Baseball-player's abbreviated training-glove & method

Abstract

The notion of a physically down-scaled ‘fielding-trainer’-type catching-glove suitable for all ages desiring to improve their bio-mechanical hand/eye-coordination, WebGlov™ is configured with receptacles for thumb & forefinger only, with cross-webbing extending there between; as to thereby uniquely serve in catching conventional golfball-sized light-weight hollow-polyballs. This abbreviated glove can be implemented in a challenging practice of regular catching conducted between two or more distally opposed participants, —or, it can be employed by only a single catcher while training alone in novel combination with a relentless conventional auto-feed Ball-thruster machine. Preferable fabricated of durable nylon-clad ¼″-thickness highly-flexible frothed-neoprene material, the notion of this glove is to enable its user to more precisely coordinate their eye and hand, by requiring them to catch a relatively small polyball in the comparatively tiny receiving-pocket area formed between the WebGlov's thumb and index-finger (or, alternatively the middle-finger). The ‘reduced-scale effect’ of this diminutive pocket-area as compared to the approximately four to six time larger receiver-pocket provided by a conventional fielder's-glove, is the key-factor in promoting significant improvement in the instantaneous reflex-action needed to place one's hand at the critical position, coupled with the pocket-closure timing required to thus consistently catch and trap an approaching ball.

Description

I.) BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

This invention relates to a sport-glove, particularly a baseball fielder's type of ball catching-glove, and more specifically it relates to specialized size, shape, and construction; —as well as the manner in which it is to be used.

2. Inspired Innovation

In the course of baseball's evolution, many performance enhancing devices have been developed, with ball-hitting as being the primary marketing emphasis. These ‘offensive’ related products included light-weight hitting-‘sticks’ such as narrow-diameter bats, loaded-bats, and bats which “click” when swung properly; —the use of slim-bats having been around early in the game's invention, —the objective being to improve ‘hand & eye’ coordination, and to improve mechanical accuracy in precisely impacting the baseball's leading-surface with the leading-edge of the bat. However, by way of comparison, relatively little has been done towards addressing the benefits of adopting a similar reduced scale effect in the ‘defensive’ area of fielding and catching.

Accordingly, the notion of a uniquely small, lightweight training glove by which to catch a golfball-sized polyball, was the conceptual result of a heretofore unobvious need to be able to actually ‘feel’ the ball being caught! While the down-sized polyball proved useful in posing a significantly smaller cross-section, because of the relatively massive size of present-day baseball-gloves, the fractional-weight (only about ¼-ounce, or about 1/20th the weight of a regulation hardball) of the hollow polyball was deemed unusable for training practice catching purposes, —as it was practically impossible to ‘feel’ the small polyball when caught (one would have to actually—‘look to see if it was indeed captured’). Owing to its far lesser mass, the polyball was simply to insignificant as compared to the relative inertia of a conventional regulation 5-ounce baseball (softballs weighing even more at 6.8-ounces) moving at any speed. Determined to solve the problem of working with such a fractional-ounce small-ball, I devised a crudely-fashioned ‘dual finger-aperture glove’ replete with a ‘catch-region’ receiving-trap bridging between thumb and forefinger tubule like receptacles. Being a professional baseball-player, I was immediately surprised when the light-weight prototype glove demonstrated the desired result;—as it served to, advantageously replace the conventional fielder's catching-glove with a new bare-minimum configuration, tactilely far more compatibly sensitive to the light-weight practice polyball. Additionally, this diminutive glove-size was discovered to physically cause a practicing-catcher to more accurately position his WebGlov™ catching-hand, thereby substantially improving his chance for a proper catch!

