athletic training devices and, in particular, to a device for training proper technique for throwing a sports ball.  
         BACKGROUND  
         [0002]    Proper throwing technique for an athlete is important as it improves performance; both in accuracy and velocity of the throw, and helps reduce injury. Throwing is a skill that is learned through practice and repetition. Of course, if improper throwing technique is used during practice, one&#39;s throwing skill will not improve and the risk of injury is increased.  
           [0003]    When throwing a sports ball with good form, the thrower uses a smooth circular arm motion in which the hand is first moved backward, and then over the shoulder until the hand is moved forward at which time the ball is released. The circular arm motion ideally is within a plane that includes the target. Mistakes made by novice throwers including cocking the arm back instead of using the circular arm motion and breaking the ideal plane of motion during the throw, typically at the beginning of the throw. Additional mistakes made by a novice thrower including pivoting or shifting his or her weight forward too early in the throw.  
           [0004]    Devices for assisting in practicing one&#39;s throwing skills are known. For example, one type of known training device is the basic target, which may be in the form of a net or rebound mechanism. While target type training devices may improve accuracy, they do not assist in improving form.  
           [0005]    Other types of training device include restraining devices, such as an elbow sleeves or resilient tethers. Restraining type training device limit arm or body mobility to force the user to use the desired throwing motion. Restraining type training devices, however, do not lead to muscle memory for the proper technique. The user typically relies on the restraining device to prevent the undesirable motion. In doing so, the user has not learned how to move unaided with the proper throwing technique.  
           [0006]    Thus, what is needed is a training device for throwing that will effectively teach the user the proper throwing technique, such that the user will learn and be able to replicate the desired motion.  
         SUMMARY  
         [0007]    A training device, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, uses at least one, but preferably two approximately parallel guides to teach a user the proper throwing motion. The guides include at least a portion that is vertically planar. While a user moves his or her hand in a throwing motion, the guides provide tactile feedback to the user indicating when the user is not moving with the desired form. The guides may be planar and configured as tubular arcs of, e.g., approximately 180 degrees, such that they have a C shape. However, other shapes and configurations may be used to provide the desired guides. For example, the guides may have a horizontal portion, that is used, e.g., to train a shortened throw. With repetition of the throwing motion using the present invention, one may develop muscle memory of the proper throwing form, which will enable one to consistently throw with the proper form without the aid of the training apparatus.  
           [0008]    In one embodiment, a training apparatus for training a user to throw a sports ball includes at least one guide that has at least a portion that is planar and at least one support element coupled to the guide. The support element positions the planar portion of the guide in an approximately vertical position and behind a user relative to a throwing target during use such that the throwing target is approximately in the plane of the planar portion of the guide. In one embodiment, the training apparatus includes two guides that are approximately parallel to each other, wherein the user&#39;s arm and hand is moved between the two planar guides during the throwing motion. In one embodiment, the training apparatus includes a ball holder proximate to the bottom of the planar guides.  
           [0009]    In another embodiment, a training apparatus includes a means for guiding a user&#39;s arm and hand during a throwing exercise using tactile feedback in an approximately vertical planar motion for at least a portion of the throwing motion. The training apparatus also includes at least one support element for holding the means for guiding behind the user relative to a throwing target. The means for guiding may guide the user&#39;s arm in an approximately vertical planar motion throughout the throwing motion, or may guide the user&#39;s arm in an approximately horizontal motion prior to guiding the user&#39;s arm in the approximately vertical planar motion.  
