Tennis practice apparatus

A tennis practice apparatus that is comprised of a main support member that is for mounting from an upright wall;

• an outer support member that is hinged with the main support member and includes a closed position wherein the outer support member is engaged against the main support member, and an open position wherein the outer support member is hinged to an open position that is substantially orthogonal to the main support member;
• and a pliable fabric sheet that extends between a top end of the main support member and the outer support member;
• the pliable fabric sheet defining a surface against which a user can hit tennis balls and retrieve tennis balls therefrom;
• including a ball stopper disposed adjacent to a top end of the pliable fabric sheet and for redirecting tennis balls downwardly along the pliable fabric sheet;
• and wherein the ball stopper is foldable from a concealed position to a position that enables contact with and redirects the tennis balls downwardly along the pliable fabric sheet.

A tennis practice device that is comprised of a first planar support member that is for mounting to an upright wall;

• a second planar outer support member that is hinged with the first planar support member and includes a closed position wherein the second planar outer support member is engaged against the first planar support member, and an open position wherein the second planar outer support member is hinged to an open position that is substantially orthogonal to the first planar support member;
• and a pliable fabric sheet that extends between a top end of the first planar support member and a top end the outer support member;
• the pliable fabric sheet defining a surface against which a user can hit tennis balls and retrieve tennis balls therefrom including a ball stopper disposed adjacent to a top end of the pliable fabric sheet and for redirecting tennis balls downwardly along the pliable fabric sheet;
• a protruding bump at a top end of the outer support member so that, when a tennis ball is hit against the pliable fabric sheet and falls downwardly therealong, the tennis ball is redirected toward a player;
• wherein the ball stopper is foldable from a concealed position to a position that enables contact with and redirects the tennis balls downwardly along the pliable fabric sheet;
• and wherein the bump is formed in an upwardly facing surface of the second planar outer support member in the open position of the second planar outer support member, and outside of the pliable fabric sheet so that tennis balls that fall downwardly along the pliable fabric sheet are redirected toward the player.

A method of practicing the striking of a tennis ball by directing the tennis ball toward a rebound structure which, in turn, redirects the tennis ball back toward a player, said rebound structure including a main support member that is for mounting from an upright wall;

• an outer support member that is hinged with the main support member and includes a closed position wherein the outer support member is engaged against the main support member, and an open position wherein the outer support member is hinged to an open position that is substantially orthogonal to the main support member;
• providing a pliable fabric sheet that extends between a top end of the main support member and the outer support member;
• the pliable fabric sheet defining a surface against which a user can hit tennis balls and retrieve tennis balls therefrom;
• providing a ball stopper disposed adjacent to a top end of the pliable fabric sheet and for redirecting tennis balls downwardly along the pliable fabric sheet;
• providing a protruding bump at a top end of the outer support member so that, when a tennis ball is hit against the pliable fabric sheet and falls downwardly therealong, the tennis ball is redirected toward the user;
• wherein the ball stopper is foldable from a concealed position to a position that enables contact with and redirects the tennis balls downwardly along the pliable fabric sheet;
• and wherein the bump is formed in an upwardly facing surface of the second planar outer support member in the open position of the second planar outer support member, and outside of the pliable fabric sheet so that tennis balls that fall downwardly along the pliable fabric sheet are redirected toward the player.