# US 2025/0083016 A1 · Throwing Footwork Trainer > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2025/0083016 A1 - Document ID: US20250083016A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 18/826,586 - Filed: 2024-09-06 - Published: 2025-03-13 - Earliest claimed: 2023-09-07 - Assignees: Torch Sports, LLC - Inventors: David Andrukonis; Alan Bender - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20250083016A1 ## CPC - A63B 69/0002: {for baseball} - A63B 69/002: {for football (American-football dummies A63B69/34)} - A63B 2069/0006: {for pitching} - A63B 2071/0655: {Tactile feedback} - A63B 2071/0694: {Visual indication, e.g. Indicia} - A63B 2102/14: Lacrosse - A63B 2102/18: Baseball, rounders or similar games - A63B 2102/182: {Softball} - A63B 2209/00: Characteristics of used materials - A63B 2209/10: with adhesive type surfaces, i.e. hook and loop-type fastener - A63B 2210/50: Size reducing arrangements for stowing or transport - A63B 2214/00: Training methods - A63B 2225/09: Adjustable dimensions - A63B 2243/007: American football - A63B: APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT (apparatus for passive exercising, massage A61H) ## Abstract This disclosure describes a training device for throwing a ball, relevant for all baseball and softball players, the quarterback position in football, lacrosse players, and all other athletes who use a similar throwing motion. Various embodiments described in this disclosure assist in teaching basic throwing footwork preferably while allowing the thrower's eyes to remain focused on the target. Basic throwing footwork involves beginning by standing with one's toes facing perpendicular to the target direction, stepping one's front foot forward and straight with toes rotating fully or partially toward the target, and finally allowing one's back leg to follow through and land alongside the front leg. These steps enhance power and accuracy. Various embodiments described in this disclosure help guide the thrower through these steps. Preferred embodiments are deployed as a long, narrow, and elevated device comprising a starting surface, a landing surface, and a gap between the two. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A device for training throwing footwork, comprising: a backing that serves as a bottom layer of the device when in contact with ground or other supporting surface during use wherein the backing is configured to reduce slippage when in contact with the ground or other supporting surface; starting padding disposed at a first area on a first side of the backing opposite to a second side of the backing that is in contact with the ground or other supporting surface during use; a starting surface present on a first side of the starting padding opposite to a second side of the starting padding that is in contact with the backing, wherein the starting surface is sized to accommodate both feet of a thrower standing in a throwing stance on the starting surface during use; landing padding disposed at a second area on the first side of the backing; and a landing surface present on a first side of the landing padding opposite to a second side of the landing padding that is in contact with the backing, the landing surface being sized to accommodate landing of at least a front foot of the thrower during use, wherein the device is configured to provide tactile feedback to the thrower in relation to stride length and/or stride direction. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein a gap is defined between starting-side components and landing-side components, wherein the starting-side components comprise the starting padding and the starting surface and the landing-side components comprise the landing padding and the landing surface. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein no gap is defined between starting-side components and landing-side components, wherein the starting-side components comprise the starting padding and the starting surface and the landing-side components comprise the landing padding and the landing surface. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the backing, the starting padding, the starting surface, the landing padding and the landing surface are unified layers. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein a width of the landing surface exists within a preferred range such that the tactile feedback is provided to the thrower when the front foot of the thrower does not land completely on the landing surface. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein a height of the landing surface and the landing padding exists within a preferred range such that the tactile feedback is provided to the thrower when the thrower does not land completely on the landing surface, while still allowing the thrower's feet to land safely. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the device is configured to be foldable or rollable so as to place the device in a configuration for storage or transport when not in use. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the backing, starting padding, starting surface, landing padding, and landing surface are rectilinear in shape. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the starting surface is present on less than an entirety of the first side of the starting padding and/or the landing surface is present on less than an entirety of the first side of the landing padding. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the starting surface comprises artificial turf or other tufting and/or the landing surface comprises the artificial turf or other tufting. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the starting padding and the landing padding provide firmness and height beneath the starting surface and the landing surface, respectively. ### Claim 12 (depends on 2) The device of claim 2, wherein the backing is continuous so as unite the starting-side components and the landing-side components, while preserving the gap defined between the starting-side components and the landing-side components. ### Claim 13 (depends on 2) The device of claim 2, wherein at least two of the backing, the starting padding, and the starting surface are unified layers, and/or at least two of the backing, the landing padding and the landing surface are unified layers. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the starting surface comprises markings indicative of foot placements and/or the landing surface comprises markings indicative of a throwing direction. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the starting surface comprises markings indicative of foot placements that are ambidextrous for either handedness of the thrower. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the device is configured such that during use: the thrower stands in a throwing position on the starting surface with each foot on the starting surface that is supported at least in part by the starting padding disposed at the first area on the first side of the backing; and then the thrower steps with the front foot during a throwing motion towards the landing surface that is supported at least in part by the landing padding disposed at the second area on the first side of the backing such that: the tactile feedback for proper footwork during the throwing motion occurs when the front foot lands on the landing surface, whereas the tactile feedback for improper footwork occurs when the front foot fails to land on the landing surface. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) A method for training footwork of a thrower using the device of claim 1, comprising: standing in a throwing position on the starting surface with each foot on the starting surface that is supported at least in part by the starting padding disposed at the first area on the first side of the backing; stepping with the front foot during a throwing motion towards the landing surface that is supported at least in part by the landing padding disposed at the second area on the first side of the backing; and receiving the tactile feedback during the throwing motion such that the tactile feedback of proper footwork during the throwing motion is received when the front foot lands on the landing surface, whereas the tactile feedback of improper footwork is received when the front foot fails to land on the landing surface. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, further comprising unfolding or unrolling the device and placing the backing in contact with the ground or other supporting surface before standing in the throwing position on the starting surface. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the backing, the starting padding, the starting surface, the landing padding, and the landing surface are rectilinear in shape. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the starting surface comprises artificial turf or other tufting and/or the landing surface comprises the artificial turf or other tufting.