WEIGHTED SWING TRAINING BAT

Abstract

One or more embodiments of a training bat including a shaft and a hitting head are disclosed. The shaft includes a handle and hand placement indicators. The shaft includes a first end and a second end. The hitting head is attached to the second end of the shaft. The hitting head includes a flat hitting surface which is substantially flat and a back end opposite the flat hitting surface. The hand placement indicators indicate a position for at least one of the hands of a user on the handle and the hand placement indicators indicate an alignment with the back end of the hitting head.

Description

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present invention relates to devices for training hitting for the sport of baseball.

BACKGROUND

In the game of baseball, bats are used to hit a ball into or out of (in the case of a homerun) a field. Proper swing mechanics are needed in order to have the ball fly a maximum distance. At the speeds (around 100 miles per hour) professional players hit the ball, maximum distance is generally achieved with a ball launch angle of about 25-30 degrees from a “sweet spot” on the bat. The sweet spot is a location on the bat that causes the ball to launch at the highest velocity with proper swing mechanics. The “sweet spot” is generally around 70-80 percent down the length of the bat (from handle end to hitting end) and is determined by several factors such as material, balance point vibration nodes, and the like. Younger players or amateur players (depending on strength) may achieve a maximum distance with a launch angle of around 30-40 degrees because of less air resistance for lower speed. Further, for maximum launch speed, the ball must be in the proper location at the time of contact with the bat. Generally, maximum launch speed and maximum distance is achieved by hitting the ball when the ball is arriving from the pitcher at the front of home plate. This gives the hitter a greater amount of time to accelerate the bat without the contact angle (about 80-90 degrees in the plane of the playing field) reducing the energy transferred to the ball.

Accordingly, in order to achieve maximum distance, a player must hit the ball at the sweet spot (aim), with the ball at the proper location over the plate (timing), with the bat traveling with the proper angle (swing mechanics), and speed (strength) to impart maximum kinetic energy to the ball and cause the ball to travel in the optimal direction. Accordingly, a baseball player must develop aim, timing, proper swing mechanics with proper hand and bat path, and strength in order to be an effective long ball (e.g., home run) hitter.

Many swing training devices exist that assist baseball players develop one or two of the above-mentioned factors (aim, timing, proper swing mechanics, and strength). However, no previously existing devices exist that can effectively assist a hitter in all of these factors.

SUMMARY

One or more embodiments are provided below for a device for a training bat. The training bat may include a shaft and a hitting head. The shaft may include a handle and hand placement indicators. The shaft may include a first end and a second end. The hitting head may be attached to the second end of the shaft. The hitting head may include a flat hitting surface which is substantially flat and a back end opposite the flat hitting surface. The hand placement indicators may indicate a position for at least one of the hands of a user on the handle and the hand placement indicators may indicate an alignment with the back end of the hitting head.

The device may provide significant advantages over the other devices due to the inclusion of one or more of: (1) a hitting head at a distance from the knob that simulates the sweet spot of an ordinary bat which assists with aim, (2) a counter weight that causes the training bat that may have greater weight and shorter length to a normal bat to have a similar feel when swung as an ordinary baseball bat, assisting with strength, timing, and proper swing mechanics, (3) a shaft that matches a baseball bat in shape and feel, assisting with proper swing mechanics, (4) indicators of hand positioning for a split grip that in combination with the orientation of the hitting head enforce proper swing mechanics, and (5) construction and materials that allow for the training bat to make contact with a baseball without compromising the structure of the training bat, allowing the bat to be used with a thrown baseball assisting with timing and aim.

Other advantageous features as well as other aspects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the present disclosure are described in detail below with reference to the following drawings. These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present disclosure will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings. The drawings described herein are for illustrative purposes only of selected embodiments and not all possible implementations and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

FIG. 1 depicts a back view of an example training bat.

FIG. 2 depicts a front view of the example training bat.

FIG. 3 depicts a top view of the example training bat.

FIG. 4 depicts a bottom view of the example training bat.

FIG. 5 depicts a cross section view of the example training bat.

FIG. 6 depicts a view of another example training bat.

