US20160236052A1

US20160236052A1 - Hip Rotation Training Apparatus and Methods and Systems of Training Hip Rotation for Sporting Performance

Info

Publication number: US20160236052A1
Application number: US14/620,267
Authority: US
Inventors: Darrin Sunday
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2015-02-12
Filing date: 2015-02-12
Publication date: 2016-08-18
Also published as: USD865098S1

Abstract

A hip rotation training apparatus for sports performance training includes an elongated member having a first end and a second end. A striking face is positioned on the elongated member between the first and second ends. An attachment device is positioned at the first end, wherein the first end is attachable to a user at a hip region of the user with the attachment device, and wherein rotation of the hip region of the user moves the second end along a curvilinear path.

Description

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure is generally related to sporting performance training and more particularly is related to a hip rotation training apparatus and methods and systems of training hip rotation for sporting performance.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

Functional training is a classification of exercise which involves training the body for the activities performed in daily life. Functional fitness is based off of those same principles to encompass a movement that translates to better sports performance. Within the professional and recreational sports fields, many athletes are trained relative to functional fitness to have proper body movements to increase their performance in their respective sporting field. For example, many sports involve a throwing or swinging motion such as the throwing of a ball, swinging of a bat, club, or racquet, where the athletes are trained to have proper form, such that they can perform the activity correctly and without causing injury.
In the case of throwing a ball or swinging an object at a ball, an athlete may use his or her arms and shoulders to perform the specific athletic movement, but the athlete's arms and shoulders are only a portion of his or her body that controls the athletic movement. Indeed, the athlete's torso, hips, and legs are almost always an integral aspect of the athletic movement. While many athletes focus a training regiment on his or her arms and shoulders, proper training regiments should also focus on training the athlete's other body movements for the athletic movement. Of these other body movements, an athlete's hip motion is often an elementary foundation of any athletic movement involving arms and shoulders. Proper throwing or swinging mechanics typically require hip rotation with respect to the shoulders. The amount of hip motion can vary, and determining whether an adequate amount of hip motion has occurred during a given athletic movement can be difficult to assess.
Failure to maintain proper hip motion during an athletic movement can result in improper throwing or swinging motions, which can strain the athlete's arm and shoulder and potentially lead to injury. Maximizing the effectiveness and efficiency of the correct athletic movement using the hips can produce better results than incorrect athletic movements. More importantly, using the hips during the athletic movement usually requires a lower effort and produces less strain, thereby reducing stress on the arm muscles, tendons, ligaments and other structures, all of which can lessen the incidences of arm and shoulder injuries.
Thus, a heretofore unaddressed need exists in the industry to address the aforementioned deficiencies and inadequacies.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a system and method for hip rotation training, and a hip rotation training apparatus for sports performance training. Briefly described, in architecture, one embodiment of the apparatus, among others, can be implemented as follows. The hip rotation training apparatus has an elongated member having a first end and a second end. A striking face is positioned on the elongated member between the first and second ends. An attachment device is positioned at the first end, wherein the first end is attachable to a user at a hip region of the user with the attachment device, and wherein rotation of the hip region of the user moves the second end along a curvilinear path.
The present disclosure can also be viewed as providing methods of training hip rotation for sporting performance. In this regard, one embodiment of such a method, among others, can be broadly summarized by the following steps: providing a hip rotation training apparatus comprising an elongated member having a first end and a second end, a striking face positioned on the elongated member between the first and second ends, and an attachment device positioned at the first end; attaching the hip rotation training apparatus to a hip region of a user with the attachment device, wherein the first end is positioned proximate to the hip region of the user and the elongated member extends away from the hip region and terminates at the second end; and intersecting a flight path of a throwable sporting implement by rotating the hip region of the user thereby causing the striking face to move in a curvilinear path and contact the throwable sporting implement while it moves along the flight path.
The present disclosure can also be viewed as providing a hip rotation sports training system. Briefly described, in architecture, one embodiment of the system, among others, can be implemented as follows. The hip rotation sports training system includes a hip rotation training apparatus comprising an elongated member having a first end and a second end, a striking face positioned on the elongated member between the first and second ends, and an attachment device positioned at the first end. The hip rotation training apparatus is attached to a hip region of a user with the attachment device, wherein the first end is positioned proximate to the hip region of the user and the elongated member extends away from the hip region and terminates at the second end. A throwable sporting implement is moving along a flight path proximate to the hip rotation training apparatus, wherein rotational movement of the hip region of the user moves the striking face into the flight path of the throwable sporting implement.
Other systems, methods, features, and advantages of the present disclosure will be or become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following drawings and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features, and advantages be included within this description, be within the scope of the present disclosure, and be protected by the accompanying claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Many aspects of the disclosure can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present disclosure. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

