Baseball pitching practice aid

Abstract

A simulated batting dummy is provided with a three dimensional silhouette cutout-type structure. The dummy is made of two layers of impact absorbing, foam bonded together. A color image of a batter is painted or otherwise printed on each side of the silhouette for both right-handed and left-handed “batter” positioning. A support pole extends upwardly inside of the silhouette to the height of about the shoulder region of the “batter”. The support pole protrudes below the feet of the “batter” and is inserted into a receiving socket in a small base plate or, alternately, is inserted into a receiving pipe or cup buried in the ground in the batter's box at home plate. A bat made of identical foam material may be formed as part of the dummy. Further alternately, raised or relief portions may be added to the surface of the silhouette add further depth of view to the image, or such depth may be implemented with painted or printed shading.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION:

The present invention relates to mannequin's, silhouettes, cutouts, dummies, and targets used during baseball pitching practice to simulate a batter thereby providing a game-type condition for a baseball player practicing his pitching.

During pitching practice, usually only a pitcher and a catcher are involved. This is an unrealistic situation, as a batter is at the plate under game conditions. During pitching practice, however, a manager does not want to chance injury to a batter. It is desirable to simulate a batter at the plate, such that a pitcher can practice as close to game conditions as possible.

In the past, mechanized mannequins have been used in amusement parks as part of amusement apparatus testing a participant's pitching aim. While these mechanized mannequins have been made to be life-like, they are heavy, need power and need large mounting making them impractical to use on a baseball diamond. Moreover, they do not permit a live catcher to act with the practicing pitcher.

Strike zone baseball silhouette cutouts have been made from a suitably thick plywood sheet, or an equivalent plastic plate. This silhouette is held upright by a stake driven into the ground and therefore be used on a baseball diamond. However, they are heavy to transport and setup. When used with smaller children, this is a disadvantage. When used with full grown men, the silhouette cutout can be knocked over when hit with a pitch, creating a safety hazard. A significant ricochet hazard also exists with both children and adults.

In order to overcome this safety hazard, these silhouette cutouts have been mated with a pitching target being a swingable gate simulating the strike zone. This eliminates a live catcher crouched at the proper distance behind the home plate, and eliminates a real game condition. Generally a stake is attached to the back of the silhouette cutout and is used to hold the cutout upright in the ground. As an alternative, the swingable gate has been mated with a blowup batter-looking “doll”. This doll is held in place by a weighted base or “foot”. While such blowup dolls are lighter than a plywood silhouette cutout, they are more fragile and can rupture when struck with a fast pitch. They are also more subject to even the slightest wind conditions due to their depth.

Improved blowup batter dummies for pitching practice have incorporated multiple air chambers. This assists the owner in locating an air leak. Blowup dummies generally require large base plates and take considerable time to be setup and to be taken down. These inflatable dummies also require an air pump on the ball field. If the pump is electric, a safety hazard may exist.

To overcome the shortcomings of blowup dummies, molded rigid plastic dummies have been introduced. These dummies generally require a large base plate, much like the blowup dummies. The problem created with a large base plate is that it forces the batter dummy farther away from the plate than where a live batter would stand, thereby creating an unrealistic simulated game condition.

The mannequins, rigid silhouette cutouts, and rigid plastic dummies can create a ricochet hazard when a pitched ball hits the object. The mannequins and rigid plastic dummies require large bases which force them to be placed too far from the plate. These objects also are generally very cumbersome to carry and store. While the blowup dummies do not create a ricochet hazard, they are fragile and require care in carrying and storage. Moreover, blowup dummies take time to inflate and deflate after use. Like the mannequins and the rigid plastic dummies, blowup dummies require large bases which also force them to be placed too far from home plate. Moreover, while the inflated dummies eliminate the ricochet hazard present with their rigid counterparts, the bases required by the inflated dummies introduce a ricochet hazard for balls “thrown into the dirt”.

What is desired is an improved simulated batter, which is easily positionable at varying distances both from the home plate and the pitcher's mound, and which i reasonably easy to transport, set up and store, and which is reasonably durable and eliminates or minimizes ricochet hazards.

An objective of this invention is to provide a durable silhouette cutout-type batting dummy which is reasonably light weight but also durable.

A second objective of this invention is to provide such batting dummy with pitched ball impact force absorption.