FIG. 7 depicts a back view of a further example training bat.

FIG. 8 depicts a front view of the further example training bat.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the Summary above and in this Detailed Description, the claims below, and in the accompanying drawings, reference is made to particular features (including method steps) of the invention. It is to be understood that the disclosure of the invention in this specification includes all possible combinations of such particular features. For example, where a particular feature is disclosed in the context of a particular aspect or embodiment of the invention, or a particular claim, that feature can also be used, to the extent possible, in combination with and/or in the context of other particular aspects and embodiments of the invention, and in the invention generally.

The term “comprises” and grammatical equivalents thereof are used herein to mean that other components, ingredients, steps, among others, are optionally present. For example, an article “comprising” (or “which comprises”) components A, B, and C can consist of (i.e., contain only) components A, B, and C, or can contain not only components A, B, and C but also contain one or more other components.

Where reference is made herein to a method comprising two or more defined steps, the defined steps can be carried out in any order or simultaneously (except where the context excludes that possibility), and the method can include one or more other steps which are carried out before any of the defined steps, between two of the defined steps, or after all the defined steps (except where the context excludes that possibility).

The term “at least” followed by a number is used herein to denote the start of a range beginning with that number (which may be a range having an upper limit or no upper limit, depending on the variable being defined). For example, “at least 1” means 1 or more than 1. The term “at most” followed by a number is used herein to denote the end of a range ending with that number (which may be a range having 1 or 0 as its lower limit, or a range having no lower limit, depending upon the variable being defined). For example, “at most 4” means 4 or less than 4, and “at most 40%” means 40% or less than 40%. When, in this specification, a range is given as “(a first number) to (a second number)” or “(a first number)-(a second number),” this means a range whose lower limit is the first number and whose upper limit is the second number. For example, 25 to 100 mm means a range whose lower limit is 25 mm and upper limit is 100 mm.

Certain terminology and derivations thereof may be used in the following description for convenience in reference only and are not intended to be limiting. For example, words such as “upward,” “downward,” “left,” and “right” would refer to directions in the drawings to which reference is made unless otherwise stated. Similarly, words such as “inward” and “outward” would refer to directions toward and away from, respectively, the geometric center of a device or area and designated parts thereof. References in the singular tense include the plural, and vice versa, unless otherwise noted.

The term “coupled to” as used herein may mean a direct or indirect connection via one or more components.

Referring now to the drawings and the following written description of the present invention, it will be readily understood by those persons skilled in the art that the present invention is susceptible to broad utility and application. Many embodiments and adaptations of the present invention other than those herein described, as well as many variations, modifications, and equivalent arrangements will be apparent from or reasonably suggested by the present invention and the detailed description thereof, without departing from the substance or scope of the present invention. This disclosure is only illustrative and exemplary of the present invention and is made merely for purposes of providing a full and enabling disclosure of the invention.

FIGS. 1-4 depict various views of training bat 100. As depicted in FIG. 1, training bat 100 includes a counterweight 110, a knob (or hand stop) 120, a shaft 140 including a handle area 142 and a taper 144 portion, and a hitting head 160 with back face 162 and side face 166. The counterweight 110 may be fixed either (permanently or removably) to the knob 120 (as discussed in greater detail below) and have a weight of about 5-16 ounces. The knob 120 may be a part of the shaft 140 or a separate component. For example, if the shaft 140 is made of wood, the knob 120 may be part of the shaft 140 and carved from the same piece of wood. As another example, if the shaft 140 is made of metal such as aluminum, the knob 120 may be a construction piece of metal, plastic, and/or other durable material and be fixed to the shaft 140 by soldering rivets or other means.

