Abstract: This invention relates to a batting practice device for teaching and improving a person's batting and switch hitting techniques. More particularly, this invention relates to a ball tethered at the end of a rope wherein the opposing end of the rope is rotatably attached to a vertical member thereby allowing the ball to rotate continuously about the vertical member.

Abstract: A weighted ball includes essentially only a metal center core, an outer cover, and an intermediate material disposed between the metal center core and the outer cover. A small amount of silicone rubber or a similar material may surround the metal center core for adhesively bonding the core to the intermediate material. In all respects to a user, other than weight, a weighted warmup ball is identical to a regulation ball of some kind, e.g., a softball; thus, a weighted ball according to the present invention is an ideal warmup device. Yet another novel aspect of the aspect of the present invention relates to the placement of indicia on the outer cover of a warmup ball according to the present invention which indicia are related to weight and/or added relate on some similar aspect of the ball.