A third object of this invention is to provide such batting dummy with a mounting pole and a variety of base or securement members thereby permitting the dummy to be positioned at varying distances from home plate in a normal batter's box area.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION:

The objectives of the present invention are realized in a simulated three dimensional batting dummy of the silhouette cutout-type. The “prop” will create the illusion of a crouched baseball batter (or softball batter) standing at home plate waiting for a pitched ball. The intent is to simulate a live right-handed or left-handed batter so that a pitcher can comfortably practice pitching in game simulated conditions, without the worry of hitting an actual batter with a wild pitch.

A pitcher would prefer to have a “live” or “real batter” standing at home plate so that he could practice his warm-up routine or practice his pitching closest to real game conditions as possible. A live batter is reluctant to stand at home plate for fear of getting hurt. Also, the pitcher, while he wants a live batter while he practices, will not be fully relaxed in his throwing routine or as eager to try new pitches for fear of hitting a batter and teammate with a wild pitch. The present invention fills a long felt need at all levels of play from little league to professional ball.

The “prop” is suitable to be set up in a batter's box at home plate, with little or no base member, to permit a catcher to crouch at his normal position behind the plate. Two sheets of closed cellular foam are cut into the shape (silhouette) of a crouched batter. A support pole is inserted between the sheets to create a hollow interior area having a small air pocket. This support pole forms the spine of the silhouetted dummy and extends from slightly below the “batter's shoes” to about his “shoulders”. The “head” portion and any included “bat” projecting from the “batter's hands” are unsupported by the spine.

The two sheets of foam are bonded together at their outer edges (the periphery of the silhouette) and bonded to the support pole. The shape of the silhouette is reasonably flat, with a shallow taper from its vertical middle, where the support pole is positioned, to the outer edges.

The foam is chosen to be energy absorbing and therefore resistant to impact and weather proof. The foam is also selected to have excellent tear strength and abrasion resistance with good flexibility and ultraviolet protection. Bonding of the two sheets together may be had by gluing or heat welding.

A color image of a batter painted or printed on the outer side of each cutout foam sheet either before or after assembly and bonding. Raised or relief features may be added to the surface of each cutout foam sheet if desired. These can be added by vinyl or rubber build-up techniques or by thermoforming the surface of each foam cutout sheet. Alternately, relief features may be attained by shading and coloring.

The support pole can be solid or hollow, but rounded at its end closest to the dummy's head. Where a hollow pole is used, it may be implemented in tubing or pipe. Round, rectangular or square cross-section may be used.

The base of the support pole is intended to seat into and be held in a receiving socket. Either a friction fit, a bayonet-like fit, or a pin tied (bolted) fit may be used between the bottom of the support pole and its receiving socket.

The receiving socket may be driven into the ground, or may be mounted to the top face of a weighted base. The receiving socket may also be a batting tee assembled via insertion into its protruding tee-tub. The receiving socket may also be a sand filled PVC (polyvinyl chloride) tube/pipe configuration, whereby the base is positioned behind the cutout/silhouette dummy. The base may be covered with the foam material to reduce ricocheting, or it may be buried in an indentation in the ground. Alternately, a steel base plate in the range of about 6 inches to about 15 inches on a side may be used. This base plate if of heavier weight material can preferably be in the range of about 7 inches to 10 inches on a side. This base plate can have a thickness of from about ⅛ inches to about ⅜ inches.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The features, advantage and operation of the present invention will become readily apparent and further understood from a reading of the following detailed description with the accompanying drawings, in which like numerals refer to like elements, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a silhouette “blank” of the invention, in front view, mounted on a non-anchored base stand;

FIG. 1a is a cross-section of the “blank” silhouette of FIG. 1 with a rectangular or square spine pole taken as shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 2 is an imaged silhouette of the invention, in front view showing a left-handed batter, and mounted on the non-anchored base;

FIG. 3 is an imaged silhouette of the invention, showing a right-handed batter, and back view of FIG. 2;

FIG. 3a is a cross-section of the imaged silhouette of FIG. 3 having a round pole spine taken as shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 4 is a side view of the imaged silhouette of FIGS. 2 and 3 wherein the head and helmet portion has been built-up with additional foam layers to maintain a uniformity of curvature;

FIG. 4a is a cross-sectional view of the built-up head and helmet portion of the silhouette taken as shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 5 is a side view of the imaged silhouette of FIGS. 2 and 3 wherein the head and helmet portion tapers to its sealed edges from the width established by the spine pole with ends adjacent thereto;