The shaft 140 may have a handle area 142 that may or may not be wrapped with a grip (not shown) of leather, plastic, cloth, or other material. The overall length of bat 100 can be between 26-36 inches and the handle area 142 may be about 13-18 inches in length. The shaft 140 at the taper 144 portion may increase in diameter as the distance from the knob 120 increases to a broadest point of about 2½-2⅘ inches. The hitting head 160 may be connected to or proximate to a second end of the shaft 140 (opposite the first end at the handle area 142 or knob 120). The hitting head 160 may be a cylinder of rubber, wood, or other durable somewhat elastic material suitable for striking a baseball. The hitting head 160 may have a diameter of about 2-4 inches and a height of about 3-5 inches. Accordingly, the hitting head 160 may extend beyond the diameter of the shaft 140. The hitting head 160 may weigh about 10-20 ounces. The hitting head 160 may be fixed to the shaft 140 by screws, a shaped plug, screwing on to threading on the shaft 140, glue, etc. The back face 162 of the hitting head 160 may be flat or may be concave or convex to adjust the weight of the hitting head 160.

The handle area 142 may include hand placement indicators placed relative to the alignment of the hitting head 160 to promote palm up palm down hand positioning at the point of contact. The hand placement indicators may be printed or painted on a grip on the handle area 142, may be indents in the handle area 142, or any other form of indication either visual or by feeling with the hands. For example, the hand placement indicators may include left hand palm indicator 122, right hand palm indicator 132, left hand finger indicators 124, right hand finger indicators 134, left hand thumb indicator 126, and right hand thumb indicator 136. The arrangement of the hand placement indicators in FIGS. 1-4 are for a right-handed hitter. A left-handed hitter would have the left and right hands reversed (e.g., right hand closer to the knob 120).

The left hand palm indicator 122 may show where the palm of the left hand should be placed on the training bat 100. The left hand palm indicator 122 may be a long thick line indicating a line across the palm from the thenar webbing (between the thumb and first finger) to the outside of the hand (e.g. the outside of the metacarpal attached to the fourth finger). From the perspective of FIG. 1, the left hand palm indicator 122 may start about 1 inch from the knob 120 and extend about 3 inches directly away from the knob 120. The left hand palm indicator 122 may be about 10 degrees above (from the perspective of FIG. 1) straight forward, (e.g. 10 degrees out of alignment with the back face 162).

The left finger indicators 124 may show a placement of fingers of the left hand on the handle area 142. The left finger indicators 124 may include one indicator for each finger on the left hand. The left finger indicators 124 may indicate placement of the fingers for an average sized hand relative to the left hand palm indicator 122. For example, the left finger indicators 124 may be 70-90 degrees directly below (from the perspective of FIG. 1) the left hand palm indicator 122.

The left thumb indicator 126 may show a placement of a first digit of a thumb of the left hand on the handle area 142. The left thumb indicator 126 may be about 1 inch long extending down (from the perspective of FIG. 1) slightly further from the knob 120 than the left hand palm indicator 122.

The right hand palm indicator 132 may show a placement of the right palm on the handle area 142. The right hand palm indicator 132 may be a long thick line indicating a line across the palm from the thenar webbing (between the thumb and first finger) to the outside of the hand (e.g. the outside of the metacarpal attached to the fourth finger). The right hand palm indicator 132 may start about 5-8 inches further from the knob 120 than the left thumb indicator 126 and extend about 3 inches away from the knob 120. The right hand palm indicator 132 may be about 90 degrees below (from the perspective of FIG. 1) the left hand palm indicator 122 and begin about 1.5 inches further from the knob 120 than the furthest extent (from the knob 120) of the left hand palm indicator 122.

The right finger indicators 134 may show a placement of fingers of the right hand on the handle area 142. The right finger indicators 134 may indicate placement of the fingers for an average sized hand relative to the right hand palm indicator 132. For example, the right finger indicators 134 may be 70-90 degrees directly above (from the perspective of FIG. 1) the right hand palm indicator 132.

The right thumb indicator 136 may show a placement of a first digit of a thumb of the right hand on the handle area 142. The right thumb indicator 136 may be about 1 inch long extending up (from the perspective of FIG. 1) slightly further from the knob 120 than the right hand palm indicator 132.

