GB2282075A - Tennis training apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

Tennis training apparatus is disclosed which comprises a support structure 100 from which a tennis ball 110 is suspended by rope 180. The tennis ball 110 is releasably connected to the rope 180 by means of a touch-and-lose fastener connection and the length of the rope 180 is adjustable so that the ball 110 is at a height H above the ground which corresponds to a height at which a user, when serving, is at maximum extension, thus enabling the user to train for a proper service shot. The apparatus may be foldable and several modifications are disclosed. <IMAGE>

Description

TENNIS TRAINING APPARATUS This invention relates to tennis training apparatus.

When learning to play tennis, one of the most critical shots to learn is the serve and it is a problem that many beginners find great difficultly in executing a serve properly.

It is an object of the invention to provide a tennis training apparatus which can be used in assisting the proper execution of a serve.

According to the invention there is provided tennis training apparatus comprising a support and a tennis ball releasably suspended from the support.

The height at which the tennis ball is suspended is chosen, dependent upon the user, to be at a height which, at full stretch in the serving position, the ball will be hit at the centre of the racket. With a tennis ball suspended in this way, in order to hit the ball, the user must extend his arm and body fully to make a clean contact, which is a prerequisite for a good serve. Beginners, the inventor has found, often do not appreciate the degree of extension of the body required to hit the ball properly and the present invention forces the user to do just that.

Preferably, the support includes means for adjusting the height at which the tennis ball is suspended above the ground, so that the apparatus may be used with different individuals.

The tennis ball is also, preferably, releasably secured to the support by means of Velcrolvand in this respect, the connection means may comprise complementary Velcro portions being connected one to the tennis ball and the other to an elongate flexible member connected to a support structure. Alternatively, only the hook portion of the Velcro may be attached to the flexible elongate member and this may engage directly the nap of the tennis ball particularly if the tennis ball has a woollen nap.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1: Is a schematic view of a first embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2: Is a view of a variation of the embodiment of figure 1, being collapsible.

Figure 3: Is a view of a second embodiment of the invention.

Figure 4: Is a schematic view of the releasable connection arrangement between the support and tennis ball of the embodiment of figures 1-3.

With reference to figure 1, an embodiment of the invention is shown which comprises a support generally designated 100 to which a plurality of tennis balls 110 are releasably connected.

The support comprises a support structure having first and second poles 150 which may be of adjustable length, each connected to a base 160 and between which a cross member 170 is disposed. From the cross member, the tennis balls 110 are suspended by means of flexible elongate members 180 formed preferably from nylon rope. At the free end of the members 180, a piece of Velcro 190 is connected as shown in figure 4. Each tennis ball 110 has connected thereto a complementary piece of Velcro 200 (e.g. the Velcro portion 190 may be the "hook" side and the piece 200 may be the "hairy" side) , so that when the Velcro portions 190, 200 are connected the tennis ball 110 is suspended at a pre-determined height H, which is dependent upon the length of member 180, above the ground.

The height H is selected to be that at which the user, if he were serving the tennis ball, would hit the ball a height at which the user is at maximum stretch with a ball hitting at the sweet spot of the racket. Although not the only relevant factor, hitting the ball at that particular point and height are prerequisites for a good serve.

The embodiment of figure 1 shows four tennis balls suspended at different heights by members 180 although this is only illustrated. The members 180 are connected to cross member 170 and include means for varying the length in dependence upon the user, to satisfy the criteria for the height H as noted above. In this respect the member 180 may be simply wound around the cross member 170 until the correct height is reached or may extend over pulleys 220 to a cleat 230 provided at waist height and over which the member 180 may be secured to allow the tennis ball 110 to be adjusted to the correct height H.

Although as illustrated in figure 4, the connection means comprises two complementary portions 190, 200, for certain kinds of tennis balls it is not necessary to include the "hairy" Velcro portion 200 as the nap of the tennis ball is sufficient to engage the hook Velcro portion 190 directly. The inventor has found, particularly, that tennis balls having a woollen nap can be held sufficiently well by the Velcro portion 190, provided this is of smaller hook size.