FIG. 5a is a cross-sectional view of the tapering head and helmet portion of the silhouette taken as shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 6 is a side view of the imaged silhouette of FIGS. 2 and 3 wherein the head and helmet portion has been sealed together to eliminate any air space inside the outer sheets in the head and helmet area of the silhouette;

FIG. 6a is a cross-section of the head and helmet portion of the silhouette taken as shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of a non-anchored mounting plate having a round receiving socket for a round pole spine;

FIG. 7a is a side view of the mounting plate of FIG. 7;

FIG. 8 is a top plan view of the mounting plate of FIG. 7 with a layer of foam bonded to the top face thereof;

FIG. 8a is a side view of the mounting plate of FIG. 8;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a non-anchored mounting plate having a square receiving socket for a square spine pole;

FIG. 9a is a side view of the mounting plate of FIG. 9;

FIG. 10 is a side view of an in-the-ground round anchor;

FIG. 10a is a top plan view of the anchor of FIG. 10 which is suitable for receiving a round spine pole;

FIG. 11 shows a round spine pole for being anchored into the base of FIGS. 7 and 8 with a removable pin or bolt;

FIG. 12 shows a slotted round spine pole for being anchored into the base of FIGS. 7 and 8 with a slide bayonet-like fit;

FIG. 13 shows a cutaway representation of an in-tube mounting of the silhouette;

FIG. 14 shows a cutaway representation of an over-the-tube mounting of the silhouette;

FIG. 15 shows a cutaway representation of an in-ground mounting of the silhouette;

FIG. 16 shows a flexible mounting with base plate sunken;

FIG. 17 shows a in ground mounting using a home plate type buried receiving cup;

FIG. 18 shows an off-set square socket which seats in the home plate receiving cup and fits in a slot cut into the bottom of home plate; and

FIG. 18a is a side view of the off-set socket structure of FIG. 18.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION:

The present invention is a baseball pitching practice aid which provides a shape of a baseball batter at home plate for pitching practice. The device is a silhouette-type cutout supported to with a ground mount to be standing in the batter's box area of home plate. The silhouette carries the color image of a batter on either side, with a first side being for left-handed batter presentation, and a second side being for right-handed batter presentation.

The goal is to provide a life-like presentation, which is of durable construction, which is portable and reasonably light, which will take a strike by a baseball while creating little or no ricochet hazard, which while absorbing the impact of a strike is also positionable at a realistic location in the batter's box, and which has a secure anchorage.

A silhouette cutout 21, FIG. 1, is cut from two sheets of foam material which are bonded together at their edges with a thicker cross-section in the vertical middle to provide a three-dimensional profile. The cutout 21 is mounted onto and bonded to a pole-type spine 23, which supports the cutout 21 for mounting on a relatively flat and low profile base 25.

The foam sheet 21 is obtained commercially, from suppliers or manufacturers, including the Gilman Corporation, Gilman, Conn., which markets its foam sheet under the trademark SOFTLITE. Foam sheet 21 is a closed-cell ionomer foam, which has the ability to bond ionically to neighboring molecular chains with the same bond as the polymer chain itself. Exterior surfaces can be shaped by heat and pressure, and where the outer skin is compressed, it forms a strong, abrasion-resistant surface.

The cutout 21 is made from sheets of a low-density, hydrophobic, flexible, tough, tear resistant and abrasion resistant ionomer resin foam, supplied by Gilman Corporation from ionomer resin material, and of the type manufactured by E.I. Dupont under the trademark SURLYN and of the type manufactured by Exxon Corp. under the trademark IOTEK. This material is resistant to commercial solvents, resists cracking and corona attack, and has a high tensile strength. The cutout 21 is cut to size to represent different sized ball players as discussed below.

The pole spine 23 can be a solid plastic pole, and is preferably a hollow rectangular or square tube or a round pipe. A PVC (polyvinyl chloride) pipe is used for the spine 23. For smaller ball players, a pipe chosen in the range of about ½ inch to about ¾ inch ID (inside diameter), schedule 40 pipe can be used. This pipe has a wall thickness of about ⅛ inches and is approximately 1 and 1/64 inches on its outside diameter for a ¾ inch pipe. For larger silhouettes, a pipe in the range of about ½ inch to about 1 inch ID PVC, schedule 40 pipe can be used. This pipe has a wall thickness of about ⅛ inches and is approximately 1 and 5/16 inches on its outside diameter for a 1 inch pipe. These pipe sizes are not restrictive, such as a ½ inch ID pipe can be used for both sizes of silhouettes and other sizes of pipe or solid poles or tubes can be used. A cross-sectional shape of a square or a rectangular tube may be used, or even an oval one.

