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Method and apparatus for improving a baseball and softball reaction timing

Method and apparatus for improving a baseball and softball reaction timing description/claims

The present invention relates to training an individual to react to an action of another individual or machine such that the individual's reaction comprises an effective response. The present invention further is applicable in industry, in military applications and for sports training. The present invention more particularly relates to a method and an apparatus for batting practice in baseball or softball to improve a batter's reaction timing.

Baseball and Softball batting practice has routinely been accomplished by the Batter swinging at, or bunting, balls thrown by a person, or propelled by a machine, or other ball propelling apparatus.

The pitched or propelled ball velocity may be fast, slow, or in between and may not have been relative to the Reaction Time the Batters will face against Opposing Pitchers in Real Games. The pitched or propelled ball may have various spins applied to it which causes the ball to move in a variety of directions based on the spin and other factors applied to it.

The Batter will look for the ball to be thrown or propelled. When the Batter recognizes the ball has been thrown or propelled the Batter will time the speed and movement of the ball and then swing the bat at the ball and try to meet the ball at the optimum point in the swing so the bat will hit the ball. Preferably the ball hit by the bat would have ended up in play, in between the foul lines, or in fair territory of the baseball or softball field, if the ball had been hit in a baseball game or softball game.

The method and apparatus disclosed herein will improve the quality of a baseball or softball batting practice session as typically performed today. The invention disclosed is the TIME RIGHT™ BASEBALL BATTING PRACTICE SYSTEM which provides a means for the Batter to work on the reaction timing and reaction timing techniques used in games against a specific for a variety of opposing pitchers while taking batting practice.

The TIME RIGHT™ BASEBALL BATTING PRACTICE SYSTEM is a method that uses a radar gun or other velocity determining apparatus, a tape measure or other distance measuring device, along with the TIME RIGHT™ BOOKS with TIME RIGHT™ CONVERSION CHARTS, the TIME RIGHT™ HITTERS MAT (100), The TIME RIGHT™ Pitcher's Mat (400), the TIME RIGHT™ BATTERS BOXES (500), a movable pitchers rubber or other RELEASE POINT REFERENCE (150), a moveable or stationary home plate or other reference for the batter to set-up to. Live batting practice pitcher, or pitching machine, or other ball propelling apparatus, together enabling Reaction Time Replication.

The foregoing and other features and advantages of the present invention will become more readily appreciated as the same become better understood by reference to the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment of the invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates Note: The TIME RIGHT™ NUMBERING SYSTEM (110) on the TIME RIGHT™ HITTERS MAT (100) (FIG. 1) is in FEET and TENTHS of a FOOT, (but not limited to it). It is a repetitive solid circle (120) and 1 thru 9 extending from the Front of the Mat (130) (nearest End of the Mat (140) to the RELEASE POINT REFERENCE (150)) to the REAR OF THE MAT (160) (farthest End of the Mat (140) from the RELEASE POINT REFERENCE (150)). This is so the MOVABLE HOME PLATE (200) or other POINT OF CONTACT REFERENCE (200) can be repositioned on the TIME RIGHT™ HITTERS MAT (100). The RELEASE POINT DISTANCE (300), and Point of Contact (310), from the Batting Practice Pitchers, or Pitching machines Release Point, can easily be adjusted on the TIME RIGHT™ HITTERS MAT (100) with out re-measuring the distance. The Batter moves to a different position which changes his or her Reaction Time.

FIG. 1A shows Example 1, 2, and 5 of using the Preferred Method of Replicating Reaction Time along with the TIME RIGHT™ BASEBALL BATTING PRACTICE SYSTEM HITTERS MAT (100) and BATTERS BOX Apparatus SET-UP along with, a MOVABLE HOME PLATE (200) and a Pitching Machine Example 1, a MOVABLE HOME PLATE (200) and a Movable Pitchers Rubber Example 2, and 2 Movable Home Plates (200) and a Movable Pitchers Rubber Example 5. The Preferred Method disclosed here will improve the Reaction Timing of Baseball, and Soft Ball Batters, by enabling them to work on their Reaction Timing they use in Real Games, and their Reaction Timing Techniques they use in Real Games against a Specific, or a Variety of Opposing Pitchers. This Being Accomplished While Taking Batting Practice. Seen in FIG. 1A are Diagrams of the TIME RIGHT™ BATTERS BOXES (500) and TIME RIGHT™ HITTERS MATS (100), along with diagrams of a pitching machine, movable pitchers rubbers and movable home plates (200), and RELEASE POINT DISTANCE (300)s with MAT set up.

