Patent ID: 8460132

Claim:
A softball training device, comprising: (a) a plate assembly, the plate assembly comprising, (i) a balance plate, the balance plate comprising a flattened top surface, a flattened bottom surface, a front end, a rear end and a pair of opposing sides, and (ii) a downwardly extending plate support formed onto the rear end of the balance plate, the plate support being dimensioned to contact the support member when the balance plate is disposed in a substantially horizontal position, and (b) a support member on which the plate assembly is pivotally mounted, the plate assembly being naturally biased to balance at a substantially horizontal position, the support member comprising a base having a top surface and a bottom surface, the base being shaped to include a central rise that extends transversely across the width of the base, the central rise defining a rectangular cavity in the bottom surface of the base that is dimensioned to receive a pitching rubber, (c) wherein the plate assembly is capable of pivoting forward past the generally horizontal position, the plate assembly being incapable of pivoting rearward past the substantially horizontal position.