Abstract: Detectors and related systems and methods for automatically detecting made and missed basketball shots using ultrasonics are provided. A launcher is connected to a structural subassembly and passes basketballs to locations about a basketball playing area having a basketball goal. A detector having at least one ultrasonic sensor is selectively positioned below and adjacent to a rim of the basketball goal and transmits bursts of ultrasonic signals. A processor monitors for reflections of the transmitted bursts occurring within a specified time period after transmission excluding an initial time period and time after the specified time period, and records a made shot where reflections of the transmitted bursts are detected within the specified time period. An accelerometer may optionally be included for determining if the made shot was a swish.

Abstract: Systems and methods for assisting a user with creating a custom shots-made basketball practice arrangement are provided. A detector detects made basketball shots. A user interface receives a user selection of a subset of pass receipt locations for a custom shots-made basketball practice arrangement located about a basketball playing surface. A control system receives data indicating the user selection and a number of shots to be made and commands an ejector to launch basketballs to a particular one of the pass receipt locations in the subset until data is received indicating that the selected number of shots to be made are made at the particular one of said plurality of pass receipt locations, cease launching the basketballs to the particular one of the pass receipt locations, and begins launching basketballs to a second particular one of the pass receipt locations in said subset.

Abstract: Systems and methods for tracking off of the dribble shooting statistics are provided. An ejector launches basketballs to a user selected subset of pass receipt locations spaced apart about a basketball playing area. A controller receives data from an interface representing the user selected subset of the pass receipt locations and certain of the pass receipt locations in the subset where the player intends to perform a pre-shooting basketball move immediately before receiving the pass or making the shooting attempt and commands the ejector to launch at least one basketball to each of the pass receipt locations in the subset. Data is received from a detector indicating made basketball shots, and a performance report is generated with feedback for each of the pass receipt locations in the subset with a qualifier associated with at least some of the feedback indicating off of the dribble shooting.

Abstract: Systems and methods for detecting made and missed basketball shots are provided. A launcher passes basketballs to shooting locations about a basketball playing area based on user input provided at an interface to define a custom practice arrangement. A camera captures images of an underside of a rim of a basketball goal. A controller receives images from the camera, associates the images with passes from the launcher, processes the images using a machine vision model to determine which of said received images indicate a made shot, and generates a performance report indicating a number or percentage of made shots for each location in the custom practice arrangement.

Abstract: A user interface includes a plurality of pass receipt locations rendered at spaced positions on or adjacent to the rendering of a three-point line to correspond with pass receipt locations on a basketball playing surface. Each pass receipt location is individually and directly selected by physical touch to define a custom basketball practice arrangement which is programmed into a control system to cause an ejector mounted to a frame to launch at least one basketball to each selected location.

Abstract: A launcher passes a series of basketballs to various locations on a basketball playing area. The locations where the basketballs are passed is determined by selection of one or more individually selectable indicia located on an interface. A controller electrically connected to the interface and the launcher is configured to program the launch to pass the basketballs to the locations selected by the user in the order in which the user selects them.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing performance feedback regarding a basketball practice session are provided. A user interface associated with a portable basketball launching machine accepts user input indicating a number of different locations at a basketball playing area for the portable basketball launching machine to provide basketball passes for a player to catch and shoot towards a basketball goal as part of the basketball practice session. A detection device ascertains whether the player succeeded in making a basketball goal for each of the basketball passes. A processor receives data from the detection device and generates a representation of a basketball court overlaid with data indicating where the basketball passes were provided and whether said player was successful in making basketball goals.

Abstract: Systems for assisting a user with creating a custom basketball practice arrangement are provided. A user interface has selectable input areas arranged in association with a visual depiction of a three-point line to visually correspond with pass receipt locations at the basketball playing surface for an ejector to launch basketballs towards. User selection is made at the selectable input areas to define a subset of pass receipt locations forming the custom basketball practice arrangement. A control system receives data indicating the received user selection and commands the ejector to launch at least one basketball towards each of the plurality of pass receipt locations in said subset.

Abstract: A device for gathering and returning basketballs thrown towards a basketball goal is disclosed. The device includes an ejector programmed to launch basketballs to a series of locations selected via an interface having a plurality of interactive indicia arranged in a spaced angular pattern. A basketball retrieval system associated with the basketball goal captures basketballs thrown towards the goal and guides them to the ejector. An upper edge of the basketball retrieval system extends above the rim of the basketball goal.