FIG. 1 is an isometric illustration of a hip rotation training apparatus for sports performance training, in accordance with a first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is an isometric illustration of the hip rotation training apparatus, in accordance with the first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 is an isometric illustration of the hip rotation training apparatus in use with a belt, in accordance with the first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a side view illustration of the hip rotation training apparatus, in accordance with the first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIGS. 5A-5D are side view illustrations of the hip rotation training apparatus with various striking faces, in accordance with the first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIGS. 6A-6C are schematic illustrations of an athlete's hip rotation during a sporting movement, in accordance with the first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIGS. 7A-7C are schematic illustrations of the hip rotation training apparatus in use during the sporting movements of FIGS. 6A-6C, respectively, in accordance with the first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a method of training hip rotation for sporting performance, in accordance with the first exemplary embodiment of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 is an isometric illustration of a hip rotation training apparatus 10 for sports performance training, in accordance with a first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. The hip rotation training apparatus 10 for sports performance training, which may be referred to herein simply as ‘apparatus 10’ includes an elongated member 20 having a first end 22 and a second end 24. A striking face 40 is positioned on the elongated member 20 between the first and second ends 22, 24. An attachment device 60 is positioned at the first end 22, wherein the first end 22 is attachable to a user 12 at a hip region 14 of the user 12 with the attachment device 60, and wherein rotation of the hip region 14 of the user 12 moves the second end 24 along a curvilinear path (indicated by arrow 16).
The apparatus 10 may be used as a rotational sports performance trainer for training professional and recreational athletes to properly rotate his or her hips while engaged in certain athletic movements, namely while swinging a bat, stick, club, racket, or other athletic device. The apparatus 10 is attachable to the hip region 14 of the user 12 and can be used to train the user 12 to properly rotate his or her hip region 14 when a throwable sporting implement, such as a ball or other sporting object, moves along a path in front of the user 12. Training the user 12 to properly rotate his or her hip region 14 provides benefits in the user's rotational movement of other body parts, such as their torso, chest, arms and shoulders, in striking the ball. As an example, the apparatus 10 may be used to train baseball and softball athletes for proper bodily rotation during batting at a baseball or a softball. The apparatus 10 can be used to train athletes in other sports, such as golf, tennis, lacrosse, hockey, field hockey, cricket, soccer, softball, football, badminton, volleyball, table tennis, ice hockey, team handball, track and field, water polo, rugby, swimming, skiing, or additional sports, wherein the apparatus 10 may provide the same or additional benefits to the athletes. It is noted that even with sports that do not involve a ball or throwable object, the apparatus 10 may still provide significant benefits in training the user to properly rotate his or her hips for the sporting movements required by each sport.
The elongated member 20 of the apparatus 10 is generally characterized as a structure which can extend from the user's 12 hip region 14 to a position in front of the user 12. The elongated member 20 may be composed of various materials, such as extruded plastics or similar light-weight but durable materials. As is shown in FIG. 1, it has a first end 22 which is positioned proximate to the user 12 and a second end 24 which may be located distal from the user 12. The first and second ends 22, 24 of the elongated member 20 may have a variety of curvatures and surface texturing, such as arced edges on the second end 24, as shown in FIG. 1. The elongated member 20 may have various sizes, such as approximately 16 inches in length from the first end 22 to the second end 24, approximately 4 inches high, and approximately ¼ inch in thickness. However, the size of the apparatus 10 or any parts thereof may be selected to appropriately match the size of the intended user 12, and thus may vary. All sizes are considered to be within the scope of the present disclosure.
