TENNIS SERVE TRAINING DEVICE

Abstract

A tennis skill training device having a grip emulating a tennis racquet grip sized to be held by a user when employing the device for training. The grip has a length and circumference, a butt end and a distal end. The device further includes a flexible umbilical having first and second ends, the first end being attached to and emanating from the distal end of the grip and a weight attached to the second end of the umbilical, the length of the device being measured from its butt end of the pip to the weight being approximately the length of a tennis racquet. The device is particularly suitable for carrying out a method of training a user to properly serve a tennis ball.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention is directed to a tennis skill training device and method of using the device particularly to train a user to properly serve a tennis ball to commence a game of tennis. The device is inexpensive to construct yet highly effective in developing the appropriate server stroke.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Tennis training aides are well known in many forms. Despite the plethora of such devices, there has not been, to date, a device having particular utility and effectiveness fox training one to properly serve a tennis ball to commence a service game in a match or for practice purposes

It is well recognized that the single most important aspect of the mechanics of a tennis serve is that the hitting arm should be fully extended to the “power point” of impact of ball and racket. A continuous upward and forward motion to point of contact maximizes efficiency, power and control in a natural manner. Although one might think that this would be a relatively simple matter to master many, if not most, novice tennis players find this to be quite difficult. Stated differently, it is critical for an appropriate service stroke that the racquet meets the ball at full extension.

One way some players make themselves reach up for the ball is by keeping the entire arm straight throughout the swing. This “windmill serve” puts a tremendous strain on one's shoulder and could result in shoulder damage. In addition, it is important that one bends one's elbow in preparation for striking the ball. The proper mechanics of the serving swing depends upon throwing the lower half of the arm upward from a deeply bent elbow to a straight one. With a loose wrist, this causes all of the energy coming from one's legs, torso and arm to be translated into whipping the racquet upward and forward at the ball. If one swings with a straight arm, the racquet speed is limited by how fast the arm can rotate around one's shoulder joint. If one bends one's arm while keeping one's wrist loose, the whipping effect generates far greater racquet hit speeds.

As noted above, there has not been, to date, an effective device to encourage propel service motion.

It is thus an object of the present invention to provide a device for training a user to develop the appropriate mechanics for properly serving a tennis ball.

It is yet a thither object of the present invention to provide a training tool to enable one to develop the proper mechanics for service of a tennis ball which is inexpensive to construct, simple and intuitive to use and which is devoid of undue complexity.

These and further objects will be more readily apparent when considering the following disclosure and appended claims.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A tennis skill training device having a grip emulating a tennis racquet grip sized to be held by a user when employing the device for training. The grip has a length and circumference, a butt end and a distal end. The device further includes a flexible umbilical having first and second ends, the first end being attached to and emanating from the distal end of the grip and a weight attached to the second end of the umbilical, the length of the device being measured from its butt end of the grip to the weight being approximately the length of a tennis racquet. The device is particularly suitable for carrying out a method of training a user to properly serve a tennis ball.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a front plan view of the device of the present invention.

FIGS. 2-4 are side and front plan views of a grip useful in practicing the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the butt piece of the grip of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Novel features which are characteristic of the invention, as to organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof will be better understood from the following description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated by way of example. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for illustration description only and are not intended as definitions of the limits of the invention. The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are recited with particularity in the claims.

There has been broadly outlined more important features of the invention in the summary above and in order that the detailed description which follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form additional subject matter of the claims appended hereto. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception upon which this disclosure is based readily may be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important therefore, that claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

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

It is recognized that in the game of tennis, the serve is the most complex and individual stroke. An efficient and powerful service motion is basically a throwing motion. The present invention, as noted, involves the use of a flexible umbilical connecting a weighted end to a grip which represents the flexibility of the serving arm while allowing, or more appropriately, forcing the “links” of the shoulder, elbow, wrist and hand to perform in a natural manner in creating maximum speed of the racquet head. The weighted end of the device appended to the umbilical allows the training device of the present invention to create the appropriate motion for a user. It will virtually automatically create a “whip like” motion to carry the weight to full and powerful extension of a service motion.

The flexible umbilical acts as a training device because it allows unlimited and three dimensional motion, unlike a straight bar or racquet. A tennis service motion is a multi-dimensional movement involving multiple joints with varying planes of movement. The shoulder is a ball in socket joint that allows the greatest range of motion in the body through a movement pattern called circumduction. The elbow is a hinge joint that allows movement through only one plane. The radio-ulnar and carpal-radius joints allow long axis rotation, and finally the wrist, a diathrodial joint allows movement in two planes, flexion and extension as well as lateral deviation. Combined, these joints must allow force transferred from the ground, through the torso and racquet to create what is known as a spiral diagonal movement which is common to overhead sports motions. A rigid device would not allow the neuromuscular movement patterns, aka “muscle memory” to be developed as it would act as a straight linkage between the ball and the body, whereas the flexible nature of the total serve more accurately mimics the multiple, moving joints in the upper extremity.

Because the majority of tennis players, and people in general don't naturally have a good “throwing motion,” it becomes necessary to use a practice aid or device to train the body to “throw” properly and to correct “throwing” mechanics therefore creating a better service motion. The present invention stimulates an average tennis racquet in length and weight. It is weighted more heavily in the “head” and is attached to a flexible cord so that when going through a throwing or serving motion, the heavy end takes the user through the motion naturally by building momentum through the simulated stroke. Thus, the weight at the end of the umbilical tends to cause or develop the appropriate service motion. Conversely, if the grip is not held properly and the motion is not correct, the player cannot complete correct form. To facilitate this, as will be more readily developed below, the grip of the present device, as a preferred embodiment, has raised markers to suggest proper hand placement. If not properly used, one will not be able to keep the present device moving from start to finish in a fluid motion maintaining tautness of the umbilical.