RELEVANT PRIOR-ART

Background research discovery provides some prior patent-art regarded as germane to this disclosure, chronologically for example in U.S. Pat. No. 2,776,139 (filed: 2/1954) shows the origin of the Wiffle®-ball, which name was inspired by the phrase “whiffed” (meaning the batter missed hitting the ball), —which itself derived from the “whiffff”-sound heard as the associated slim 1-inch diameter training-bat (originally, to the consternation of many Moms, —just a cut off wooden broom-handle) swings through the air! This early example polyball employed elongated openings upon one half, while the opposite half-hemisphere was either smooth or festooned with myriad tiny-holes; all of which were said to better enable the pitching of curve-balls. Later iterations of the Wiffle®-ball appear to favor an even disbursal of approximately 5/16-inch circular holes spaced about ⅜-inch apart; which design lends considerable resiliency, happily negating damage to windows and car-fenders.

In U.S. Pat. No. 4,896,376 (filed: 1/1988) is shown a full-sized sportball catching glove which is constructed of synthetic-leather plastic material, yet facilitates full use of the user's hand.

In U.S. Pat. No. 4,996,721 (filed: 6/1989) is shown a full-sized sportball fielder's style glove, which is instantly convertible from a bleachers-stand seat-cushion; which is symmetrically U-shaped with a flex-crease down the center, plus a webbing-trap bridges between the two halves. No actual hand receiving pocket is provided, —just a pair of straps serve to receive the user's thumb at one half of the flex-crease, and all four fingers at the adjacent half of the flex-crease. However, there is no anticipation, nor possibility of adapting this design to serve as a training-glove.

In U.S. Pat. No. 5,544,362 (filed: 10/1994) is shown an instructional-mitt of slightly reduced size for young baseball players, and features a webbing-trap portion between the thumb and four-fingers which is formed with a deeper shape whereby the caught ball has less tendency to pop-out if the uncoordinated user does not instantly close and thereby capture the ball. Thus while intended as a training-glove, there is no anticipation of reduced-scale as to thereby force a more skilled ball-catcher to further improve their more advanced skill.

In U.S. Pat. No. 5,878,436 (filed: 6/1997) is shown a full-sized symmetrically-shaped “center-webbed” glove, which is said to better use the natural-fold of the human-hand in capturing a ball into the webbing-trap arranged between the two-center of four thumb and finger-pockets. However, there are thus four cooperating finger-receptacles, and there is no anticipation of reduced-scale by which to improve the hand-eye coordination of a practicing ball catcher.

In U.S. Pat. No. 6,289,515 (filed: 12/1999) is shown a full-sized “ergonomic fielding-glove”, and features a greatly extended thumb/receiver-pocket and extended mitten-like four-finger/receiver-pocket, with a star-burst like webbing-trap arranged there between. Hence, the shape of this fielding-glove is said to improve the landing of the ball into the webbing-trap rather than impact upon the palm of the user's hand. However, there is no anticipation of reduced-scale by which to improve the hand-eye coordination of a practicing ball catcher.

In U.S. Pat. No. 6,324,696 (filed: 8/2000) is shown an inexpensive light-weight “souvenior baseball-mitt” of symmetrical-shape for either left or right handed use, which is made of flat 2-layer laminated-foam, wherein the back-side includes an aperture into which the user inserts their hand if they should actually chance to catch a flying-ball at a game. The front-side (for catching a ball) is only imprinted with a simulated webbing-trap region; thus there is no anticipation of using the glove in any manner to improve one's catching skill.

Therefore, in full consideration of the preceding patent-search review, there is determined a need among some 12-million young baseball-players for an improved form of device to which these patents have been addressed. Accordingly, the inventor hereof believes their newly improved ball-catcher's training-glove referred to as the WEBGLOV™, and currently being developed into production under auspices of the SportsProducts-Consultants Mfg./Mkt.Co., —exhibits certain advantages as shall be further revealed in the subsequent portion of this disclosure.