The striking face 40 is positioned or formed on the elongated member 20, generally between the first and second ends 22, 24. The striking face 40 may be the portion of the apparatus 10 that contacts the ball or other throwable object when the user 12 rotates to make contact with it. To contact the striking face 40 with the ball, the apparatus 10 may be moved very quickly (as quick as the user's hip rotation), such that the user can control the striking face 40 to make contact with the ball. In one example, as shown in FIG. 1, the striking face 40 may be integrally formed within the elongated member 20 as a substantially planar face of the elongated member 20, however other examples may integrate a striking face 40 as a separate structure from the elongated member 20. For example, the striking face 40 may be constructed to resemble a racket net, a lacrosse wicket, a baseball bat, or another device, as is further discussed relative to FIGS. 5A-5D.
The attachment device 60 is positioned at the first end 22 of the elongated member 20 and allows the elongated member 20 to be attached to the hip region 14 of the user 12 via the first end 22. The attachment device 60 may include any device which retains the elongated member 20 and striking face 40 to the user 12 at the hip region 14, such that the apparatus 10 can be rotated in concert with a hip rotation of the user 12. As is shown in FIG. 1, the attachment device 60 may include a structure for attachment to a belt 62, which is positioned about a waist of the user 12. The belt 62 may include a hook-and-loop fastener 64, or another fastener, to secure the belt 62 about the user's 12 waist. Other attachment devices 60 may include various designs, including those which allow the apparatus 10 to attach to a user's 12 pant waist or existing belt, among others, as is further discussed relative to FIG. 4. In use, when the hip region 14 of the user 12 is rotated, the second end 24 of the elongated member 20 may be moved along a curvilinear path 16, which is substantially coaxial with a central, vertical axis of the user 12. The movement of the second end 24 along the curvilinear path may be an unimpeded rotation of the second end 24 substantially about a vertical axis of the user 12.
FIG. 2 is an isometric illustration of the hip rotation training apparatus 10, in accordance with the first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. As is shown in FIG. 2, the elongated member 20 has a first end 22 and a second end 24. A striking face 40 is positioned on the elongated member 20 between the first and second ends 22, 24. An attachment device 60 is positioned at the first end 22, wherein the first end 22 is attachable to a user 12 at a hip region 14 of the user 12 (FIG. 1) with the attachment device 60, and wherein rotation of the hip region 14 of the user 12 moves the second end 24 along a curvilinear path.
The apparatus 10 as shown in FIG. 2 illustrates the attachment device 60 in detail with a hip interface guide 66. The hip interface guide 66 may coordinate attachment between the apparatus 10 and a belt used to retain the apparatus 10 to the user's waist. The hip interface guide 66 may include a curved face 68 which can abut the user's hip region. The curved face 68 may be intersected by an axis 18 positioned along a length of the elongated member 20. For example, the curved face 68 may be intersected by the axis 18 along the length of the elongated member 20 substantially perpendicularly to an intersection point on the curved face 68, e.g., aligned with a radius of the curvature of the curved face 68. The hip interface guide 66 may be sized to properly support the extended elongated member 20 against the hip region of the user. The hip interface guide 66 may have any size or curvature, and may include additional features to enhance the contact between the apparatus 10 and the user, such as padding positioned along the curved face 68.
FIG. 3 is an isometric illustration of the hip rotation training apparatus 10 in use with a belt 62, in accordance with the first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. With reference to FIGS. 2-3, the hip interface guide 66 may further include at least one slot 70 therein. Often two or more slots 70 may be used within the hip interface guide 66. When two slots 70 are included in the hip interface guide 66, an intersection point of the axis 18 on the curved face 68 may be positioned between the slots 70. The slots 70 may be formed through the hip interface guide 66 such that a belt can be positioned through the slots 70, such that it can retain the apparatus 10 to the user. The elongated member 20 may further include a slot 26 positioned within the elongated member 20 at a position proximate to the first end 22. The slot 26 may be used in conjunction with the slots 70 to retain the apparatus 10 to the user with a belt. In this situation, the belt is positioned through the two slots 70 within the hip interface guide 66 and the slot 26 within the elongated member 20 proximate to the first end 22. As is shown in FIG. 3, the belt 62 may include a fastener 64 that is a snap connector, thereby allowing a user to snap the belt on his or her waist. The fastener 64 may include an adjustment feature for adjusting the length of the belt 62.