The locations and dimensions of the hand placement indicators are given as examples and may be modified for several reasons without departing from the principles of the inventive concepts discussed herein. Some examples of reasons to modify the hand placement indicators are hitters with different sized hands, different desired launch angles (as discussed in the background, professional players have the longest flight with an angle of about 25-30 degrees while amateurs or children may have the longest flight with a launch angle of 30-40 degrees due to lower air resistance at lower speeds), left handed vs. right handed players, preference for placement of hand along the handle area 142 (e.g. how choked up the player's hands are), etc.

As discussed in greater detail below, the placement of the hand placement indicators is related to the orientation of the hitting head 160 and helps to enforce proper swing mechanics. The example hand placement indicators of FIGS. 1-4 are for a “split grip” where the hands are further apart (5-8 inches) than the hands are normally held on a standard baseball bat (up to 2 inches apart). In some example embodiments, the hand placement indicators may indicate hand placement for a normal swing of a standard baseball bat. In some example embodiments, a single indicator of hand position for each hand (for example, only the left hand palm indicator 122 and right hand palm indicator 132 may be included. In other examples, the hand placement indicators may be a hand outline. In yet other examples, the hand indicators may include multiple sets of indicators for hands of different sizes, left and right handed indicators, standard and split grips, etc.

In one embodiment, the counterweight 110 may weigh 9 ounces and have a height (from the perspective of FIG. 1) of 1 and ⅝ inches. The counterweight may have a weight range of 5-16 ounces and height range of ½ inch to 2 inches. The shaft 140 may be wood. The knob 120 may be about 2 inches in width. The handle area 142 may vary in diameter with a minimum diameter of about 15/16 inches. The handle area 142 may flair out as it connects with the knob 110. The handle area 142 may be about 16 inches long. The taper 144 may flair out to 2⅘ inches. The hitting head 160 may be secured by several screws to the shaft 140.

Professional baseball bats may be up to 36 inches in length but are often about 32-35 inches long. Accordingly, the sweet spot may be at about 26-32 inches from the handle end of the bat (depending on overall bat length). Bats for children and amateur baseball players are often shorter in order to be lighter and easier to swing. Children's bats may be as short as 24 inches. Accordingly, the sweet spot for children's or adolescent's bats may be about 20-27 inches from the handle end of the bat (depending on overall bat length).

Accordingly, in one example embodiment for adult players, the shaft 140 may be about 30-34 inches from knob 120 to the hitting head 160 and the hitting head 160 may be about 2-3 inches in diameter. In some embodiments, (especially for new baseball players who have difficulty aiming and need to work on swing mechanics) the hitting head 160 may be larger; in some embodiments up to 6 inches in diameter. In a second embodiment for adolescent players, the shaft 140 may be about 22 inches long and the hitting head 160 may be about 3 inches in diameter (but less dense or hollow to reduce weight). Weight may also be reduced by changing the shape of the hitting head to be bullet shaped or otherwise modified to reduce weight. In a third embodiment for young children, the shaft 140 may be about 17 inches long and the hitting head 160 may be about 3 inches in diameter and hollow or otherwise reduced in weight. Accordingly, in various embodiments the shaft 140 may be about 16 inches to about 34 inches long. For adult sized bats, the shaft 140 may be about 28-34 inches in length.

FIG. 2 depicts a view of training bat 100 rotated around 180 degrees relative to the view of training bat 100 depicted in FIG. 1. Front face 164 (the opposite side of hitting head 160 from back face 162) is depicted in FIG. 2.

In some embodiments, front face 164 is a hitting face. Front face 164 may be a flat circular surface oriented about parallel (within 5 degrees) to the direction the center of the shaft 140 extends. In other embodiments, the front face 164 may have a different shape, such as a square, oval or other shape or may be slightly angled (up to 15 degrees) relative to the direction that the center of the shaft 140 extends. Portions of the hand placement indicators (e.g., the left thumb indicator 126 and the right thumb indicator 136) are also depicted in FIG. 2.

FIG. 3 depicts a view of training bat 100 rotated around 90 degrees clockwise relative to the view of training bat 100 depicted in FIG. 1. As depicted in FIG. 3, the side face 166 wraps around the cylindrical hitting head 160. Portions of the hand position indicators (e.g., left hand palm indicator 122, right hand finger indicators 134, and right thumb indicator 136) are also visible.

