Billiards practice device

This invention relates generally to the game of billiards, and, more specifically, to devices and methods for practicing aspects of the game of billiards.

In the game of billiards, the object is to sink object balls into pockets disposed around the perimeter of a billiards table by striking the object balls with a cue ball. The cue ball is propelled by being struck with the tip end of a cue stick.

To become proficient at the game of billiards, a player must spend long hours practicing various shots. It is the goal of better pool players to be able to not only sink a target object ball, but also to cause the cue ball (after having struck the object ball) to travel to a predetermined location on the billiards table where it is in an advantageous position for making a follow-up shot.

The recommended method of increasing one\'s proficiency with respect to the game of billiards is to practice a single shot over and over, trying in each case to sink the object ball and relocate the cue ball to a predetermined location. In this regard, the object ball is disposed at a first specific location on the billiards table and a cue ball is disposed at a second predetermined position on the billiards table. After the billiards player has shot his or her first practice shot, he or she then places a new object ball at the first specific location and retrieves the cue ball and places it at the second specific location, and again attempts the same shot. The billiards player repeats these steps over and over again until he or she has mastered this one particular shot, whereupon he or she can begin practicing another specific shot.

During the practice of each particular shot, the billiards player must generally walk from one end of the table to an opposite side of the table to retrieve both an object ball and a cue ball and to relocate an object ball to the first specific position and the cue ball to the second specific position. Walking the length of the table after each practice shot is both time consuming and energy consuming. Typically, more time and effort is spent in retrieving the cue ball and an object ball and in relocating the cue ball and the object ball to the specific locations than is spent in the actual practicing of a shot itself. Also, bending and leaning over the billiards table and stretching to retrieve the cue ball and an object ball is stressful and tiring to the upper body of the billiards player, especially to his or her back muscles.

Accordingly, there is a need for a practice device which will minimize the loss of time and energy in retrieving and relocating an object ball and the cue ball.

The invention satisfies this need. The invention is a billiards practice device comprising (a) a body defining a central portion sized and dimensioned to accept and closely retain a billiards ball; and (b) the body further defining a viewing port located such that, when the billiards ball is retained within the central portion, the lower portion of the billiards ball is visible to a user.

In the invention, the billiards practice device is used in combination with an elongate handle. In one embodiment, the elongate handle is provided by a cue stick which is attached to the billiards practice device, such as by being disposed in press fit within a bore defined in the body of the billiards practice device.

The invention is also a method of using the billiards practice device to repeatedly practice a billiards shot. In the method, after each billiards shot is taken, an object ball and the cue ball are quickly and easily retrieved and repositioned to the specific locations on the billiards table using the billiards practice device, without the billiards player having to repeatedly walk back and forth substantially the length of the billiards table and without the billiards player having to repeatedly bend, lean and stretch over the billiards table.

DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a billiards practice device having features of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective underside view of the billiards practice device illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective side view of the billiards practice device illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a side view, in partial cross-section, of the billiards practice device illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a first alternative embodiment of a billiards practice device having features of the invention;

FIG. 6A is a perspective sketch of a second alternative embodiment of a billiards practice device having features of the invention;

FIG. 6B is a perspective sketch of a third alternative embodiment of a billiards practice device having features of the invention;

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Previous Patent Application:
control device for a swing
Next Patent Application:
Cue stick and cue stick handle with rigid forearm and method of making the same
Industry Class:
Games using tangible projectile

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