Abstract: A system and method for improving a player's shooting efficiency by providing a player with various shooting challenge routines at which a player makes either a total number of shots or a total number shots in a row. Statistics regarding the player's performance are stored, printed and/or evaluated and the player can use the information to improve his or her efficiency at one or more of the plurality of different locations where the player shoots the basketball. In another embodiment, a measuring or detection system is used in combination with or separate from a ball launcher. The system is adapted to measure at least one of a distance of a player from the launcher, height of a shot made by the player after catching a basketball, release angle, release time, or arc of a shot; entry angle of the basketball into a goal; hold or release time; or shot arc.

Abstract: An ejector launches a series of basketballs to various locations selected by a user via an interface having a number of individually selectable indicia arranged in a spaced angular pattern thereon corresponding to shooting locations on a basketball playing area. A sensor counts the number of ejected basketballs and made shots. A computer calculates shooting statistics data which is transmitted to a database via a network connection device. The database is configured to store the shooting statistics data and transmit it to an electronic device.

Abstract: A system for improving a basketball player's ability to shoot basketballs towards a basketball hoop having an improved ball sensor is disclosed. An interface allows a player to select various locations for a ball ejector to launch basketballs to. A hollow protrusion extends though the net of the basketball hoop and has a microphone positioned therein. A processor compares audio signals generated by said microphone to pre-recorded sample audio signals of a basketball passing through the net of the basketball hoop to determine if a basketball shot was successfully made.

Abstract: A device for assisting a user during basketball practice is disclosed. The device includes an ejector that launches a basketball, a control system that detects and records shooting data and programs the ejector, and an interface that has a plurality of indicia and communicates with the control system. A report generator is included that generates a report on the shooting data. In exemplary embodiments, a tracking device may detect the location of the basketball and a sensor may detect if the basketball passes through the goal.

Abstract: A system and method for improving a player's efficiency in shooting by providing a player with various shooting challenge routines at which a player makes either a total number of shots or a total number shots in a row. Statistics regarding the player's performance are gathered or collected, stored and/or tracked, printed and/or evaluated and the player can use the information to improve his or her efficiency at one or more of the plurality of different locations where the player shoots the basketball. One embodiment includes the ability of players from the same or different teams to compare statistics and enables the launchers at different locations to launch substantially exactly the same pass to different players to facilitate such competition.

Abstract: A system and method for improving a player's shooting efficiency by providing a player with various shooting challenge routines at which a player makes either a total number of shots or a total number shots in a row. Statistics regarding the player's performance are stored, printed and/or evaluated and the player can use the information to improve his or her efficiency at one or more of the plurality of different locations where the player shoots the basketball. In another embodiment, a measuring or detection system is used in combination with or separate from a ball launcher. The system is adapted to measure at least one of a distance of a player from the launcher, height of a shot made by the player after catching a basketball, release angle, release time, or arc of a shot; entry angle of the basketball into a goal; hold or release time; or shot arc.

Abstract: A system and method for improving a player's efficiency in shooting by providing a player with various shooting challenge routines at which a player makes either a total number of shots or a total number shots in a row. Statistics regarding the player's performance are stored, printed and/or evaluated and the player can use the information to improve his or her efficiency at one or more of the plurality of different locations where the player shoots the basketball. In another embodiment, a measuring or detection system is used in combination with or separate from a ball launcher. The system is adapted to measure at least one of a distance of a player from the a launcher, height of a shot made by the player after catching a basketball, release angle, release time, or arc of a shot; entry angle of the basketball into a goal; hold or release time; or shot arc.

Abstract: A system and method for improving a player's efficiency in shooting by providing a player with various shooting challenge routines at which a player makes either a total number of shots or a total number shots in a row. Statistics regarding the player's performance are gathered or collected, stored and/or tracked, printed and/or evaluated and the player can use the information to improve his or her efficiency at one or more of the plurality of different locations where the player shoots the basketball. One embodiment includes the ability of players from the same or different teams to compare statistics and enables the launchers at different locations to launch substantially exactly the same pass to different players to facilitate such competition.

Abstract: A system and method for improving a player's efficiency in shooting by providing a player with various shooting challenge routines at which a player makes either a total number of shots or a total number shots in a row. Statistics regarding the player's performance are stored, printed and/or evaluated and the player can use the information to improve his or her efficiency at one or more of the plurality of different locations where the player shoots the basketball. In another embodiment, a measuring or detection system is used in combination with or separate from a ball launcher. The system is adapted to measure at least one of a distance of a player from the a launcher, height of a shot made by the player after catching a basketball, release angle, release time, or arc of a shot; entry angle of the basketball into a goal; hold or release time; or shot arc.

Abstract: A system and method for improving a player's efficiency in shooting by providing a player with various shooting challenge routines at which a player makes either a total number of shots or a total number shots in a row. Statistics regarding the player's performance are stored, printed and/or evaluated and the player can use the information to improve his or her efficiency at one or more of the plurality of different locations where the player shoots the basketball.