II.) SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A.) In view of the foregoing discussion about the earlier invention art, it is therefore to important to make it pellucid to others interested in the art, that the object of this invention is to provide a unique extensively abbreviated configuration for a sportsball training catching-glove (hereinafter referred to as the WebGlov™ or—“glove”). The novel function of this glove being, through ‘reduced-scale effect’, to induce a novice to catch a baseball in a more precise manner through use of a smaller training-ball; which is preferably an inexpensive commercially available golfball-sized 1⅝-inch diameter polyethylene-plastic light-weight albeit durable ‘Wiffle’™-ball (this size is the default standard for the sports-golfing industry). By matching a much smaller ball to the greatly reduced surface-area of the WebGlov's receiving-trap (which is only about ¼th the surface-area found upon a typical full-sized fielder's leather-glove), this greatly reduced so-called ‘catching-pocket’ area imposes a significant challenge to the user, thereby improving their hand/eye-coordination and timing. By the user thus forcing themselves to repetitively catch a smaller ball in a significantly reduced receiving-trap surface-area, this new WebGlov™ training concept is thus intended to condition the user into attaining a substantially more predictable ability to precisely catch a full-sized ‘baseball’ (or larger ‘softball’) into the much larger webbing-trap surface-area of a conventional full-sized fielder's-glove.

Also, unlike the painful trauma often inflicted by baseballs, even at low-speeds, it was soon found that that the WebGlov's exceptionally light-weight structure was perfectly suited to the similarly light-weight hollow-plastic polyball. Thus, repeated catching of speeding polyballs posed no pain, —even if the polyball accidentally impacted ones finger-tips, palm, or inadvertently deflected into one's body or face; —a common occurrence among young baseball-players.

The novel ‘scale-effect’ of my innovative WebGlov™ thus facilitates the development of quicker wrist-hand-arm movement particularly among young players, which are essential skills when fielding ground-balls or line-drives. These motions are commonly inhibited in young-players still developing their basic musculature, because of the inherent mass of the baseball-glove itself. By using my inexpensive WebGlov™, it is found that the quick-reaction muscles and associated ligamentary tissue, can be developed more safely, without heretofore concern as to injury. The novel configuration of my WebGlov™ exacts proper catching technique, emphasizing the mechanics of targeting the ball, and then instantly capturing of the ball between closing thumb and forefinger;—as opposed to often unknowingly sloppy catching of the ball in the adjacent palmal-area portion of one's hand (often causing pain); —therefore resulting in a more skilled and confident player.

B.) Another object of this invention disclosure is to set forth an abbreviated catching-glove accordingly to proceeding item-A, wherein a relatively inexpensive glove is made to a remarkably diminutive size and weight, being it is worn generally upon the thumb and adjoining index-finger (optionally upon the thumb and middle-finger, while smaller players may even employ both their index and middle fingers therein the single finger-receptacle), and is designed with a preferably open-lattice style receiving-trap portion bridging between the spaced apart thumb and finger's slightly V-splayed receptacles (the splayed arrangement thus naturally adapting the receptacle-axes to the configuration of one's hand). Dimensionally, in the adult-sized model (child-sized model about 30%-smaller), the thumb and finger-receptacles are both approximately 4¼-inches long×1¾-inches wide, while measuring only about 7½-inches across at its upper-width, and about 5½-inches across at its lower-width (the splayed narrow-end being where thumb and finger are inserted); —the receiving-trap thereby measuring approximately 3½-inches across its upper-width and about 2-inches across at its lower-width. Thumb and finger-receptacles can remain open at their upper-terminuses, or can be made closed,—according to manufacturer's engineering-design preference. The glove is preferably fabricated from 1/10-inch gauge roll-stock frothed-neoprene material (although material as thin as 1/16th-inch to as thick as about 3/16th-inch gauge is optional), and which is clad upon at least one side, and preferably both sides, with a stretch nylon-fabric. The flexible roll-stock material is spread flat while the sub-assembled pieces are precision-cut for uniformity (via conventional cutting-dies, or water-jet cutting for example), then preferably assembled via conventional production methodology known to the art (preferably via sewing-machine, but bonding via adhesive, or ultrasonic-welding is an option). This preferred construction of cushioning-material is found to give adequate cushioning protection to the user's hand, even from polyballs thrown at high-velocity from a conventional pitching-machine.