FIG. 4 is a side view illustration of the hip rotation training apparatus 10, in accordance with the first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. Similar to the apparatus 10 shown in FIGS. 1-3, the apparatus 10 of FIG. 4 includes an elongated member 20 that has a first end 22 and a second end 24. A striking face 40 is positioned on the elongated member 20 between the first and second ends 22, 24. An attachment device 60 is positioned at the first end 22, wherein the first end 22 is attachable to a user 12 at a hip region 14 of the user 12 (FIG. 1) with the attachment device 60, and wherein rotation of the hip region 14 of the user 12 moves the second end 24 along a curvilinear path.
Unlike FIGS. 1-3, the apparatus 10 of FIG. 4 includes an attachment device 60 that can attach to a user's existing belt or the waist of their pants or shorts, e.g., the portion of the pants or shorts that secures the garment about the user's waist. Accordingly, the attachment device 60 may include a clip 72 which is spaced a distance from the terminating face of the first end 22, such that the existing belt or waist of the pants can be positioned in the space 74. In this use, the clip 72 can be positioned along the inside of the belt or waist of the pants. The clip 72 may be sized to be biased towards the first end 22, such that when the belt or pants waist is positioned in the space 74, the clip is biased against it.
FIGS. 5A-5D are side view illustrations of the hip rotation training apparatus 10 with various striking faces 40, in accordance with the first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. While it may be common for the striking face 40 to include a substantially planar face, other types of striking faces 40 may also be used. For example, as is shown in FIG. 5A, the striking face 40 may include an open hoop having a networking of interweave cords positioned across the open hoop. The networking of interweave cords may be similar to what is used in conventional tennis rackets or lacrosse wicket. As is shown in FIG. 5B, the striking face 40 may include a semi-circular or arced shape, such as is commonly seen with a baseball or softball bat. As is shown in FIG. 5C, the striking face 40 may include a plurality of holes spatially positioned therein. The holes may be used to aid a user in concentrating on a ‘sweet spot’ or optimal position on the striking face 40. As is shown in FIG. 5D, the striking face 40 may include an enlarged area relative to the area of the elongated member 20. The enlarged area of the striking face 40 may be used with juvenile athletes, such as young children, who may require greater assistance in making contact between the striking face 40 and a ball. Other designs of the striking face 40 not explicitly discussed herein are also considered to be within the scope of the present disclosure.
FIGS. 6A-6C are schematic illustrations of an athlete's hip rotation during a sporting movement, in accordance with the first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. FIGS. 7A-7C are schematic illustrations of the hip rotation training apparatus 10 in use during the sporting movements of FIGS. 6A-6C, respectively, in accordance with the first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. FIGS. 6A-7C provide an example of using the apparatus 10 during a baseball athlete's swing at a baseball. For clarity in understanding, FIGS. 7A-7C illustrate the cross-sectional general position and orientation of the athlete from FIGS. 6A-6C, respectively, which is referred to herein as ‘footprint 82’. The athlete 80 in FIGS. 6A-6C is shown without the apparatus 10 whereas the schematic illustrations of FIGS. 7A-7C illustrate the position of the athlete 80 with the apparatus 10 attached around his or her waist.
The various positions of FIGS. 6A-7C illustrate the general motion of a baseball athlete's swinging of a bat at a ball 86. For example, the position of the athlete 80 in FIG. 6A corresponds to a footprint 82 in FIG. 7A where the athlete 80 is substantially facing, in parallel, the side of the batting plate 84, where the ball 86 has yet to contact the apparatus 10. In contrast, FIGS. 6B and 7B illustrate the athlete 80 mid-swing, with the footprint 82 positioned angularly to the side of the batting plate 84 and the ball 86 in contact with the apparatus 10, and FIGS. 6C and 7C illustrate a completed movement of the athlete 80, where the ball 86 has been contacted by the apparatus 10. From the combination of FIGS. 6A-7C, the rotational movement of the athlete 80 can be seen as the ball, or other throwable sporting implement, moves along a flight path proximate to the apparatus 10. As the athlete 80 rotates his or her hips, the rotational movement of the hip region moves the striking face into the flight path of the ball 86.
