Hand Held Baseball or Softball Batting Tee

Abstract

A batting tee or batting training device comprising of a handle adapted so that is can be held by a person other than the batter, a ball-holding section which includes a ball-holding apparatus, sleeve, or cone to hold the baseball or softball, and a shaft section between the handle and the ball-holding section, sleeve, or cone.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present invention relates to a batting tee and, more particularly, to a hand held batting tee where the position can be easily changed and ball movement can also be easily achieved.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]In baseball and softball, one of the most difficult skills to master is that of batting. The batter must be able to coordinate the swing of a bat with the location of a ball so that good contact with the ball can be made while swinging the bat. Once this is mastered, the hitter must also learn to make good contact with the ball at the various positions at which it may cross home plate. This can include pitches that are inside, outside, high, low, or a combination of these variables.[0003]To develop these skills, players have used a stationary baseball or softball tee for supporting a ball at a selected height above the hitting area. With the ball positioned, the batter can practice swinging at that location to assist in the process of coordi...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0014]According to the present invention, there is provided a batting tee and batting training device that solves these problems in a manner unknown heretofore. The present batting tee and batting training device is capable of supporting a ball at an infinite number of different horizontal and vertical positions relative to a baseball home plate. In this manner, a batter can practice hitting a variety of different pitch locations to better simulate an actual game.

[0015]Further, since the present invention is not attached to a base, but is instead held by another coach or person, the present batting tee and batting training device can be moved while the batter swings to help improve the batter's hand-eye coordination. This allows the batter to practice hitting a ball that is in motion.

[0016]Further, the present invention can utilize regular baseballs or softballs, soft practice balls, wiffle-type balls, foam type balls and any other type ball as opposed to using a permanently attached baseball or softball. This allows the batter to see the speed and direction of the ball once the batter hits it. This also prevents the coach or other person holding the batting tee from having to absorb the impact of the batter's hit, since the force of the impact is instead transferred to the ball that is not permanently attached to the shaft.

Problems solved by technology

In baseball and softball, one of the most difficult skills to master is that of batting.

While such batting tees are widely used, there are a number of problems that exists therewith.

First, the batting tee is only capable of supporting a ball at one fixed position at a time.

This is a very time-consuming and labor-intensive process.

Second, the batting tee with multiple holes is still limited to the number of locations in which the ball can be positioned for the batter.

For example, a batting tee with five holes allows the batter to practice hitting in five locations, but there are infinitely more possible locations that cannot be practiced.

Third, the batting tee is also a heavy and bulky item.

Existing batting tees are either not readily disassembled, or they cannot be disassembled at all.

This makes the batting tee difficult to package, ship, and store.

Furthermore, a batter cannot easily take the tee with him wherever they go for use in practicing batting.

While this training device is widely used, there are a number of problems that exist therewith.

This means that when the batter hits the ball, the batter is not able to see the speed and direction in which the ball travels once hit.

Second, because the ball is permanently attached to the shaft, the coach or person holding the handle is forced to hold the handle and absorb the shock and impact when the batter hits the ball.

Throughout the duration of batting, the coach or person holding the handle begins to feel pain in their shoulder, elbow, and wrist as a result of having to absorb the impact of each hit.

Third, the permanently attached ball is often constructed of a material that is harder or denser than a regular baseball or softball.

As a result, use of the “ball on a stick” can cause damage to or break a batter's bat.

Fourth, the permanently attached ball suffers from wear and tear when used, and eventually will break from the repeated impact of the batter's bat.

Once the permanently attached ball breaks, the training device can no longer be used.

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