Abstract: A training bat apparatus includes a shaft and audible and visual swing quality indicators on the shaft. The audible indicator includes a sound-producing body affixed to a barrel portion of the shaft, and an impact-producing body movably mounted along the shaft so as to strike the sound-producing body and produce a noticeable sound in response to the training bat apparatus undergoing a dry swing relative to a pitched ball. The visual indicator is provided in a radial position along a longitudinal side, and relative to a longitudinal axis, of the shaft for enabling placement of a batter's hands in a given proper tandem grip about a handgrip portion of the shaft. Provision of these indicators and their functioning enable the batter to undergo effective dry batting training using the training bat apparatus in conjunction with a pitcher and catcher undergoing respective pitching and receiving training in a bullpen session.

Abstract: A field view batting cage apparatus includes a support frame surrounding a foreshortened baseball playing field with baseball hitting and pitching positions in diagonally opposite corners of the field, and a netting suspended so as to form a plurality of vertical walls of netting and a ceiling of netting surrounding and overlying the field for providing containment of the baseball. The batting cage apparatus also includes either a plurality of cables strung on the support frame so as to suspend the netting to form the vertical walls of netting and a dome-shaped ceiling of netting, or a support roof attached to, and spanning diagonally between opposite corners of the support frame and at least one cable strung on the support frame so as to suspend the netting to form a dome-shaped ceiling of netting and the vertical walls of netting.

Abstract: An access door unit includes a door, doorway structure, and elements for pivotally attaching the door to the doorway structure. The doorway structure has an outer perimeter frame and base affixed thereon. The base has support members extending in transverse relation to and outwardly fore and aft from the outer perimeter frame and adapted to rest on a generally level support surface such that the outer perimeter frame extends upright from the base enabling the doorway structure to assume a free-standing, self-supporting orientation on the support surface. The outer perimeter frame of the doorway structure defines a passage large enough to fit the door and permit entry or exit through the passage when the door is opened. A closure panel of the door may be full or half length in accordance with the different uses being made of the access door unit.

Abstract: An access door unit includes a door, a doorway structure, and elements for pivotally attaching the door to the doorway structure. The doorway structure has an outer perimeter frame and a base affixed thereon. The base has support members extending in transverse relation to and outwardly in opposite directions from the outer perimeter frame and adapted to rest on a generally level support surface such that the outer perimeter frame extends upright from the base enabling the doorway structure to assume a free-standing, self-supporting orientation on the support surface. The outer perimeter frame of the doorway structure defines a passage large enough to fit the door and permit entry or exit through the passage when the door is opened.

Abstract: A batting training system is adapted for use with standard variety of conventional baseball and softball batting tees to expand their capabilities by enabling hitters using them to receive an advanced level of training in how to properly swing a bat to effectively hit a ball. The batting training system includes a swing plane guide, a swing barrier guide and/or a swing instructional training guide which serve most effectively as training tools when used in conjunction with one another. However, they also may be used in different paired combinations or individually as training tools. The system also includes a resiliently deformable interface in the form of an insert wedge which enables the swing plane guide or the swing barrier guide to be attached to batting tee columns of different diameters.

Abstract: A self-training batting practice machine includes an upright support member, lower and upper support members, flexible ball suspension rod and at least one elastic member. The lower support member is attached to the upright support member close to a lower end thereof and extends horizontally outwardly therefrom. The upper support is supported on an upper end of the upright support member such that the upper support member is rotatable about a vertical pivot axis. The ball suspension rod is secured at an inner end to and rotatable with the upper support member and extends substantially horizontally outwardly therefrom and at an outer end has a ball-shaped object thereon for a player to swing a bat at and to hit in order to practice batting.

Abstract: A ball propelling and batting apparatus includes a pair of lines, a pair of handles, a ball, a bat with a hitting portion having a flat longitudinal surface, an attachment member and stoppers. The handles are attached to first ends of the lines. The ball is mounted to the lines for undergoing sliding movement therealong when the lines are pulled laterally away from one another. The bat is swung so that the flat surface moves parallel to the lines to bring the bat into proper contact the ball. The attachment member fastens second ends of the lines to an anchor. The stoppers are attached to the handles such that the ball sliding along the lines is prevented from contacting the handles. The ball can have an outer shell defining a hollow interior chamber and a plurality of holes and tubular inserts securely fitted through a pair of opposite aligned ones of the holes and receiving the lines therethrough.