C.) Another object of this disclosure is to set forth an invention according to preceding items-A&B, wherein the WebGlov™ article hereof can be worn by two, three, or more individuals for example, which are engaged in training-practice relay-catching of a go hand-thrown polyballs. However, for a more intense training of catching, the inventor hereof has discovered that a conventional polyball pitching-machine such as J. Robert Richard's popular commercially available PersonalPitcher™ unit (U.S. Pat. No. 7,011,084-which my father actually only intended for batters in perfecting their ball-hitting skills); —is discovered adaptable to conducting a relentless rapid-fire rate of throws to a solo-catcher (generally up to one-hundred throws before reloading of polyballs is required)! Actually, the same solo-player may resume catching in the afore described manner as to thereby merely compete against their own prior catching score, or optionally, allow a successive-player to assume their same distal position from the pitching-machine; whereupon said successive-player proceeds to try and beat the prior established catching-score. This novel competitive method of utilizing the WebGlov™ in combination with a conventional polyball pitching-machine, has been found to significantly accelerate the training of vital hand/eye-coordination and timing needed to become an outstanding ball-catching athlete.

III.) DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT DRAWINGS

The foregoing and still other objects of this invention will become fully apparent, along with various advantages and features of novelty from study of the following description including the species general embodiments and generic-variant embodiments. Wherein indicia of reference are shown to match related matter stated in the text, as well as the Claims section annexed hereto; thus, a better understanding of the invention and its use is intended, by reference to the drawings, which are considered as primarily exemplary and not to be therefore construed as restrictive in nature; wherein:

FIG. 1, is a pictorial front/elevation-view favoring the upper-left frontal portion of my abbreviated catching-glove shown worn upon the thumb and index-finger of a catcher's left-hand (if worn optionally upon the catcher's right-hand it would appear as a mirror-image thereof), and includes a phantom-delineation (dashed-outline) of a polyball being caught within the opened receiver-trap portion of the glove;

FIG. 2, is another pictorial-view showing a birds-eye aspect of the preceding hand and glove, wherein the ball has instantly impacted the glove's catching-pocket;

FIG. 3, is a rear/elevation-view of the left-hand and the gloves's backside, wherein glove action is revealed in a dynamic open/closed ball-capturing operation;

FIG. 4A, is an front/elevation-view showing the glove alone in its relaxed condition, in preferred lattice-work type receiving-trap configuration, wherein the thumb and finger axes are shown to be preferably symmetrically splayed to converge toward its lower end;

FIG. 4B, is an front/elevation-view showing the glove alone in its relaxed condition, in preferred mesh-work type receiving-trap configuration, wherein the thumb and finger axes are again shown to be preferably symmetrically splayed, and the right tubule member is exemplified as joined into a linear bifurcated-flange arrangement.

FIG. 4C, is a 10×-enlarged cross-sectional view projected through plane 4C:4C in FIG. 4B, showing the flexile bifurcated-flanges in both pre-sewn and post-sewn positions;

FIG. 5, is a side-elevation cross-section view projected on plane 5:5 in FIG. 4A, showing the partial hand poised aftwardly as to catch a down-wardly caught ball;

FIG. 6, is a pictorial view showing how the WebGlov™ can be employed in novel combination with a conventional polyball batters/pitching-machine.

IV.) ITEMIZED NOMENCLATURE REFERENCES

• 10—overall abbreviated catching glove embodiment
• 11, 11′/11″, 11L, 11a—thumb receptacle, upper-terminus: open/closed, lower-terminus, axis
• 12, 12′/12″, 12L, 12a—finger receptacle, upper-terminus: open/closed, lower-terminus, axis
• 13, 13′/13″, 13p—receiving-trap, lattice-types: neoprene-strips/nylon-mesh, closed panel
• 14—catching-pocket
• 15—conventional stitching
• 16, 16t, 16′, 16″, 16C—human-hand, thumb, index-finger, middle-finger, thumb-crouch
• 17, 17′—thumb and finger splay ref.-angle, closure action ref.-arrow
• 18, 18′, 18″—conventional hollow pollyball, ball-center, myriad polyballs
• 19, 19′, 19″—thrown ball arrow ref.-line progression, ref.arrow-head, path-streamers
• 20′/20″—fold-over action ref.arrows: left/right
• 21t′/21t″, 21f′, 21f″—folded-over ends: thumb-tubule front/rear, finger-tubule front/rear
• 22, 22′/22″—molded bifurcated-flange, front-flange/rear-flange
• 23, 23′, 23″—conventional pitching-machine, support tripod, varied pitching ref.-trajectories
• 24—exemplified practicing catcher