FIG. 4 depicts a view of training bat 100 rotated around 90 degrees counterclockwise relative to the view of training bat 100 depicted in FIG. 1. As depicted in FIG. 4, the side face 166 wraps around the cylindrical hitting head 160. Portions hand position indicators (e.g., left finger indicators 124, left thumb indicator 126, and right hand palm indicator 132) are also visible.

FIG. 5 depicts a cross section view of the training bat 100 taken at line 5-5′ in FIG. 3. The counterweight 110 may have an extension that extends into the knob 120. For example, the counterweight 110 may screw into the knob 120 at this extension.

FIG. 6 depicts a view of a training bat 150. The overall length of bat 150 can be between 26-36 inches and, as described, the handle area 142 may be about 13-18 inches in length. As depicted, training bat 150 includes dial 138. The dial 138 can be used for hand positioning on training bat 150. The dial 138 can include a plurality of lines extending along the shaft in the direction between the knob 120 to hitting head 160. The lines of the dial 138 may indicate angles relative to the front hitting face 164. The dial 138 may be on the shaft 140 at the handle area 142, and/or the taper portion 144. For example, the dial 138 may be located at the juncture between the handle area 142 and the taper portion 144. The dial 138 may include any number of lines at any interval. As one example, the dial 138 may include 3 lines, a center of the three lines being aligned opposite (e.g., 180 degrees from) the front hitting face 164 and the lines on each side of the center may indicate 30 degrees from the center. As another example, the dial may include 18 lines each indicating 10 degrees. The dial 138 may include various indications of angle, including numbers, writing, lines of different colors and lengths, etc.

The dial 138 allows a user to see the orientation of the hands relative to the front hitting face 164 and allows users to make slight adjustments while honing his or her skills. The dial 138 can be used by people having virtually any hand size.

In general, the location of hand position indicators relative to the hitting face helps to teach and enforce proper swing mechanics to achieve palm up palm down at contact. Referring back to FIG. 1, the left hand palm indicator 122 may be about 170 degrees clockwise rotation (from the perspective of looking at the knob 120 end of the training bat 100) from the front hitting face 164 of the hitting head 160. The right hand palm indicator 132 may be about 100 degrees counterclockwise rotation from the front hitting face 164 of the hitting head 160. Referring again to FIG. 6, using the dial 138 a user may determine the proper hand placement based on the lines of the dial 138 and what feels comfortable.

FIGS. 7 and 8 depict various views of training bat 170. FIG. 8 depicts a view of training bat 170 rotated around 90 degrees counterclockwise relative to the view of training bat 100 depicted in FIG. 7. Training bat 170 can be similar to training bat 150. For example, the overall length of bat 170 can be between 26-36 inches and the handle area 142 may be about 13-18 inches in length. However, the taper portion 144 is longer and passes through the hitting head 160. The taper portion 144 may also have a consistent thickness at or near the hitting head 160 such that the hitting head 160 can be moved on the taper portion 144 to adjust the distance of the hitting head 160 relative to the hands of the user. Correspondingly movement of hitting head 160 also adjusts the distance of the hitting head from the end of bat 170. In general, the hitting head 160 can be adjusted to be between 2″-6″ from the end of bat 170.

In other aspects, the hitting head 160 is attached to shaft 140 at a fixed position prohibiting (and possibly preventing) movement of the hitting head 160. The shaft 140 may have a first end where the knob 120 attaches to the shaft 140 and a second end opposite the first end. The hitting head 160 may be attached to the shaft 140 proximate to the second end (i.e., much closer to the second end than the first end).

In general, when a person swings a bat with their hands in the proper position, a ball in a strike box (of the game of baseball) at the front edge of home plate (relative to a batter in the game of baseball) can be hit at a proper launch angle (e.g, between 25-40 degrees) and direction with proper swing mechanics. Proper swing mechanics can include keeping the trailing arm (in the case of a right handed person, the right arm) in close to the body while swinging with both arms, lowering the shoulder of the trailing arm, stepping slightly forward with the lead foot, and pushing off the trailing foot. By having the hands oriented about 90 degrees from each other (especially with a “split grip”), the trailing arm is kept in close to the body as both arms power the swing to generate power.