The base 25 can be of carbon steel, such as 1020, or of a stainless steel, such as an austenitic stainless 304 or a ferritic stainless 430. Alternately, the base can be made of aluminum or other materials.

Typically, the base 25 should weigh between 10 and 25 pounds. However, depending upon the field conditions and the player sizes, this range may also be varied. However, at the same time it should have a small footprint and a low profile. A thickness of up to ½ inches is acceptable. A size in the range of from 6 inches on a side to 15 inches on a side is acceptable. However, a size in the range of 7 to 10 inches is preferred. The shape of the base can be square or rectangular. When rectangular, the longer legs are transverse to the face of the cutout 21.

FIGS. 1a is a cross-section of the silhouette 21 taken through the trunk of the body section. The two sheets of foam 27 are heat bonded on their periphery, i.e., outer edges. As alternative to heat bonding, gluing can be used. The center spine 23 is a rectangular PVC tube, with a schedule 40 wall thickness. A round or a square cross-section pipe or tube may also be used. The construction of the spine 23 is not limited to PVC. Other plastic materials, such a polyurethane, polycarbonate, fiberglass reinforced plastics and metals may be successfully substituted for PVC. The spine 23 creates an air pocket 31 inside of the foam sheets 27.

The thickness of the foam can be in the range of from ⅛ inches to ½ inches, with a preferred range from ¼ inches to ⅚ inches. The lowest portion of the silhouette, being the “shoes”, are shown with the foam sheets 27 bonded together.

Where a square or rectangular tube 23 is used, the lateral thickness 35 which determines the maximum separation of the foam sheets 27, is less than with a round pipe. Typically, the angle of taper 37 is from 5 to 15 degrees depending upon the size of the silhouette and the size of the spine 23 selected.

FIGS. 2 and 3 show the imaged silhouette of a left-handed batter and a right-handed batter, respectively. The images can be printed, painted, screened, or deposited by film on each of the front and back sides of the silhouette. Contrasts and illusions for three-dimensional depth can be created by coloring, shading and surface molding as are selected. Surface molding, as recited above, for the ionomer foam material is affected by heat forming prior to the application of an image. As shown, the image can be either female, as in FIG. 2, or male, as in FIG. 3.

The spine pole 23 can protrude below the bottom of each silhouette 21, FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. The spine pole 23 extends vertically to about the region of the batter's “shoulders”, or “head” portion. Above the top end of the spine 23, the foam sheets 27 are joined. FIGS. 4, 5, and 6 show three different side profile shapes for the “head” of a silhouette 23 produced by different structures.

FIG. 4 is a side profile of the silhouette 21 in which there is a build-up 39 of additional layers of foam 23 to maintain a uniform thickness in the “head” region of the silhouette. FIG. 4a is a cross-section of the “head” region of FIG. 4 where the layers of foam 23 forming the build-up “head” region can be shaved or heat molded to maintain the angle of taper 37 to the edges of the silhouette 21.

FIG. 5 is a side profile of the silhouette 21 in which the “head” region of the silhouette 21 has the foam sheets 27 bonded at their outside edges so that there is a taper to the extreme top and outer edges of the “head” portion of the silhouette from the thickness at the spine pole 23 upper terminus. FIG. 5a is a cross-section of the “head” region of FIG. 5 showing the joining of the foam sheets 27 at their outer edges to leave a taped air space 31 in the “head” portion.

FIG. 6 is a side profile of the silhouette 21 in which the foam sheets 27 are completely bonded together above the upper terminus of the spine pole 23 to provide a flat side profile. FIG. 6a is a cross-section showing that the two sheets of foam completely bonded together.

The base 25 can be fabricated from a steel plate 45, FIGS. 7, 7a, to which a short piece of steel pipe 43 can be welded 45. The pipe 43 forms a receiving socket for a pipe-shaped spine 23. A bolt and nut 47 extending through drilled diametric holes in the pipe 43 can be used as a securement to keep the spine 23 from rotating.