FIG. 1B shows the NUMBERING SYSTEM (110) at the HITTERS MAT (100).

FIG. 2 shows the way the TIME RIGHT™ Pitcher's Mat (400) (FIG.2) can be used to make RELEASE POINT DISTANCE (300) Adjustments when using a Movable Pitchers Rubber, or other RELEASE POINT REFERENCE (150) Object. The Release point reference marks (410) or Movable Pitchers Rubber Change Position to adjust the RELEASE POINT DISTANCE (300) from the Point of Contact (310). The Batting Practice Pitcher moves to change the Reaction Time. The TIME RIGHT™ PITCHERS MATS (400) unique NUMBERING SYSTEM (110) is in Feet and Tenths of a Foot, (but not limited to it). It is a repetitive solid circle and 1 thru 9 extending from the Front of the Mat (130) (nearest end of Mat to the Batter) to the rear of Mat (farthest End of the Mat (140) from the Batter).The RELEASE POINT REFERENCE (150) marks (referring to FIG.2) represent any whole foot position and can be used by the Batting Practice Pitcher to reference his or her Release Point. The solid circles indicate any whole foot position when the Release Point Reference Mark is covered by a Movable Pitchers Rubber, or other RELEASE POINT REFERENCE (150) Object. These RELEASE POINT REFERENCE (150) Marks and whole foot indication marks (solid circles, but not limited to them) are what make the TIME RIGHT™ Pitcher's Mat (400) unique. The Tenths numbers 1 thru 9 indicate that portion of a foot. The Tenths number or solid circle remain showing when the Movable Pitchers Rubber is in place on the TIME RIGHT™ Pitcher's Mat (400) for that whole foot, or whole foot and Tenths distance position. The RELEASE POINT REFERENCE (150) Marks, or a properly placed Movable Pitchers Rubber on the TIME RIGHT™ Pitcher's Mat (400), are used to mark one end of a specific RELEASE POINT DISTANCE (300). The TIME RIGHT™ Pitcher's Mat (400) can be 6′, 8′, 10′, 12′, etc. long and 3′, 4′, 5′, 6′, etc. wide but not limited to these dimensions. The TIME RIGHT™ Pitcher's Mat (400) is used as part of the TIME RIGHT™ BASEBALL BATTING PRACTICE.

FIG. 2A illustrates the NUMBERING SYSTEM (110) at the PITCHERS MAT (400).

FIG. 3 illustrates The TIME RIGHT™ MOVABLE BATTERS BOX (500) (FIG. 3) is typically a 4′×6′ Mat made of a batting cage turf, or other type of artificial turf (but not limited to this material or size) and may have a foam, rubber, or other type backing attached to the turf. The total thickness of the mat may vary from less than ¼″ to over 1″. The border around the BATTERS BOX (500) may be up to 4″ wide and may extend inward around the outer parameter. The DIAMOND Shape Alignment Marks (510) are located at the half way point of the BATTERS BOX (500) length. A typical Batters Box in professional baseball will be 6 ft. long and the Alignment Marks (510) are located at the 3 ft., or half way point. In softball, or other types of youth baseball the BATTERS BOXES size and Alignments Marks would correspond to the layout of the batters boxes on the field to be played on for that particular game. The Alignment Marks (510) allow for easy BATTERS BOX (500) Alignment to a stationary, or MOVABLE HOME PLATE (200) or other POINT OF CONTACT REFERENCE (200). The TIME RIGHT™ BATTERS BOX (500) has 2 Alignment Marks (510) and accommodate both right and left handed Batters as well as right and left Batters Box placement. These Alignment Marks (510) are what make the TIME RIGHT™ MOVABLE BATTERS BOXES (500) unique as they can be adjusted to work as part of the TIME RIGHT™ BASEBALL BATTING PRACTICE SYSTEM.

FIG. 4. illustrates the BATTERS BOX (500), Pitcher's Mat (400), Hitters Mat (100), Pitchers Rubber and the MOVABLE HOME PLATE (200).

• Provisional Patent
• Utility Patent

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