Due at least in part to the configuration of the front face 164, in order to hit the ball at the proper launch angle with the hands held in the indicated position on the handle area 142, the trailing shoulder can be lowered while pushing off the trailing leg. If the trailing shoulder is not sufficiently lowered, the front face 164 may be angled downward when contact is made with the ball. Thus, a user is provided feedback on how to adjust the swing. Conversely, if the trailing shoulder is lowered too much and the hands are in the indicated location, the ball may launch at too great a launch angle and the user is also provided feedback on how to adjust the swing. Accordingly, the hand placement indicators (relative to the front face 164) teach and enforce proper swing mechanics with the trailing arm kept close to the body and the trailing shoulder lowered.

Swinging with a conventional baseball bat or any swing training device with a round hitting face is less likely to teach and enforce proper swing mechanics in this way, especially if the user has not yet developed good aim with the bat and proper hand path. A baseball bat or training bat with a rounded hitting face can hit a ball at a different launch angle and direction depending on the aim of the bat because the rounded face causes the incident angle of contact to be different if the bat makes contact with the center of the bat (relative to the motion of the bat) or contacts above or below the center of the bat. Accordingly, a slight difference in aim may greatly affect the ball's launch angle and direction. It is difficult to develop proper aim when swing mechanics are not first developed and enforced. Accordingly, a flat hitting face (like that of front face 164) that is larger than the hitting surface on a standard bat is advantageous for developing proper swing mechanics while also developing aim.

Strength is often developed by swinging a heavy bat, however, if proper swing mechanics are not promoted while swinging the bat, improper swing mechanics are often developed. Also, the wrong muscles may be exercised by using the heavy bat if proper swing mechanics are not used. If too much weight is concentrated at the knob 120 end of the training bat 120 or concentrated at the hitting end (heading head 160 end) of the bat then the bat can swing differently and is less useful for developing proper swing mechanics and strength in the right muscles. For example, if too much weight is concentrated in the hitting end, a user may tend to lean back while swinging the bat causing the trailing arm to straighten out away from the body and the trailing hand to rotate around the handle to an improper position. Accordingly, a training bat with an appropriate weight distribution (added weight at the hitting end being offset with added weight at the knob 120 end) can help develop strength while also promoting proper swing mechanics.

The front face 164 (as a flat hitting face) may also be advantageous in helping users to practice aiming because the hitting/contact surface area may be larger than the hitting area of a standard baseball bat with a 2¼-2⅝ inch barrel. Trying to square up two round objects is very difficult. The greater area allows a user to practice swinging and aiming while having more balls being solidly contacted, increasing confidence and enforcing proper swing mechanics as aim is developed. A training bat with a significantly larger hitting area on the front face 164 (e.g., with a diameter of 5-6 inches) may be used to help a beginning user to develop aim and proper swing mechanics and a training bat 100 with a smaller hitting area (e.g., 2-3 inch diameter) on the flat front face 164 may be used as aim improves.

Training bat 100, 150, or 160 can be constructed and configured (e.g., with sufficient robust materials) for swinging practice without a ball, with a ball on a tee, or with a pitched ball. The location of the front face 164 in at or near the sweet spot (20-32 inches depending on size of bat) of a standard baseball bat allows a user to practice aiming for the sweet spot on the standard bat with a ball on a tee or a pitched ball. The training bat 100, 150, or 170 can also be used to train timing by swinging at pitched balls.

Further, it is advantageous to have the hitting head 160 include a rubber or other somewhat elastic material. These more elastic materials spread the force of impact from hitting the ball over a greater amount of time thus reducing or mitigating the chance of injury that the increased weight of the bat may cause. It is also advantageous to have the shaft 140 made of a hard material such as wood or metal that does not significantly flex at contact for durability and also to have the same feel in the hand when swung as a standard baseball bat. In some aspects, the shaft 140 and hitting head 160 are made of different materials (e.g, 140 of wood or metal and 160 of rubber).