In order to reduce a ricochet hazard created by a ball hitting the base 25, the base may be covered with an impact deadening foam 49, glued to the top surface of the steel plate 41, FIGS. 8, 8a. In this embodiment of the base 25, the bolt and nut 47 is replaced by a roll pin 47a.

Home plates and some pitcher's rubbers are anchored into the ground using square cross-sectioned aluminum tubes. Little league uses like tube anchors, and also buried block anchors and spiked anchors. Some running bases are similarly anchored.

An alternative non-anchored base FIGS. 9, 9a, has an aluminum plate 51, square tube 53 projecting from the center of one face of the aluminum plate 51, and a tapered support collar 55 about the base of the tube 53 where it is attached to the aluminum plate 51.

The base of FIGS. 9 and 9a is suitable for square spine poles 23, or where a round or rectangular to square adaptor is used.

An in-ground anchor 57 is shown in FIGS. 10 and 10a. This anchor has a peg-shaped, pointed end, round shaft and socket 59, and a flat, ring-shaped driving head 61. This in-ground anchor 57 eliminates the need for a base. With a round socket 59, a friction fit spine pole can be inserted. Alternatively, a cross pin, similar to those shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 can be used to keep the inserted spine pole from rotating. The in-ground anchor 57 is commercially available from Markers, Inc., Avon Lake, Ohio. Various anchor 57 sizes can be ordered for receiving various pipe sizes. Where a rectangular or a square spine 23 is used, an adaptor is needed to mate with the round anchor 57.

The spine 23 can have a diametric through holes 23a, as shown in FIG. 11. Or, this spine 23 can have diametrically positioned longitudinal slots 23b, as shown in FIG. 12.

FIGS. 13, 14, and 15 show cutaway representations of an in-tube type spine mounting, an over-the-tube spine mounting, and an in-ground anchor spine mounting, respectively. In FIGS. 13 and 14, a weighted base 61 is mated to an upstanding tube 63. In FIG. 13 the upstanding tube 63 has an inside diameter for receiving a round pipe spine 23. In FIG. 14, the round pipe spine 23 is mated to a larger diameter over tube 65 at a an adaptor 67. The over tube inside diameter is sizes to fit over the upstanding tube 63, FIG. 4. In FIG. 15, the round pipe spine 23 seats in the round socket of the in-ground anchor 57. The in-ground anchor can have a diametric, cross pin similar to pins 47 and 47a of FIGS. 7 and 8, respectively. In that instance, the spine 23 is slotted 23b as shown in FIG. 12.

The silhouette can be cut to any size and shape. However, the baseball or softball silhouette is shown in figures herein. Typically for a youth model, the silhouette is about 53 inches high, dimension “H”, FIG. 13, and about 16 inches wide, dimension “W”. The spine is schedule 40, ½ inch ID, round PVC tubing at about 50 inches long (high). The ionomer foam is two sheets of ¼ inch thick sheeting. This silhouette without a base weighs about 2 pounds.

A softball model is typically about 62 inches high (tall) and about 24 inches wide, with about 60 inches of schedule 40, ½ inch ID, round PVC tubing for its spine, and two ¼ inch thick ionomer foam sheets. This silhouette without a base weighs about 2.5 pounds.

An adult model is typically about 66 inches tall and 24 inches wide, with about 60 inches of schedule 40, ½ inch ID, round PVC tubing for its spine, and two ¼ inch thick ionomer foam sheets. This silhouette without a base weighs about 2.5 pounds. For any model, the introduction of an over tube will add 0.25 to 2.5 pounds, depending upon size of the tube and the material from which it is made. This over-tube is that which is often found in a “T ball” base. A T ball tube is generally about 18 inches long, with about 1 and ⅞ inch OD, and is made of durable flexible rubber with longitudinal ribs.

FIG. 17 shows a round pipe-type spine 23 joined to a sunken base plate 69 for holding the silhouette 21. A practice batter's box is either of dirt or has a rubber or other synthetic turf 71. This is typical for many modern sports practice facilities at all levels of play. A shallow hole or a cutout 73 is provided to set the base plate 69 there into. The base plate 69 can be covered with turf 71, or a foam similar to FIG. 8, or the top face of the base plate 69 can be left bare. The ricochet hazard of a small sunken base 69 is minimal as the bottom of the silhouette is positioned transversely across almost the entire width of the base.

