Sports activity training instrument

#This invention relates to a training instrument for a sport in which a ball or similar object is struck or thrown by a player grasping the instrument with both hands such as a baseball bat, a cricket bat, a lacrosse stick known as a crosse, and a tennis racket which is sometimes swung with both hands.

#In sports activities where an instrument is held with both hands and used to strike, propel or throw an object, the instrument is held at or adjacent to one end thereof with a first hand with the second hand adjacent thereto, or in the case of a hockey stick the second hand is spaced from the first hand.

#The first hand predominantly provides a pivot although it will move in an arc-like motion, while the second hand predominantly provides power and/or acceleration to the struck or thrown object. It is important that movement of the hands must be in coordination to properly impact an object at the point of contact of the instrument with the object or the point of release of the object in the case of throwing the ball in lacrosse.

#FIG. 1 top view of a batter gripping a training bat embodying the invention prior to swinging, in full line, and showing in broken line the articulation of the head and handle of the bat as the batter swings the bat.

#FIG. 2 is a side elevation of a baseball training bat embodying the invention, partially in half section;

#FIG. 3 is side elevation of the training bat of FIG. 2 showing elements thereof longitudinally separated and a sleeve about the gripping portion in expanded cross section;

#In swinging at a baseball, the batter uses the lower hand on the bat as a moving pivot and additionally predominantly uses the lower hand to pull the bat forward in the swing. The upper hand is predominantly used to push the bat forward in the swing and accelerate the head of the bat. This is explained in conjunction with FIG. 1 where a batter's arms are shown in full line in a position prior to the swing and in broken line after impact with the ball or near the completion of a swing.

#In swinging a training bat 10 embodying the invention, the bottom hand begins the swing by pulling the knob end K of training bat 10 toward the front side of the body (left side as shown for a right handed hitter) as indicated by the arrow PULL. As the bottom hand moves toward the front side of the body, the upper hand pushes the bat head H through the ball as indicated by the arrow PUSH. Many younger batters and inexperienced players fail to use their upper hand properly and as a result do not accelerate the bat through a swing. In a training bat embodying the invention a batter cannot properly accelerate the bat through a swing without using his upper hand properly. With a training bat embodying the invention, a batter experiences a mechanical couple action of opposing forces of the bottom and top hands rotating together. A training bat embodying the invention also helps a batter develope a compact inside swing with the bat head up and accelerating it through contact with the ball and adding length of swing to the follow through.

#Due to a lack of strength, many batters begin their swing by opening the front of the body too soon and develop a bottom hand oriented swing. A training bat embodying the invention forces a batter to properly use the upper hand and arm or they will not be able to hit during tee or soft toss drills. A training bat embodying the invention also teaches a batter in not swinging the top hand to early which would cause the bat to sweep or cast during a swing. When a batter sweeps or casts it prevents proper extension of the arms through contact with the ball and proper follow-through.