Patent ID: 7077766

Claim:
Apparatus for training basketball players in proper basketball shooting techniques for properly aiming and releasing a basketball, said apparatus comprising: a first vertical support member having a upper and lower ends with the lower end adapted to rest on a supporting surface, said first member being manually adjustable in height whereby the upper end can be raised and lowered as required by the height of the player being trained; an elongated guide rod extending in a longitudinal direction; a hollow casing open at both ends and disposed on top of the upper end of the first support member, said casing being manually pivotable about a horizontal axis disposed at right angles to said longitudinal direction, said casing providing a guide channel through which said rod extends, said channel enabling the rod to be manually slidable back and forth in said longitudinal direction while preventing said rod from moving in any other direction; an adjustable wrist support adapted for manual engagement and disengagement with the wrist of the player being trained; and a second elongated member secured rotatably at one end to one end of said rod and extending at right angles thereto, the other end of the second member being secured to said wrist support whereby wrist engagement of the support by the player being trained enables the player with basketball in hand to slide the guide rod as desired to properly aim and release the ball, wherein said rod has a uniform rectangular cross section with four side walls and said casing contains roller bearings engaging each of the four side walls to establish smooth sliding action for said rod.