The apparatus 10 can be used to properly train athletes in the proper movement during a baseball swing or another sporting movement, such as a tennis racket swing or a golf club swing. As the user practices rotating his or her hips to make contact between the ball 86 and the apparatus 10, the user will be able to practice how and when to properly rotate their hip region to strike the ball. While there are a variety of exercises that the apparatus 10 can be used with, a primary feature of the apparatus is hitting the ball while the apparatus 10 is positioned on the athlete's waist to practice rotational striking of the ball. This apparatus 10 can be moved in many different spots on the waist of the athlete 80 to promote more movement and better rotation. Depending on level of strength, quickness and flexibility the apparatus 10 can be placed and lined up with the front foot for a beginner athlete, the naval for an intermediate athlete, and more toward the back foot for more advanced athletes. Each placement of the apparatus 10 that is farther away from the striking of the ball may increase the difficulty of striking the ball. The movement may also be done at an uncompromised speed as the individual is trying to make contact with the ball, or at optimum speed and with optimum power.
One of the main benefits of the apparatus 10 may be improved hand-eye coordination, or hip-to-eye coordination. Use of the apparatus 10 may allow the athlete to connect the fast twitch muscles in the core and hip of the athlete with the hitting of the ball or object. This use may promote more flexibility and coordination in the movement. In addition, the increase in the strength of these particular muscles while completing this movement may enhance sports performance while developing more power, strengthening core and hip muscles, and developing quickness to the ball. These advantages are beneficial in baseball, golf, and tennis swings, among other sports. For example, the rotational training may be correlated to the rotational movement of swimming or practically any sport that uses the core and torque of the body and hip to get more power and quickness.
FIG. 8 is a flowchart 100 illustrating a method of training hip rotation for sporting performance, in accordance with the first exemplary embodiment of the disclosure. It should be noted that any process descriptions or blocks in flow charts should be understood as representing modules, segments, or steps that include one or more instructions for implementing specific logical functions in the process, and alternate implementations are included within the scope of the present disclosure in which functions may be executed out of order from that shown or discussed, including substantially concurrently or in reverse order, depending on the functionality involved, as would be understood by those reasonably skilled in the art of the present disclosure.
As is shown by block 102, a hip rotation training apparatus is provided, the apparatus comprising an elongated member having a first end and a second end, a striking face positioned on the elongated member between the first and second ends, and an attachment device positioned at the first end. The hip rotation training apparatus is attached to a hip region of a user with the attachment device, wherein the first end is positioned proximate to the hip region of the user and the elongated member extends away from the hip region and terminates at the second end (block 104). A flight path of a throwable sporting implement is intersected by rotating the hip region of the user thereby causing the striking face to move in a curvilinear path and contact the throwable sporting implement while it moves along the flight path (block 106).
The method may include additional steps including any of the processes, functions, or features disclosed relative to FIGS. 1-7C herein. For example, attaching the hip rotation training apparatus to the hip region of the user may include securing the hip rotation training apparatus with a belt about a waist of the user. The belt may be secured through a hip interface guide having a curved face, wherein the curved face is intersected by an axis along a length of the elongated member, wherein the belt is positioned through at least one slot within the hip interface guide. The belt may be positioned through a slot within the elongated member proximate to the first end. When the striking face moves in the curvilinear path it may move with an unimpeded rotation of the second end substantially about a vertical axis of the user.
It should be emphasized that the above-described embodiments of the present disclosure, particularly, any “preferred” embodiments, are merely possible examples of implementations, merely set forth for a clear understanding of the principles of the disclosure. Many variations and modifications may be made to the above-described embodiment(s) of the disclosure without departing substantially from the spirit and principles of the disclosure. All such modifications and variations are intended to be included herein within the scope of this disclosure and the present disclosure and protected by the following claims.