V.) DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Initial reference is given by way of FIGS. 1, 2, 3, wherein is exhibited the presently preferred overall embodiment of the WebGlov™ 10, shown being supported upon the thumb 16t and index-finger 16′ of a catcher's upheld hand 16. In FIG. 1 we see an exemplified conventional polyball 18 approaching along thrown path-progression 19, wherein FIG. 1 the reference arrow-head 19′ is shown leading to the pollyball's eventual impact point upon the general catching-pocket region 14 formed by the receiving-trap 13 formation bridging contiguously between tubule-like thumb-receptacle 11 and similar tubule-like finger-receptacle 12. At which point the learned skill of hand/eye-coordination becomes critical, not only as to the precise placement of catcher's hand 16, but also the simultaneous exact reflexive-timing for captive closure grasping of the polyball 18 between the tubular thumb-receptacle 11 and opposing tubular finger-receptacle 12. Hence, —‘to early’ of closure, results in a blocking-closure of the glove (not in of itself shown); in which the ball is prevented from landing upon catching-pocket 14; —while conversely, ‘to late’ of timing, would result in the inertially-live polyball bouncing-out of the catching-pocket region 14, if the reflexive-action of the catcher does not timely close upon its entry at the very Instant portrayed by the as yet still open receiving-trap 13 indicated in FIG. 2. Accordingly, reference to FIG. 3, shows the WebGlov™ a mere fraction of a second later, as the catcher has properly moved their opposed thumb 16t and index-finger 16′ into a merged position via closure action ref.-arrow 17′, whereby the polyball 18 is successfully retained captive within the now enveloping catching-pocket 14 region.

Reference to FIG. 4A shows how the presently preferred embodiment is constructed from preferably eight separate preliminary-pieces of frothed-neoprene material by means of an intersecting crisscrossed lattice-work like arrangement, achieved by assembling six variously pre-cut strips 13′ of the preferred frothed-neoprene material, whereby the narrower vertically oriented secondary-strips are preferably both sewn and adhesive bonded to the horizontal primary-strips which bridge across between thumb-receptacle 11 and finger-receptacle 12. Note also how the fabrication ref.-arrows; 20′(left) and 20″(right) demonstrate how the flat cut-panels (Ref.-dashed-outline) of conventional frothed-neoprene material (preferably pre-clad with blue/stretch-nylon on one side, and black/stretch-nylon upon the obverse-side for example) are wrapped over 180-degrees, whereupon their respective joined ends are finally linearly-stitched permanently to the horizontal primary-strips 13′;—which operation thereby forms the thumb-receptacle 11 and finger-receptacle 12 tubules, while completing assembly of the basic WebGolv™ 10. Also observe in FIG. 4B embodiment how the upper-terminuses 11″ of thumb-receptacle 11 and upper-terminuses 12″ of finger-receptacle 12 are optionally occluded by sewing them closed.

A very similar fabrication method follows in the alternate WebGlov™ embodiment of FIG. 4B, however here, we see that a much sheerer configuration of lattice-work is employed, which can be fabricated from nylon-mesh like fabric which perimeter can be multi-folded to increase thickness prior to being sewn. To further reduce labor-costs however, the entire receiving-trap panel can be injection-molded of a durable plastic such as nylon-resin, and permanently sewn to the opposing left and right frothed-neoprene tubules 11 and 12 according to the joining arrangement exhibited at the right-side portion of FIG. 4C (which if adopted would be employed at both the left and right portions). Notice how the joined wrapped-over 20′/20″ (action ref.-arrows) merged edge ends 21f′/21f″ of the exemplified finger-receptacle 12 tubule (and likewise 21t′/21t″ of the thumb-receptacle 11 tubules) preferably simply abut into the linear-mouth of the bifurcated-flange 21 portion of the left (and right, but only left-side being illustrated) side of the here exemplified injection-molded receiving-trap 13; wherein these edge ends thus become permanently joined via sewn stitching 15 closure thereupon of the overlapping bifurcated-flanges 21f′ and 21f″.