In other aspects, hitting head 160 can be made of wood. For some users, youth or adults, having a hitting head 160 made of wood is advantageous because wood is less dense than rubber and most other similar elastic materials allowing for a larger hitting head for the same weight. At the speeds youth players swing, the risk of injury from swinging and making contact with the training bat 100 of an appropriate size are reduced, so a wood hitting head 160 can be appropriate without an increased risk of injury. Further, the wood hitting head 160 can provide contact and ball launch that is more similar to the feel of a standard baseball bat. Accordingly, with lower density, a hitting head 160 made of wood may be particularly advantageous for youth players.

Accordingly, the present description provides for various training bat embodiments. Many uses and advantages are offered by training bats 100, 150, or 170 as described above in one or more non-limiting embodiments in the present description.

As described, the training bats may include a shaft 140 and a hitting head 160. The shaft 140 may include a handle area 142 and hand placement indicators (for example, left hand palm indicator 122, right hand palm indicator 132, left hand finger indicators 124, right hand finger indicators 134, left hand thumb indicator 126, and right hand thumb indicator 136 and dial 138). The shaft 140 may include a first end and a second end opposite the first end. The hitting head 160 may be attached to the second end of the shaft 140. The hitting head 160 may include a front face 164 (e.g, a hitting surface) which is substantially flat and a back end (for example fallback face 162) opposite the front face 164. The hand placement indicators may indicate a position for at least one of the hands of a user on the handle and the hand placement indicators may indicate an alignment with the back end of the hitting head 160.

The training bat 100 may include a counterweight 110 attached to the first end of the shaft 140. The training bat 100 may further include a hand stop (e.g., knob 120) attached to the first end of the shaft 140. The counterweight 110 may attach to the first end of the shaft via the hand stop. The shaft 140 may increase in thickness in a first direction extending from the first end to the second end opposite the first end. The shaft 140 may further include a taper portion 144 at the second end and the handle area 142 is at the first end of the shaft, wherein the taper portion 144 is thicker than the handle area 142.

The hitting head 160 may be cylindrical in shape and includes the back face 162 (also flat) on the back end. The hand placement indicators may include a first alignment line (for example the center line in dial 138) aligned with the flat back surface 162. The hand placement indicators may include a pair of second alignment lines (for example side lines in dial 138) on either side of the alignment line. The pair of second alignment lines may be smaller than the first alignment line in at least one dimension (e.g., thickness or length). The pair of second alignment lines may be equidistant to the first alignment line.

Many different embodiments of the inventive concepts have been shown. A person of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the features from different embodiments may be combined or replaced with other features from different embodiments. Aspects of different embodiments can also be combined. As such, a training bat may include varied and different combinations of one or more of: hand palm indicator 122, right hand palm indicator 132, left hand finger indicators 124, right hand finger indicators 134, left hand thumb indicator 126, right hand thumb indicator 136, and dial 138. For example, a training bat may include left hand thumb indicator 126, right hand thumb indicator 136, and dial 138. Other combinations of indicators are also possible. Adjustable or fixed hitting heads can also be used with any of the varied and different combinations of indicators.

The corresponding structures, materials, acts, and equivalents of all means or step plus function elements in the claims below are intended to include any structure, material, or act for performing the function in combination with other claimed elements as specifically claimed. The description of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description but is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the invention in the form disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.

The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and the practical application, and to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. The present invention according to one or more embodiments described in the present description may be practiced with modification and alteration within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Thus, the description is to be regarded as illustrative instead of restrictive of the present invention.

Claims

1. A weighted training bat comprising: a variable diameter shaft including a holding end, a hitting end, and hand placement indicators indicating a hand placement area proximate to the holding end;a knob and counter weight attached to the holding end; anda hitting head attached to the variable diameter shaft proximate to the hitting end, a portion of the hitting head extending outwardly from, essentially perpendicularly to, and past the variable diameter shaft in a first direction forming flat hitting surface;wherein the hand placement indicators indicate a hand holding position on the variable diameter shaft suitably orienting the flat hitting surface for striking an incoming ball when the weighted training bat is held.