Claims

1. A hip rotation training apparatus for sports performance training, the hip rotation training apparatus comprising:

an elongated member having a length extending between a first end and a second end, wherein the elongated member along the length is substantially straight, wherein a dimension of the length of the elongated member is at least double a height dimension of the elongated member measured between vertically-facing top and bottom edges;

a horizontally-facing striking face positioned on the elongated member between the first and second ends; and

an attachment device positioned at the first end, wherein the first end is attachable to a user at a hip region of the user with the attachment device, and wherein rotation of the hip region of the user moves the second end along a curvilinear path.

2. The hip rotation training apparatus of claim 1, wherein the attachment device further comprises a belt attachable around a waist of the user.

3. The hip rotation training apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a hook-and-loop fastener within the belt.

4. The hip rotation training apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a snap connector within the belt.

5. The hip rotation training apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a slot positioned within the elongated member proximate to the first end.

6. The hip rotation training apparatus of claim 1, wherein the attachment device further comprises a hip interface guide, the hip interface guide has a curved face, wherein the curved face is intersected by a straight axis of the length of the elongated member.

7. The hip rotation training apparatus of claim 6, wherein the curved face is intersected by the straight axis of the length of the elongated member substantially perpendicularly to an intersection point on the curved face.

8. The hip rotation training apparatus of claim 6, further comprising at least one slot within the hip interface guide.

9. The hip rotation training apparatus of claim 8, wherein the at least one slot further comprises at least two slots within the hip interface guide, wherein an intersection point of the straight axis on the curved face is positioned between the at least two slots.

10. The hip rotation training apparatus of claim 9, further comprising a third slot positioned within the elongated member proximate to the first end, and wherein the attachment device further comprises a belt, wherein the belt is positioned through the at least two slots within the hip interface guide and the third slot within the elongated member proximate to the first end.

11. The hip rotation training apparatus of claim 1, wherein the striking face further comprises a planar face.

12. The hip rotation training apparatus of claim 1, wherein the striking face further comprises at least one of:

a semi-cylindrical shape;

an open hoop having a networking of interweave cords positioned across the open hoop; and

an enlarged area relative to the elongated member.

13. The hip rotation training apparatus of claim 1, wherein the attachment device further comprises a hip interface guide having a curved face, wherein the elongated member is connected to a first side of the hip interface guide, wherein the curved face is intersected by a straight axis of the length of the elongated member, and wherein the attachment device further comprises a biased clip positioned a spaced distance from the first end of the elongated member on a second side of the hip interface guide, wherein the second side is opposite the first side.

14. The hip rotation training apparatus of claim 1, wherein movement of the second end along the curvilinear path further comprises unimpeded rotation of the second end substantially about a vertical axis of the user.

15. A hip rotation baseball training system comprising:

a hip rotation training apparatus comprising an elongated member having a length extended between a first end and a second end and a height extending between a top edge and a bottom edge, wherein a dimension of the length is at least double a dimension of the height, a horizontally-facing striking face positioned on the elongated member between the first and second ends, and the top and bottom edges, and an attachment device positioned at the first end

wherein the hip rotation training apparatus is attachable to a hip region of a user with the attachment device with the first end positioned proximate to the hip region of the user, wherein the elongated member is extendable away from the hip region and terminates at the second end; and

a baseball moving along a flight path proximate to the hip rotation training apparatus, wherein rotational movement of the hip region of the user moves the horizontally-facing striking face into the flight path of the baseball.

16-20. (canceled)

21. The hip rotation training apparatus of claim 6, wherein elongated member is integrally formed on a horizontally-facing front face of the hip interface guide.

22. The hip rotation training apparatus of claim 21, wherein the vertically-facing top and bottom edges of the elongated member are planar with vertically-facing top and bottom edges of the hip interface guide.

23. The hip rotation training apparatus of claim 1, wherein the dimension of the length of the elongated member is at least triple the height dimension of the elongated member measured between vertically-facing top and bottom edges.

24. A hip rotation training apparatus for sports performance training, the hip rotation training apparatus comprising:

an elongated striking member having a substantially planar striking face formed on at least one side thereof;

hip interface guide integrally connected to a first end of the elongated striking member, wherein the elongated striking member extends away from the hip interface guide along a length thereof to a terminating, second end of the elongated striking member; and

a belt positioned through a first slot formed in the hip interface guide, a second slot formed in the elongated striking member, and a third slot formed in the hip interface guide, wherein the second slot is positioned between the first and third slots.

25. The hip rotation training apparatus of claim 24, wherein a length dimension of the elongated striking member measured between the first end and the terminating, second end is at least double a height dimension of the elongated striking member measured between a vertically-facing top edge and a vertically-facing bottom edge of the elongated striking member.