There remain subtle, however vital other differences which are to become herein more evident and understood as important improvements. For example, FIG. 6 demonstrates how my WebGlov™ can be employed by a solo catcher 24 in novel combination with a conventional pitching-machine 23 loaded with as many as one-hundred conventional golfball sized polyballs 18″. The Pitching-machine 23 thrusts the polyballs outward every few seconds along indicated pitching trajectory 19, and according to the way the pitching-machine is programmed, the polyball 16 will follow any one of the nine varied trajectory-paths 19′, which serves to really keep the practicing catcher 24 hustling to catch such an often unpredictable array of pitches. Accordingly, if the catcher 24 successfully catches one-third of the pollyballs, they attain a score of 33;—which they thus endeavor to better toward the ultimate score of 100 (out of one-hundred polyballs being pitched! Furthermore, a further object of the novel catching-game can involve several catchers in hot competition to attain the highest score for the training-session.

Thus, it is readily understood how the preferred and generic-variant embodiments of this invention contemplate performing functions in a novel way not heretofore available nor realized. It is implicit that the utility of the foregoing adaptations of this invention are not necessarily dependent upon any prevailing invention patent; and, while the present invention has been well described hereinbefore by way of certain illustrated embodiments, it is to be expected that various changes, alterations, rearrangements, and obvious modifications may be resorted to by those skilled in the art to which it relates, without substantially departing from the implied spirit and scope of the instant invention. Therefore, the invention has been disclosed herein by way of example, and not as imposed limitation, while the appended Claims set out the scope of the invention sought, and are to be construed as broadly as the terminology therein employed permits, reckoning that the invention verily comprehends every use of which it is susceptible. Accordingly, the embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or proprietary privilege is claimed, are defined as follows.

Claims

1. An abbreviated flexible light-weight baseball training glove for catching a conventional fractional-ounce polyball, comprising:

a thumb receptacle means and a finger receptacle means arranged whereby their respective opposed receptacle-axes are sufficiently splayed as to naturally adapt to configuration of a hand; including a flexile receiving-trap means thereto bridging between opposed said receptacles as to provide a trailing pocket for catching and holding a polyball.

2. The abbreviated baseball training glove according to claim-1, wherein an advantage due to reduced-scale effect is provided the user, whereby reception of an approximate ¼-ounce polyball enables the user to tactily sense the polyball with the same effectiveness as one would a larger 5-ounce baseball relative to a full-sized fielder's-glove.

3. The abbreviated training glove according to claim-1, wherein aggregate structure is fabricated from flexible roll-stock material means, which when spread flat is pattern-cut into primary pieces then assembled via conventional production methodology of the art.

4. The fabrication method according to claim-3, wherein aggregate structure is fabricated from flexible roll-stock commercially available frothed-neoprene material or equivalent of approximate 1/10th-inch to 3/16ths-inch thickness, clad upon at least one side with a reinforcing nylon stretch-fabric; and when spread flat is pattern-cut into primary pieces then assembled via conventional production methodology of the art.

5. The abbreviated training glove according to claim-1, wherein said receiving-trap means is formed narrower across its upper region than across its central region, thereby forming a catching-pocket more amenable to retaining the polyball.

6. The abbreviated training-glove according to claim-1, wherein said finger receptacle means can be used either for insertion of user's index-finger or insertion of user's middle-finger or insertion of both said fingers, and may be used upon either the left or right hand; all according to user preference.

7. The abbreviated training-glove according to claim-1, wherein said thumb-receptacle means is a tubule like formation made either open or closed at its upper-terminus.

8. The abbreviated training-glove according to claim-1, wherein said finger-receptacle means is a tubule like formation made either open or closed at its upper-terminus.

