Patent ID: 7740548

Claim:
A training apparatus for practicing basketball drills comprising: (i) means for receiving basketballs being mounted on a wall surface in a substantially overhead position above a playing floor; (ii) means for arranging and moving basketballs from receiving means in a substantially orderly manner; (iii) means for positioning basketballs from arranging means substantially above a player, said positioning means being operatively coupled with said means for arranging and moving basketballs; (iv) a recoil assembly, having a primary and a secondary position, being operatively coupled with a shock for controlling movement of said recoil assembly said shock comprising: a cylinder being fitted with a piston such that said piston substantially fills the cross sectional area of the cylinder, said piston being slidably attached to a rod; said piston further having a top side and a bottom side being separated by a middle portion, the top side further comprising a confluence being substantially void and of predetermined form; the piston having at least one port for moving air between the top side and the bottom side; wherein at least one of said ports terminates in the confluence, said rod being operatively coupled with a bushing such that the bushing blocks the movement of air when the piston travels in a predetermined direction; (v) such that when a basketball, positioned by said recoil assembly being in said primary position, is grabbed by the player said recoil assembly moves to said secondary position thus releasing the basketball when a predetermined amount of force is supplied; (vi) means for returning said recoil assembly to the primary position.