GB2485813A

GB2485813A - A ball with markings to indicate where a user should position their hands

Info

Publication number: GB2485813A
Application number: GB1019994.1A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Robinson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2010-11-25
Filing date: 2010-11-25
Publication date: 2012-05-30
Also published as: GB201019994D0

Abstract

A rugby or cricket ball with markings on it to show where a user should position their hands when performing a pass or to create deviation in the air or off the ground when bowling. The markings may be coloured and an arrow may be provided to indicate in which direction the ball should be propelled. The cricket ball may have different markings for performing different types of deliveries for swinging or spinning the ball. The markings may also be arranged for use by both left and right handed people.

Description

IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO TRAINING FOR BALL SPORTS

The present invention relates to balls that can be used in training particularly to develop the correct technique when passing a rugby ball or bowling a cricket ball.

The problem with many ball sports is that no one is exactly sure where they should place their hands or fingers on the particular ball for their chosen sport. If they practise propelling the ball with incorrect technique they will not have the same success as they would with proper technique. To overcome that, this invention will help children or adults propel the ball correctly by ensuring their hand or hands are in the correct place. To improve success in that particular sport you need to ensure that you are doing the skill properly before you make that technique permanent. This invention is an aid to ensure that they will use the correct technique and therefore achieve success.

In rugby for example, the ball is usually propelled from both hands and it is important that both hands are properly located on the ball. In cricket where the ball is propelled from one hand the ball is provided with a seam and in order to make the ball deviate through the air and/or off the wicket, it is important to place the delivery hand in the appropriate juxtaposition to the seam.

The present invention provides a means of training by highlighting the appropriate placement of the hands. Sn* * *

**** . . . The advantages of this invention are that someone can practice on their own knowing that * SI.** * * 25 they are doing the skill properly, without the need of a coach or teacher to observe them.

This will be done by the person placing their hand on the hand prints on the ball and * propelling it in the indicated direction which may be by also providing an arrow on the ball.

** ***.

* The hands and/or arrows may be colour coded so for example, with a rugby ball, red hands pass to right and blue hands a pass to left. * * * 30 * * *

* Figure 1 shows a rugby ball with hand prints on the ball which can be in two colours as indicated, such as red and blue together with arrows indicating the direction in which the ball is to be passed. The same colour can be used for all the information concerning a pass in a particular direction. The person will then match his/her hands to the prints on the ball and pass in the direction of the arrow. The reason for the preferred colour coding and hand prints is that children can get confused on where their hands should be and do not understand which hand placement for which direction to pass. In a further embodiment the markings can be darkened where there should be more pressure on the ball i.e. on the fingers and knuckles. The palm of the hand can be a lighter shade if the whole hand should not be placed on the ball. The reason for having them on the ball is only to help particularly young children identify the hand positions. Alternatively, as shown in Figures 2 and 3 different colours can be employed to show where the left and the right hand should be located.

Figures 4 and 5 show two sides of a cricket ball with finger prints on it and again these are preferably coloured. The finger positions show how the hand should be placed around the ball to bowl an away swinger (which can be in white). It can also have a marking on the bottom of the seam (bottom of the ball) to show thumb position. This develops the correct hand placement on the ball to get the ball to move or swing in the air.

For the away swinger the ball will be angled towards first slip (to a right handed batsman) with the side of the thumb on seam under the ball. This marking can have a letter for example "S" on it for "side" of thumb.

Figures 6 and 7 show the hand placement on the ball in order to bowl an inswinger For the inswinger the ball is angled towards leg slip (for right hander) and the flat pad of the thumb rests on the base of the seam. This marking can have the letter "F" on it for flat of thumb.

Placing rotation on the ball when it is delivered can help to cause deviation off the ground known as spin bowling and finger prints can be applied to the ball to help develop a spin bowling technique.

* ***S* * 25 The difference with this invention and the patent of US 2005113195 is that for a rugby ball the hand position has to change depending on the direction of the pass. The same hand ***.** * position is not used for every pass or shot as in the case for basketball or passing an American football. In the preferred embodiment in which the markings are arrows being colour coded it is child friendly and children do not need to know any mechanics about the pass, but learn by matching the colours and passing in direction of the arrows.

For cricket the art of getting the ball to move in the air or to deviate of the pitch is about how to get the position of the seam that is provided on the ball in the right place, together with getting the wrist in the correct position. By using the side of your thumb or the flat part of your thumb, on the base of the ball, this will alter the angle and mechanics of your wrist and therefore will help you achieve lateral movement or swing of the ball in the air. Similar markings can be used to show how to hold the ball for deviation of the ground to achieve what is known as offbreaks, legbreaks, googlies and top spinners.

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Claims

CLAIMS1. A rugby ball provided with markings showing where to place the hands to enable passing of the ball.
2. A cricket ball provided with markings showing where to place the hand to create deviation of the ball in the air and/or off the ground when bowling.
3. A ball according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 in which the markings are coloured according to the nature of the desired propulsion of the ball.
4. A ball according to any of the preceding claims further provided with an arrow to indicate the direction in which the ball should be propelled. Sen * . S. **S* 55S5e * S *S * * S5 * *5S** S... * . S. S. * . S * S S. SS SS * 5*