           [0010]    In yet another embodiment of the present invention, a method of training a user to throw a sports ball includes positioning at least one guide behind a user relative to a throwing target, where the guide has at least one planar portion, wherein the guide is positioned such that the throwing target is in the plane of the planar portion. The user moves his or her hand and arm through a throwing motion and uses the tactile feedback from the guide during the throwing motion to indicate when the user&#39;s hand and arm moves outside a desired range of motion. In one embodiment, the method includes positioning a sports ball proximate to the bottom of the planar guide at approximately arms reach of the user and picking up the sports ball prior to moving the hand and arm of the user through the throwing motion. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]    [0011]FIGS. 1, 2, and  3  show side, back, and top views, respectively, of a training apparatus in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 4 shows another embodiment of a training apparatus in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIGS. 5 and 6 show a front and top views, respectively of another embodiment of a training apparatus in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIGS. 7 and 8 show side views of other possible configurations for planar guides used in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 9 is a side view of another support mechanism for a training apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIGS. 10A and 10B illustrate a top view of training apparatus and a user utilizing the training apparatus in one training method.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIGS. 11A and 11B illustrate a top view of training apparatus and a user utilizing the training apparatus in another training method.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIGS. 12, 13, and  14  show side, front, and top views, respectively, of a training apparatus in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 15 is a side view of another embodiment of the present invention that includes a resistance device. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0020]    A training apparatus for throwing, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, includes two approximately parallel guides, which are used to guide the users hand through the motion for throwing a sports ball, such as a baseball, softball, cricket ball, or other type of ball. The guides provide tactile feedback to the user to indicate when the user&#39;s arm and hand are moving outside the desired range of motion.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIGS. 1, 2, and  3  show side, back, and top views, respectively, of a training apparatus  100  in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. Training apparatus  100  includes two approximately parallel planar guides  102  and  104  that are in an approximately vertical orientation. As shown in FIG. 1, guides  102  and  104  (guide  104  is hidden from view in FIG. 1) have an approximately 180 degree arc. The guides  102  and  104  should have a radius that is appropriate for the size of the user. For example, a small user would use guides that have an approximately 8 inch radius arc and a larger user would use guides that have an approximately 16 inch radius arc. The curvature of the guides  102 ,  104  is useful for visually conveying the desired hand and arm motion when throwing. Moreover, by using curved guides  102 ,  104  only the user&#39;s forearm, wrist, and hand will contact the guides. Thus, the desired guidance is provided to the user without interfering with other body parts, such as the elbow, which may extend through the plane of one of the guides when throwing.  
         [0022]    In operation, the user moves his or her hand and arm between guides  102  and  104  during a throwing exercise, where the throwing target is approximately in the plane of the guides  102  and  104 . The guides  102  and  104  provide tactile feedback to teach a user to move his or her arm in a smooth circular motion that is in a plane between guides  102  and  104  (the plane is illustrated by the dashed line  103  in FIG. 3). Guides  102  and  104  provide tactile feedback when the user&#39;s arm is straying outside the desired plane. Thus, the guides  102 ,  104  provide physical boundaries for the user, which will increase the user&#39;s mental awareness of the desired arm motion to throw a ball. Consequently, the user will be able to reproduce the desired motion without the training apparatus  100 .  
         [0023]    The bottom ends of guides  102  and  104  are removably attached to a frame  106 . The frame  106  includes guide attachments  108  and  110  to which guides  102  and  104  are mounted, e.g., using removable steel pins  109  and  111 . The guide attachments  108  and  110  are mounted on arms  112  and  114 , respectively, e.g., welded or otherwise fixed. The arms  112  and  114  are adjustably mounted to a T-frame  116 . For example, the cross member  117  of T-frame  116  may be 1¼ inch box steel into which 1 inch box steel arms  112  and  114  may be inserted. The distance D between arms  112  and  114 , and thus, guides  102  and  104 , is adjustable from, e.g., 9 to 12 inches. Thumbscrews  118  and  120  are used to hold the arms  112  and  114  in their desired positions.  
         [0024]    In one embodiment, the upper surface of the cross member  117  of the T-frame  116  includes a ball holder  122 , which may be, e.g., welded to the cross member  117 . The ball holder  122  is proximate to the bottom of the guides  102  and  104  and ideally at arms length for the user. In operation, the user picks up a ball from the ball holder  122  before beginning the throwing motion, which teaches the user to start the throwing motion from the bottom of the desired circular motion and from a relaxed position. The ball holder  122  thus should be close enough to the guides  102  and  104  that once the ball is picked up, the user can easily begin the throwing motion within the confines of guides  102  and  104 .  
