Patent ID: 7014577

Claim:
Apparatus for improving the skills of a sports person which comprises two diverging guidelines at least one of which is resilient and tensioned, a reciprocating line extending between and connected to each guideline whose length is equal to or greater than the minimum spacing of the guidelines and less than the maximum spacing of the guidelines, and a ball connected to and generally coaxial with the reciprocating line, and tensioning means comprising a reel connected to an anchor or a support for varying the tension of each guideline, the arrangement being such that when the ball is struck the reciprocating line is moved by its connection with the ball along the guidelines in the direction of their divergence until restrained from further movement by forces imposed on the line caused by the increased spacing between the guidelines and stretching of the resilient guideline(s), the ball and reciprocating line being returned to their starting positions or positions close thereto along the guidelines in the direction of their convergence through reactive forces generated between the reciprocating line and the resilient guideline(s).