Training and strengthening device for throwing sports

Abstract

A training and strengthening device for throwing sports that uses aerodynamic drag to create a velocity-dependent resistance force on an athlete's throwing or swinging hand substantially throughout the entire training motion. The resistance force produced on the device from aerodynamic drag can be used as a sensitive indicator of throwing or swinging efficacy. The device, which is portable, is wholly hand-held, untethered to any grounding surface, requires no one other than the athlete to use, and allows a fast-paced repetitive workout. An embodiment of the invention is designed to be close in weight to a regulation baseball and allows a throwing motion very similar to pitching a baseball. An embodiment of the element for producing aerodynamic resistive drag is comprised of a lightweight foam structure attached to a poly baseball via a flexible strap. The foam structure is preferably formed by four equally spaced foam fins emanating out from a central axis, wide at one end and tapering to a conical point at the other end. A foam circular plate is attached to the wide end of the fins creating four elongated corner cube pockets designed to trap air while the device is in motion to produce a large drag coefficient for the given volume of the device.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.