         [0025]    The post  124  of T-frame  116  movably mounted to the stand post  126 . For example, the stand post  126  may be 1¼ inch box steel into which 1 inch box steel post  124  may be inserted. A thumbscrew  128  is used to securely hold the T-frame post  124  at the desired height. The T-frame  116  height H 116  is adjustable, e.g., from 24 to 41 inches. The stand post  126  height H 126  is, e.g., 22½ inches.  
         [0026]    The stand post  126  is fixed to the stand base  130 , e.g., is welded or otherwise mounted. Adjustable base legs  132  and  134  are movably mounted to the stand base  130 , e.g., the stand base  130  may be 1¼ inch box steel into which 1 inch box steel base legs  132  and  134  may be inserted. Thumbscrews  136  and  138  may be used to securely hold the base legs  132  and  134  in their desired positions. The width W between base legs  132  and  134  is adjustable, e.g., from 22 to 32 inches. The base legs  132  and  134  have a front length L f  of, e.g., 24 inches, and a back length L b  of 6 inches. Base legs  132  and  134  include through holes  140  (illustrated in FIG. 3) for ground stakes  142  (illustrated in FIG. 1).  
         [0027]    The materials used to make training apparatus  100  should be light weight and sturdy. Preferably, the training apparatus  100  is manufactured from materials and component parts that provide ease of storage and assembly. For example, as described above, the frame  106  may be manufactured from, e.g., box steel or other appropriate material. The guides  102 ,  104  may be manufactured from, e.g., {fraction (3/4)} inch PVC pipe that is bent into the desired shape. It may be necessary to heat the PVC pipe and bend the heated pipe over a frame to obtain the desired shape. Of course, other dimensions and materials may be used in place of those described. For example, one of both guides  102  and  104  may be manufactured from metal, wood or other types of plastic. Moreover, the particular shape and dimensions of guides  102  and  104  may be altered if desired. For example, one or both guides  102  and  104  may be manufactured from solid planes. FIG. 4, by way of example, shows a training apparatus  200  that is similar to training apparatus  100  except that the guides are manufactured from a sheet of material, such as wood or plastic (only guide  202  is shown in FIG. 4 as the second guide is hidden from view). If desired, a curve  206  may be marked, e.g., via paint, decal, etching, or otherwise, on the sides of the guides to visually convey the desired hand and arm motion when throwing. Moreover, a portion  208  (shown with broken lines) of one or both of the guides may be cut-out in order to provide eliminate interference with the user&#39;s elbow during the throwing motion.  
         [0028]    [0028]FIGS. 5 and 6 show a front view and a top view, respectively of another possible embodiment of a training apparatus  300  in accordance with the present invention. Training apparatus  300  includes a number of vertically orientated elements  302  and  304  that in conjunction form planar guides  302   a  and  304   a , which are supported from above via top supporting members  306  and from below via bottom supporting members  308 . By way of example, top supporting members  306  may be rope, cable, elastic cord, or any other manner of support, including a non-flexible support such as a hook. The top supporting members  306  may be connected, e.g., to a tall frame or any relatively high support mechanism, such as a tree limb, baseball backstop, basket ball hoop or support etc. The bottom support members  308  likewise may be rope, cable, elastic cord, or any other manner of support. The bottom support members  308  may be connected to ground using, e.g., stakes, spiral stakes, weights, or a frame. Similar to guides  102  and  104 , guides  302   a  and  304   a  of training apparatus  300  provide tactile feedback to the user to learn to move his or her arm along a plane between guides  302   a  and  304   a  (the plane is illustrated by the dashed line  303  in FIG. 6).  
