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Baseball/softball strike zone trainer for hitters

Baseball/softball strike zone trainer for hitters description/claims

This invention relates to a baseball/softball training device. Specifically the subject relates to improving the visual and mental skills of hitting, in addition pitchers and umpires also benefit in learning the visual skills.

As can be seen by reference to the following U.S. Pat. Application No. 20020123397 the prior art is more than adequate for the basic purpose and function for which it has been designed, However, it is deficient in one or more of the following areas. It does not equip a hitter with the essential visual skills needed for zone hitting. Zone hitting is seeing a pitched ball and learning to swing or not swing, based on three distinct locations within and around the strike zone; lack of a tally bar and rings for keeping track of a hitters progress; an attached home plate area for a batter to position him or herself relative to the location of the strike zone; or the portability of this invention; being small enough to fold flat and set up in a matter of seconds; or the shortened version of this invention that is utilized by umpires for the training of calling balls and strikes.

When playing the game of baseball, it is very important for a hitter to possess the mental and visual skills needed to be a productive hitter. The batter must know whether to swing or take the pitch, depending on all of the different ball and strike counts he or she might have in a real game. It is also important to know which areas of the strike zone to cover for each one of those ball and strike situations.

While the prior invention uses defined targets for hitters and pitchers it should be noted that the strike zone part of the prior art is designed for pitching, not hitting. The prior art is not equipped with two of the three properly defined zones that are considered necessary for training a hitter to take good quality at bats. Nor is it equipped with an attached home plate that folds down and extends out in front of the trainer precisely aliened with the strike zone panels. It is vital that the batter have an accurate point of reference as to where he or she should take their stance to prepare for a game type at bat.

The following are the three defined target areas this training device comprises to teach a batter to become a more skilled hitter.

1. The hot zone or sweet spot, this is a red loop panel that can be positioned any where the batter likes the pitch. This is the smallest of the three targets and the batter swings with only a bat handle and is taught to swing at all pitches that hit and adhere to the hot zone panel with one exception. With three balls and no strikes the batter is taught to take the pitch. The prior art does not define a hot zone area within the strike zone.

This zone is the ideal area for a batter to receive a pitch. Balls thrown in the hot zone area increase the batter's chances of hitting a line drive which produces more base hits.

2. The green zone or the true strike zone. This is a green and yellow loop panel divided in the middle horizontally for overlapping. This makes the strike zone variable for matching the exact height of each player. The panels fasten to the main black panel using hook tape on the back side of each. The batter practices swinging at all one strike pitches that hit and adhere to the green part of this panel including the red panel, with one exception. With a three ball and one strike count the batter is trained to only swing at pitches that hit and adhere to the smaller red panel.

3. The yellow zone. This is a baseballs width surrounding the green zone. The batter practices swinging at all two strike pitches that hit and adhere to the yellow green or red panels. The batter is trained to expand their strike zone as they accumulate strikes. This is known in the game of baseball as protecting the plate. It is the inventers opinion that protecting the plate is the greatest skill a player can learn from training with this apparatus. The prior art does not encompass this area around the strike zone.

This invention was developed through years of coaching and observing little league hitters and their inability to take good quality at bats in game situations. There has long existed a need among hitters for a new type of hitting practice apparatus that works well as a visual aid for both the player and the coach and that overcomes many of the shortcomings of the prior art.

Briefly stated, the hitting and umpiring practice apparatus that forms the basis of this invention comprises of a framework unit that supports a portable backstop panel comprised of Velcro loop material with secondary Velcro loop targets that form a strike zone that catches pitches thrown by a pitcher to the batter. The batter swings with only a bat handle and learns the best time to swing and not swing in real game at bats. Each plastic baseball thrown by the pitcher is covered with Velcro hook material that adheres to the strike zone, revealing the exact pitch location.

Attributes of the invention will become more clear after studying the best mode for carrying out the invention along with the observation of the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of the batting practice apparatus that forms the basis for the invention.

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the batting practice apparatus.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged front detail view of the upper right side of the batting apparatus.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged detail view of the backside upper left part of the batting apparatus

• Provisional Patent
• Utility Patent

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