2. The weighted training bat of claim 1, wherein the portion of the hitting head forming the flat hitting surface comprises the portion of the hitting head forming an essentially circular flat hitting surface.

3. The weighted training bat of claim 2, wherein the counterweight is fastened into the holding end by a screw that extends into the knob of the shaft.

4. The weighted training bat of claim 1, wherein the flat hitting surface is angled within 5 degrees to a direction a center of which the variable diameter shaft extends.

5. The weighted training bat of claim 1, wherein the hand placement indicators are indented into the shaft above the knob.

6. The weighted training bat of claim 5, wherein the hitting head is cylindrical in shape and includes another flat hitting surface which is opposite the flat hitting surface, wherein another portion of the hitting head extending outwardly from, essentially perpendicularly to, and past the variable diameter shaft in a second direction forms the other flat hitting surface.

7. The weighted training bat of claim 6, wherein the hand placement indicators include a first alignment line on the variable diameter shaft.

8. The weighted training bat of claim 7, wherein the hand placement indicators include a pair of second alignment lines on either side of the first alignment line on the variable diameter shaft.

9. The weighted training bat of claim 8, wherein the pair of second alignment lines are essentially the same size and are smaller than the first alignment line in at least one dimension.

10. The weighted training bat of claim 6, wherein a left hand palm indicator is positioned 1 inch from the knob and extends 3 inches directly away from the knob, wherein the left hand palm indicator is 10 degrees out of alignment with the flat back hitting surface, wherein a right hand palm indicator is positioned 5-8 inches further from the knob than a left thumb indicator and extends 3 inches away from the knob, wherein the right hand palm indicator is 90 degrees below the left hand palm indicator.

11. A weighted baseball training bat comprising: a shaft including a holding end, a hitting end, and hand placement indicators indicating a hand placement area proximate to the holding end; anda hitting head attached to the shaft proximate to the hitting end, a portion of the hitting head extending outwardly from, essentially perpendicularly to, and past the shaft in a first direction forming a flat hitting surface;wherein the hand placement indicators indicate a position on the shaft for at least one hand suitably orienting the flat hitting surface for striking an incoming ball when the weighted training baseball bat is held.

12. The weighted baseball training bat of claim 11, further comprising: a counterweight attached to the holding end and wherein the counterweight extends into the holding end.

13. The weighted baseball training bat of claim 12, wherein the counterweight is fastened into the holding end by a screw that extends into a knob of the shaft.

14. The weighted baseball training bat of claim 11, further comprising: a dial used to supplement hand positioning on the training bat, the dial including a plurality of lines extending along the variable diameter shaft in a direction between a knob to the hitting head, wherein the dial includes three lines wherein a center of the three lines is aligned opposite from the flat hitting surface.

15. The weighted baseball training bat of claim 11, wherein hand placement indicators includes a left hand palm and a right hand palm indicator, wherein the left hand palm indictor is positioned a distance from a knob and extends directly away from the knob, wherein a right hand palm indicator is positioned further from the knob than a left thumb indicator and extends away from the knob, wherein the right hand palm indicator is an angle below the left hand palm indicator.

16. (canceled)

17. (canceled)

18. (canceled)

19. (canceled)

20. (canceled)

21. A weighted softball training bat comprising: a shaft including a holding end, a hitting end, and hand placement indicators indicating a hand placement area proximate to the holding end; anda hitting head attached to the shaft proximate to the hitting end, a portion of the hitting head extending outwardly from, essentially perpendicularly to, and past the shaft in a first direction forming a flat hitting surfacewherein the hand placement indicators indicate a position on the shaft for at least one hand suitably orienting the flat hitting surface for striking an incoming ball when the weighted training softball bat is held.

22. The weighted softball training bat of claim 21, further comprising: a dial used for hand positioning on the training bat, the dial including a plurality of lines extending along the shaft in a direction between a knob to the hitting head.

23. The weighted softball training bat of claim 22, wherein the dial includes three lines.

24. The weighted softball training bat of claim 23, wherein the dial indicates angles relative to the flat hitting surface.