         [0029]    [0029]FIGS. 7 and 8 show side views of other possible configurations  352  and  354  for guides used in accordance with the present invention. As can be seen, guide  352  in FIG. 7 includes three members joined at approximately right angles to each other to form a squared “C” shape. Guide  354  in FIG. 8 includes two members that are joined at an acute angle to form an angular “C” shape. Thus, it should be understood, that the guides of the training apparatus, in accordance with the present invention may have many different shapes and configurations. Nevertheless, the guides provide guidance to the user to move his or her hand and arm in a plane when throwing. Moreover, it should be understood that while two guides are generally shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a single guide may be used if desired. Alternatively two different shaped guides may be used with the training apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 9 is a side view of another support mechanism for a training apparatus  400  in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 9, guide  102  is supported from above by a top support member  402  and from below by bottom support members  404  and  406  (guide  104  is hidden from view in FIG. 9). Similar to the embodiment described in FIGS. 5 and 6, the top support member  402  may be rope, cable, elastic cord, or any other manner of support, including a non-flexible support such as a hook. The top supporting members  402  may be connected, e.g., to a tall frame or any relatively high support mechanism, such as a tree limb, baseball backstop, basket ball hoop or support etc. The bottom support members  404  and  406  likewise may be rope, cable, elastic cord, or any other manner of support. The bottom support members  404  and  406  may be connected to ground using, e.g., stakes, spiral stakes, weights, or a frame. Alternatively, the guides  102  and  104  may be supported by only bottom support member that is driven into the ground. In another embodiment, guides  102  and  104  may be supported by a support device that is coupled directly to the user, e.g., by way of a harness. Thus, as can be seen in FIG. 9, the training apparatus in accordance with the present invention may have different support mechanisms and is not limited to a solid frame  106 .  
         [0031]    [0031]FIGS. 10A and 10B illustrate a top view of training apparatus  100  and a user utilizing the training apparatus  100  in one training method. The user faces the intended throwing target. The guides  102  and  104  are positioned behind the user relative to the throwing target such that the throwing target is approximately in the planes of the guides  102  and  104 , i.e., in the plane of desired throwing motion. It should be understood that during the throwing exercises, the throwing target may be real, i.e., the ball is actually thrown to the target, or imaginary, i.e., the ball is retained by the user. The user holds a sports ball, e.g., a baseball, at his or her side, or alternatively picks up the ball from ball holder  122 . The ball holder  122  is positioned at hand height of the users when the user&#39;s arms are at his or her side. Thus, the user begins the throw with his or her arm and hand in a relaxed position at his or her side. The user moves his or her hand and arm backwards between guides  102  and  104  along arrow  103   a . Guides  102  and  104  provide tactile feedback to the user if the user moves his or her arm laterally, as indicated by arrow  600 , which is undesired movement. Undesirable lateral movement of the hand and arm is a common occurrence for novice throwers, particularly in the beginning of the throwing motion. In some embodiments, only a single guide, e.g., guide  104 , may be used, particularly where the user breaks the desired plane of motion in only one lateral direction, e.g., towards the right in FIG. 10A.  
         [0032]    The user continues to move the arm and hand in a circular motion (following the arc of the guides  102 ,  104 ) until there is an approximately 90 degree angle between the forearm and biceps. When the 90 degree angle between forearm and bicep is achieved, the user begins the forward motion of his or her arm and hand along arrow  103   b  (shown in FIG. 10B) at which time the ball may be released. If the user fails to achieve the 90 degree angle between the forearm and biceps, the user will contact at least one the guides  102  and  104 . When the user begins the forward motion the user&#39;s hand is no longer between the guides  102  and  104 . It should be understood that the user may throw the ball during the exercise or hold onto the ball. In either case, the user learns to move his or her hand in the desired arcing motion through the use of guides  102  and  104  which provide feedback when the hand is no longer moving in the desired plane.  
         [0033]    [0033]FIGS. 1A and 11B illustrate a top view of training apparatus  100  and a user utilizing the training apparatus  100  in another training method. Again, the guides  102  and  104  are positioned behind the user relative to the throwing target such that the throwing target is approximately in the planes of the guides  102  and  104 , i.e., in the plane of desired throwing motion. However, as illustrated in FIG. 11A, the user faces approximately perpendicular to the intended throwing target. The user may start in this position or may start slightly to the side and behind the training apparatus and move into this position to simulate throwing while in motion. Again, the user holds a sports ball, e.g., a baseball, at his or her side, or alternatively picks up the ball from ball holder  122 . The ball holder  122  is positioned at hand height of the users when the user&#39;s arms are at his or her side.  
