Patent ID: 7226373

Claim:
An apparatus for batting practice, comprising: a) an upright support member having an upper end and a lower end and at least one hole defined in said support member; b) a pin capable of being inserted in one of said at least one hole, said pin having a retention means for retaining said pin in said hole; c) a generally horizontal base having i) a plurality of legs extending horizontally therefrom, ii) leg fastening means for removably securing each of said plurality of legs in a fixed position, iii) said base being mountable to said support member; iv) at least one fastening means defined in said base; d) a ball suspension rod having i) a distal end having a substantially ball-shaped object associated therewith, ii) a proximal end, iii) a sleeve associated with said proximal end, said sleeve being capable of fitting over said support member and comprising (1) an upper portion having a pair of opposing helical shaped grooves defined therein, said grooves spiraling downward counterclockwise, each of said upper portion grooves being capable of receiving said pin, (2) a lower portion having a pair of helical shaped grooves defined therein, said grooves spiraling downward clockwise, each of said lower portion grooves being capable of receiving said pin, (3) a middle portion having a tab extending therefrom, said tab having an opening; and, e) at least one elastic member having i) a first end having a first fastening means associated therewith for fastening to said tab and ii) a second end having a second fastening means associated therewith for fastening to said at least one fastening means in said base, whereby said sleeve is biased by said at least one elastic member in a resting “home” position and when said ball-shaped object is struck said sleeve rotates at least partially around said support member.