As shown in figure 2, the embodiment of figure 1 may be collapsible, that is to say it may be provided with tripod stands 160 removable and disassemblable from the poles 150 which may be connected to cross member portions 170' via hinges 250.

In order to secure the apparatus in the erect position in figure 1, a sleeve 255 may be slid over hinge joint 250 thus retaining this in a linear position.

In use, member 180 is adjusted in length so that the tennis ball 110 when attached is at the correct height H. The user then attempts to hit the ball with a correct serving shot and when hit, the ball will be released from the member 180 due to parting of the Velcro connection and will follow the path as hit so that the user can determine how well his serve was made. Another tennis ball may then be connected to member 180 and a further serve executed.

In the embodiment of figure 1, it is either necessary to release member 180 from cleat 230 to replace the tennis ball 110 lowering the Velcro portion 190 to allow the tennis ball 110 to be attached within the reach of the user or, alternatively, to use steps or other means to replace the ball. In the embodiment of figure 3, an alternative apparatus is shown which is of a similar form to a road barrier comprising a support member 300 pivotally connected at joint 310 to a pole 320. The pole is provided at one end with a cleat 330 to which member 380 is connected via a hook 390 at the end of the pole 320. The member 380 is the same as member 180 of figure 1 and a tennis ball 410 the same as ball 110 is connected at the free end of member 380 and the length of member 380 may be adjusted at cleat 330. At the opposed end of pole 320 a counter balance weight 325 is provided and is of such weight as neutrally to balance the apparatus in the position shown.

Once the tennis ball has been hit in a similar manner to that of the embodiment of figure 1, it is only necessary for a light touch to be applied to the pole 320 within reach of the user, to lower the pole 320 thus allowing the tennis ball to be conveniently replaced. Furthermore, when the tennis ball 410 is hit, the force is generally into the plane of the paper, in respect of the apparatus shown in figure 3 but also slightly downwardly. By balancing the apparatus correctly this downward force can be sufficient to cause pole 320 to move downwardly automatically thus bringing the member 380 immediately within reach of the user to allow the tennis ball to be replaced.

The apparatus of figure 3 may be made portable in a similar manner to the embodiment of figure 2 with the components 300, 320 and 325 being releasably connected to one another and with a counter balance 325 being of the form of a container which can be filled either with water or sand to give the correct counter balance weight.

Claims (21)

1. Tennis training apparatus comprising a support and means for releasably suspending a tennis ball from the support.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the support comprises a support structure and a flexible elongate member connected to the support structure and to which the tennis ball is releasably attachable.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the length of the flexible elongate member is adjustable.

4. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1-3 wherein the support structure comprises at least one upwardly extending member and a cross member connected thereto.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 where the length of the upwardly extending member is adjustable.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 or claim 5 or wherein a cross member is connected between two said upright members.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein the cross member is formed into two portions hingeably connected.

8. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the apparatus is collapsible.

9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the support comprises a pivotable support member having said tennis ball releasably supported at one end and a counter balance disposed at the other.

10. Apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein the support further comprises a flexible elongate member connected to the support member and to which the tennis ball is releasably attached.

11. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the tennis ball is releasably connected to the support by means of a hooked member adapted to engage the nap of the tennis ball.

12. Apparatus as claimed in claim 11 where the hooked member is formed from Velcro.

13. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1-10 wherein the tennis ball is releasably connected to the support by means of complementary Velcro portions connected respectively to the support and the ball.

14. A tennis ball for use with tennis training apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1-10 and 13 of claim 1 having a Velcro portion attached thereto.

15. Tennis training apparatus comprising a support, a flexible elongate member and means for suspending a tennis ball from the flexible elongate member, said means being adapted to release the tennis ball from the flexible elongate member when the ball is struck by a tennis racket.

16. Apparatus as claimed in claim 15 wherein the length of the flexible elongate member is adjustable.

17. Apparatus as claimed in claim 15 or claim 16 further comprising a tennis ball connectable to said means.

18. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 15-17 wherein the means comprises a hooked member adapted to engage the nap of the tennis ball.

19. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 15-17 wherein said means comprises a velcro portion for engaging a complementary velcro portion connected to the tennis ball.

20. Tennis training apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

21. A tennis ball substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 4 of the accompanying drawings.