         [0034]    The user begins the throw with his or her arm and hand in a relaxed position at his or her side. The user moves his or hand arm backwards between guides  102  and  104  along arrow  103   a . Guides  102  and  104  provide tactile feedback to the user if the user moves his or her arm laterally, as indicated by arrow  600 , which is undesired movement. The user then begins a smooth backward motion as indicated by arrow  103   a  in FIG. 11A. The arm and hand continue in a circular motion (following the arc of the guides  102 ,  104 ) until there is an approximately 90 degree angle between the forearm and biceps. When the 90 degree angle between forearm and biceps is achieved, the user pivots to throw the ball and begins the forward motion of his or her arm and hand along arrow  103   b  (shown in FIG. 11B). In addition, once the hand is past the user&#39;s head, the user can shift his or her weight forward, as pictured in FIG. 11B. If the user pivots or shifts his or her weight to early, the user&#39;s hand will no longer be between the guides  102  and  104 . Thus, using this training method, the user is trained to move his or her arm and hand through the desired throwing motion along a plane as well as the proper timing for pivoting and shifting the weight forward, which is another point of difficulty for a novice thrower.  
         [0035]    It should be understood that the present invention may be used to train other types of throws. For example, a baseball infielder sometimes uses a shortened throw, that is different than the throw described above. A shortened throw does not follow the full arc described above, i.e., starting from a relaxed position with the hand at the side, but instead starts by moving the hand horizontally behind the thrower. Once the hand is behind the thrower, the 90 degree angle between forearm and biceps is achieved, which is then followed by the forward motion.  
         [0036]    [0036]FIGS. 12, 13, and  14  show side, front, and top views of guides  702  and  704  that may be used to train a shortened throw in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. As can seen in FIGS. 12, 13, and  14 , guides  702  and  704  include bottom portions  702   a  and  704   a , respectively that are straight and horizontal and are aligned with each other vertically. The guides  702  and  704  then transition into vertical planar portions  702   b  and  704   b , respectively. Vertical planar portions  702   b  and  704   b  are similar to the top portions of guides  102  and  104  described above.  
         [0037]    Guides  702  and  704  may be supported by an appropriate support mechanism, such as frame  106 , which is modified to hold the vertically aligned bottom portions  702   a  and  704   a  of guides  702  and  704 . Moreover, it should be understood that guides  702  and  704  are specific for a right handed thrower, and that mirror image guides would be used for a left handed thrower.  
         [0038]    In operation, the bottom portions  702   a  and  704   a  are positioned at approximately chest height of the user. The user moves his or her hand back horizontally between bottom portions  702   a  and  704   a  (along broken line  706 ). When the user&#39;s arm is extended, the user begins to move his or her arm and hand in a vertical plane (along broken line  708 ) that is aligned with the throwing target, such as that described in reference to FIGS. 10A, 10B,  11 A, and  11 B.  
         [0039]    In another embodiment of the present invention, resistance training may be used with the guides. For example, FIG. 15 shows a side view of a training device  800  with at least one guide  802  (a second guide may be included, but would be hidden in view in FIG. 15) and a resistance device  804 . The resistance device  804 , for example, may be a spring loaded pulley  806  and cable  808  that is connected to the sports ball  810 . The spring loaded pulley  806  provides resistance to the user when the user moves the sports ball  810  through the desired throwing arc (indicated by arrow  812 ). The cable  808  may be slidably connected to guide  802 , e.g., on a track, so that the resistance from the pulley  806  is the direction. Of course, if desired other implementations and designs may be used for the resistance device including using a pulley mechanism that is physically separated from the guide  802 .  
         [0040]    Although the present invention is illustrated in connection with specific embodiments for instructional purposes, the present invention is not limited thereto. Various adaptations and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, various configurations and dimensions of the guides may be used in accordance with the present invention. Moreover, various types of supporting devices may be used to support the guides in accordance with the present invention. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the foregoing description.