In turning to FIG. 1, a first embodiment of the present invention is depicted. Specifically, tennis skill training device 10 is provided with grip 1 emulating a tennis racquet grip sized for being held by a user when employing the device for training. The grip has a length 15 and an oval circumference best visualized in FIG. 5 showing butt cap 9, the circumference having eight flat beveled surfaces 12, again, for emulating the feel of a somewhat standard tennis racquet grip.

Grip 1 has a butt end 11 and distal end 13, the butt end generally finished with expanded cap 9 (FIG. 5). Flexible umbilical 2 has first end 14 attached to and emanating from distal end 13 of grip 1 while weight 3, generally from 13 to 15 ozs., is attached to second end 15 of umbilical 2 to complete the device. The weight can be made of the same material used for the umbilical and grip.

Although the device of the present invention, as depicted in FIG. 1, shows umbilical 2 bent in a serpentine fashion, when straightened, the total length of the device measured from butt end 11 of grip 1 to the furtherest most end of weight 3 is ideally sized to emulate the length of an average tennis racquet which is approximately 26″ to 28″ The umbilical, as a preferred embodiment, is not only flexible, but is capable of stretching approximately 1″ from its at rest length as weight 3 pulls upon umbilical 2 during use of the present device. Suitable materials for use as the umbilical, grip and weight include a member selected from the group consisting of natural rubber, synthetic rubber and thermoplastic elastomers.

Although weight 3 is shown as three consecutively aligned weighted balls attached to umbilical 2 as shown, the present invention can use a single weighted orb or a plethora of such while remaining within the spirit and scope of the present invention. Ideally, weight 3 should cumulatively be approximately eight ounces to create the appropriate “head weight” sought herein.

In turning to FIGS. 2-4, grip 6 is shown. FIG. 3 shows the back side of grip 6 while FIGS. 2 and 4 show opposite sides of the grip in order to provide the appropriate illustration of raised markers 4 and 8. Specifically, raised marker 4 is intended to create a V or U-shaped series of segments establishing notch 21. When grip 6 is appropriately held by a user, notch 21 would nest in that portion of the user's hand between one's thumb and index finger. Raised marker 4 is intended to be used by a left handed player and its use is indicated by the letter “L” indicated as element 5.

Conversely, grip 6 can also be used by a right handed player by employing raised marker 8. Use of this marker is indicated by the letter “R” identified as element 7 thereof. To complete the device, butt end 11 of the grip includes expanded or butt cap 9 to prevent the grip from slipping out of a user's hand.

The present device, when employed properly, will encourage a user to engage in a service stroke with the user's arm fully extended upward. Failure to do so will prevent umbilical 2 from remaining taut throughout the motion resulting in an uncontrolled movement of weight 3. This results in a clear indicator to a user that the stroke has not been carried out properly. A user would continue to employ the present device repeatedly until the stroke was properly executed as indicated by the tautness and slight stretching of umbilical 2 and thus the controlled arc of swing of weight 3.

It should further be noted that all of the functional components including the grip, umbilical and weight can be composed of a single (unitary) composition, such as rubber. Thus a single mold could be used to construct the present device.

The above disclosure is sufficient to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to practice the invention, and provides the best mode of practicing the invention presently contemplated by the inventor. While there is provided herein a full and complete disclosure of the preferred embodiments of the invention, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction, dimensions, relationships, or operations as described. Various modifications, alternative constructions, changes and equivalents will readily occur to those skilled in the art and may be employed as suitable without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention. Such changes might involve alternative materials, components, structural arrangements, sizes, shapes, forms, functions, operational features or the like.

Therefore, the above description and illustration should not be considered as limiting the scope of the invention, which is defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A tennis skill training device comprising a grip emulating a tennis racket grip sized for being held by a user when employing said device for training, said grip having a length, a circumference, a butt end and a distal end, a flexible umbilical having first and second ends, said first end attached to and emanating from said distal end of said grip and a weight attached to said second end of said umbilical, the length of said device measured from said butt end of said grip to said weight being approximately the length of a tennis racket.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said grip comprises an expanded cap at said butt end.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein said grip comprises eight flat beveled surfaces about its circumference.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein said grip comprises a raised marker on its circumference indicating hand placement for proper use of said device.

5. The device of claim 4 wherein said grip comprises two raised markers, one for left handed users and one for right handed users.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein said umbilical comprises a material that is capable of stretching from its at test length during use of said device.

7. The device of claim 6 wherein said umbilical comprises a material that is capable of stretching up to approximately 1 inch in length from its at rest length during use of said device.

8. The device of claim 1 wherein said weight is approximately 13 to 15 ozs. in mass.

9. The device of claim 1 wherein said umbilical comprises a member selected from the group consisting of natural rubber, synthetic rubber and thermoplastic elastomers.

10. The device of claim 9 wherein said grip, umbilical and weight are composed of the same member and are of a unitary construction.

11. A method of training a user to properly serve a tennis ball to commence a game of tennis, said method comprising providing a device having a grip emulating a tennis racquet grip sized for being held by a user when employing said device for training, said grip having a length, a circumference, a butt end and a distal end, a flexible umbilical having first and second ends, said first end attached to and emanating from said distal end of said grip and a weight attached to said second end of said umbilical, the length of said device measured from said butt end of said grip to said weight being approximately the length of a tennis racquet, swinging said weight overhead to emulate the overhead swing of a tennis racquet and bringing said device downward in a continuous arc of motion while maintaining tautness of said umbilical between said grip and said weight.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein said grip comprises a raised marker on its circumference indicating the hand placement for proper use of said device, wherein upon grasping said grip, the thumb and index finger of a user are caused to reside against said marker during use of said device.