The base 69 has an upstanding threaded anchor bolt 75, onto which the over tube 77 is threadedly mounted. The over tube 77 has longitudinal ribs and is made of flexible rubber. The spine 23 is fixedly joined to the over tube 77. Any impact imparted to the silhouette by a ball striking it is partially imparted to the rubber over tube 77 which flexes against the force.

FIG. 18 shows the round pipe spine 23 fixedly joined to a square adaptor tube 79, which in turn seats in a square in-ground receiving box 81. For practice facilities, especially those of the indoor type, the ground is covered with a rubber matt or synthetic turf 71.

The above-described baseball pitching practice aid is portable, easily set up, durable, and can “take a hit”. It provides a life-like batter in the batter's box. It presents a reasonably flat “face” to the pitcher, so that the force of a wild pitch which hits near the center of the silhouette is absorbed by the foam, and is taken up by the spine and anchor. The shallow taper of the “face” to the outside edges, permits a wild pitch to bounce reasonably mildly outwardly after causing the silhouette to torque. Such torque occurs through the bending of the two sheets of foam itself, while the spine is held without rotating. The foam then returns to its original shape.

The present invention is suitable for many other sports than baseball. As an example, it can be configured as a hockey goalie, or a soccer goalie.

Many changes can be made in the above-described invention without departing from the intent and scope thereof. It is therefore intended that the above description be read in the illustrative sense and not in the limiting sense. Substitutions and changes can be made while still being within the scope and intent of the invention and of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A baseball pitching practice aid, comprising:

a pair of foam sheets joined together at their edges, said foam sheets being cut into a baseball player silhouette;

a spine inside of the two foam sheets and joined thereto for supporting said pair of foam sheets; and

an anchor means attached to said spine for positioning said spine at a desired location and for supporting said spine against the force of a wild pitch hitting the pair of foam sheets.

2. The practice aid of claim 1, wherein said anchor means is a base plate with an upstanding socket, said socket receiving the bottom end of said spine.

3. The practice aid of claim 1, wherein said anchor means is an in-ground anchor with an upwardly facing socket, said socket receiving the bottom end of said spine.

4. The practice aid of claim 1, also including an image of a batter on the face of each of said pair of foam sheets.

5. The practice aid of claim 4, wherein said anchor means is a base plate with an upstanding socket, said socket receiving the bottom end of said spine.

6. The practice aid of claim 5, wherein said spine is selected from the group of a round tube, a square tube, and a rectangular tube.

7. The practice aid of claim 6, wherein said spine is of schedule 40 PVC material.

8. The practice aid of claim 7, wherein said pair of foam sheets are of an ionomer, closed cell foam.

9. The practice aid of claim 8, wherein said base plate is covered with an impact absorbing foam sheet.

10. The practice aid of claim 9, wherein said base plate includes a support collar about said upstanding socket.

11. The practice aid of claim 4, wherein said anchor means is a below ground level device.

12. The practice aid of claim 9, wherein said below ground level device is selected from the group of an in-ground stake-type anchor, a sunken base plate, and a buried receiving cup, wherein said below ground level device presents an below grade, upwardly facing receiving socket.

13. The practice aid of claim 1, wherein said spine extends vertically within said two joined foam sheets from a point below the bottom of said pair of sheets to a point about 3-12 percent below the top of the silhouette, that being adjacent the head and shoulder region of the baseball player silhouette.

14. The practice aid of claim 1, wherein the foam sheets taper from a thicker cross-section at the vertical extending area of the spine to a thinner cross-section at the joined edges.

15. The practice aid of claim 14, also including an air pocket between said pair of joined foam sheets.

16. The practice aid of claim 15, wherein the air pocket above the upper terminus of the spine is filled with foam sheet material.

17. A sports practice aid, comprising:

two sheets of impact absorbing material joined together at their edges;

a spine member extending within said two joined sheets and fixed to said sheets against movement there between; and

an anchor means for positioning and holding said spine member against movement caused by the striking of a sport's projectile, including a ball, a puck, a paintball and an arrow.

18. The practice aid of claim 17, wherein said impact absorbing material sheets are foam sheets having an air pocket there between, and wherein said foam sheets present a reasonably flat face which tapers backwardly towards each side edge.

19. The practice aid of claim 17, wherein said foam sheets are of ionomer, closed-cell, heat formable foam.

20. The practice aid of claim 19, wherein said spine includes a flexible member, and wherein each foam sheet has an image imprinted thereon, said images being the mirror image of the other.