9. The abbreviated training-glove according to claim-1, wherein said receiving-trap means portion extends between the proximal upper-terminuses and proximal lower-terminuses of respective said thumb and finger receptacles.

10. The abbreviated training-glove according to claim-1, wherein said receiving-trap means can be of lattice like formation or of closed panel like formation, either said formation embodiment being employed according to engineering-design preference.

11. The receiving-trap according to claim-10, wherein said lattice formation means is constructed via flat strips of compliant stretch-nylon clad frothed-neoprene material, or alternately constructed of an open-mesh nylon-material; according to engineering-design preference; either of which material is secured to opposed said thumb and finger receptacles via conventional production methodology of the art.

12. A diminutive flexible light-weight polyball catching baseball training-glove, for conditioning a ball-catcher to attain improved hand/eye-coordination: comprising:

a thumb receptacle means and a finger receptacle means arranged oppositely whereby their respective receptacle-axes are splayed closer toward their lower extremities, and including a flexile receiving-trap means arranged there between as to provide a trailing-pocket for receiving and retaining a conventional polyball; thereby facilitating the user with advantage of reduced-scale effect, whereby reception of an approximate ¼-ounce polyball enables the user to tactily sense a polyball with equal relative effectiveness as one would when catching a larger 5-ounce baseball with a full-sized fielder's-glove.

13. The diminutive training glove according to claim-12, wherein aggregate structure is fabricated from flexible roll-stock commercially available frothed-neoprene material or equivalent of approximate 1/10th-inch to 3/16ths-inch thickness, clad upon at least one side with a reinforcing nylon stretch-fabric; and when spread flat is pattern-cut into primary pieces then assembled via conventional production methodology of the art.

14. The diminutive training glove according to claim-12, wherein said conventional hollow polyball can nominally range from a minimum of 1⅛-inch, to a maximum of 2-inches in diameter; while preferably 1%-inches in diameter.

15. The diminutive training-glove according to claim-12, wherein said finger receptacle means can be used either for insertion of user's index-finger or insertion of user's middle-finger or for insertion of both said fingers, and may be used upon either one's left or right hand; all according to user preference.

16. The diminutive training-glove according to claim-12, wherein said receiving-trap means is formed narrower across its upper region than across its central region, thereby forming a catching-pocket more amenable to retaining the polyball.

17. The diminutive training-glove according to claim-12, wherein said receiving-trap means portion extends between the proximal upper-terminuses and proximal lower-terminuses of respective said thumb and finger receptacles.

18. The diminutive training-glove according to claim-12, wherein said receiving-trap means can be of a closed panel like formation, or alternatively of an open lattice formation comprised of either strips of stretch-nylon clad frothed-neoprene material, or alternately constructed of an open-mesh nylon material; according to engineering-design preference; either of which said material being secured to opposed said thumb and finger receptacles via conventional production methodology of the art.

19. An automated competitive method of practicing the skill of catching a fractional-ounce polyball, comprising:

a.) providing the training catcher with an abbreviated light-weight thumb and finger catching glove emulating the function of a full-sized fielders-glove;

b.) providing a conventional polyball pitching-machine loaded with a myriad of polyballs, staging it as desired, and switching it to ‘on’ position;

c.) moving the user a preferred distance away from said pitching-machine, and assuming a catching or fielding stance;

d.) proceeding to catch as many of the polyballs as possible, catching of one-hundred polyballs thrown consecutively from said pitching-machine thus totaling a perfect score of 100-points;

e.) then upon reloading of the polyballs, the same player may resume catching in the afore described manner as to compete against their own prior score, or optionally, allow a successive player to assume the same distal position, whereupon said successive player proceeds to try and beat the prior established catching score.

20. The automated polyball practice catching method according to claim-19, wherein an advantage due to reduced-scale effect is provided the user, whereby reception of an approximate ¼-ounce polyball enables the user to tacitly sense the polyball with the same effectiveness as one would a larger 5-ounce baseball relative to a full-sized fielder's-glove.