Batting Stance and Stride Practice Apparatus

This invention relates to a batting practice trainer and particularly to a foot placement training device for a baseball stance. Prior devices provided rigid foot guides or visual foot guides only. Visual foot guides do not provide the tactile guidance necessary for efficient and effective batting training since the batter's vision should be concentrated on the ball rather than foot placement. Rigid foot guides, on the other hand, are dangerous in that deviation from the proper foot placement will result in the batter losing his balance and possibly falling in addition to interferring with his concentration.

A foot placement training device for a baseball batting stance is disclosed, comprising two oppositely disposed substantially flat support members attached therebetween by a home plate element, a pair of pliable, yieldable foot placement guide members mounted to the top surface of each support member and oppositely disposed with each foot placement guide having a color coded pivot foot recess, first stride foot recess, and a second stride foot recess. The recesses are of sufficient depth in the yieldable, pliable material of the foot placement guide to provide tactile guidance to the batter's foot during the swinging motion with the first stride foot recess being connected to the second stride foot recess to allow unobstructed passage of the stride foot of the batter during the swinging motion. The pivot foot recess and the first stride recess are generally perpendicular to the home plate element and the second stride foot recess is generally obliquely disposed with respect to the first stride foot recess. The recesses are color coded in a traffic light manner with the pivot foot recess being red, the first stride foot recess being yellow, and the second stride foot recess being green. The home plate element is foldable along its center line via hinge means to allow compaction for transportation and includes handle apertures for carrying.

It is a principal object of this invention to provide an improved batting practice trainer.

A further object of this invention is to provide a batting practice trainer that provides yieldable, tactile foot guidance during the swinging motion.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a batting practice trainer that provides simple color coded foot placement sequence for a proper batting swing.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a batting practice trainer that is easily compacted for transporting.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a batting practice trainer that reduces the possibility of injury during training, yet allows total concentration on the ball.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a batting practice trainer that provides a simple color coded sequence of foot placement for teaching young children.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a batting practice trainer that is durable in use, economical to manufacture, and refined in appearance.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a partial top view of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the invention and a batter in the ready position.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged partial view similar to FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged partial view similar to FIG. 4, illustrating completion of the swinging motion.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view seen on line 6--6 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged partial view similar to FIG. 5.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the device in a carrying position.

The numeral 10 generally refers to the foot placement training device of this invention shown in FIG. 1.

Training device 10 comprises flat support members 12 and 13, foot placement guides 14 and 16, and home plate element 18. Opposite edges 20 and 22 of home plate element 18 are securely attached to support members 12 and 13, respectively, as shown in FIG. 1. Foot placement guide 14 is securely mounted to the top surface 24 of left support member 13 and comprises pivot foot recess 26, first stride foot recess 28, and second stride foot recess 30. A left handed batter in the ready position would place his left foot in pivot recess 26 and his right foot in recess 28 (FIGS. 3 and 4). Cavity 32 connects recess 28 and recess 30 (FIG. 2) so that the right foot may stride unencumbered from recess 28 to recess 30 during the swinging motion (FIG. 5). Cavity 34 connects recess 26 and recess 28 to aid in initial placement of the feet.

Recess 26 is generally parallel to recess 30 and perpendicular to home plate element 18 to provide the proper foot placement for the batter's ready position. Recess 30 is generally obliquely disposed with respect to recess 28 to provide the proper foot placement for the termination of the batting swing (FIG. 5). The depth of the respective recesses provides tactile guidance for initial foot placement and foot movement during the swinging motion. Foot placement guide 14 is comprised of a yieldable, pliable material, preferably foam rubber, with a preferred recess depth of three inches. The yieldable quality of placement guide 14 prevents the batter from losing his balance and stumbling should foot placement be improper during the swinging motion as illustrated in FIG. 7. The batter can maintain his full concentration and keep his eye on the ball because he can feel any deviation in proper foot placement during the swinging motion.

Foot placement guide (16) is color coded utilizing the "traffic light" color code with recess 26 colored red as designated by the vertical lines 42 (FIG. 2), recess 28 colored yellow as designated by the cross hatching 44, and recess 30 colored green as designated by the diagonal lines 46. This color code provides an easily understandable sequence guide of foot movement for teaching young children.

Foot placement guide 16 is the right hand batter's equivalent to foot placement guide 14 hereinbefore described. Guide 16 comprises recesses corresponding to those of guide 14 and is securely attached to a top surface of support member 12.

Home plate element 18 is comprised of portion 36 and portion 38 pivotally connected by hinge 40 (FIG. 6) to allow device 10 to fold into the configuration shown in FIG. 8. This allows easy transportation of the device which can be hand held by holding apertures 40.

In operation, training device 10 is utilized in either an outdoor or indoor environment in the unfolded position of FIG. 1. The batter places his pivot foot in recess 26 and his stride foot in recess 28 assuming the ready position shown in FIG. 3. The shape and parallel disposition of recesses 26 and 28 assures proper foot placement for the ready position. The batter then practices his swing with or without an actual ball being pitched over home plate element 18. The foot movement during the swinging motion consists of the stride foot passing through cavity 32 into recess 30 while the pivot foot pivots in recess 26, as shown in FIG. 5. Recess 26, cavity 32 and recess 30 provide tactile guidance for proper foot placement during the swinging motion because the batter can feel any improper deviation from proper foot placement. This touching perception of the foot placement guide, however, will not cause injury due to stumbling or falling nor affect concentration to any significant degree because of the yieldable nature of the material of which the guide is composed. Therefore, should the batter deviate from the proper position as illustrated in FIG. 7, he will feel the deviation and the material will yield to his foot. The batter is thus able to keep his eye on the ball, yet is still aware of improper foot placement. His concentration should not be affected by the foot guide since the possibility of stumbling due to deviation therefrom is eliminated by the yieldable nature of the guide material.

The color coding also provides a visual guide to proper foot placement in addition to simplifying the movement sequence for children. By using the "traffic light" color code, the proper sequence is easily understood by children.

The training device 10 is easily transported from place to place by folding the device about hinge 40 into the configuration shown in FIG. 8, and carrying it by means of hand apertures 40. The durable and light weight construction of the materials facilitates easy movement and longevity of use.

Thus, it can be seen that this device accomplishes at least all of its stated objectives.