Flexible Swing Stick Impact Simulator and Muscle Trainer

Abstract

A flexible swing stick is provided comprising a hollow tube with a distal end and a proximal end wherein at least the distal end is closed by an integral seal. At least one slidably received weight is in the hollow tube with the weight disposed to move from the proximal end to the distal end when the flexible swing stick is swung through a range of motion. The proximal end is closed, preferably by an integral seal.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority to pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/917,380 filed Dec. 3, 2018 which is incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is related to an improved flexible swing stick, and method of use, wherein the flexible swing stick allows for the training of muscles and proprioceptors associated with the swinging of a club such as those clubs used in various sports.

BACKGROUND

Advances in the ability of an athlete to swing a club more efficiently and consistently have been ongoing since the development of the first sporting activity utilizing a club. Many sports utilize a club of some sort such as baseball, softball, golf, cricket, tennis, badminton, lacrosse, field hockey, ice hockey, racquetball, squash, pickleball, table tennis and the like. In each instance there is a point of contact between the club and ball, or object, wherein the point of contact is within a narrow portion of a larger range of motion. It is most preferable that the point of contact consistently occurs within the narrow portion wherein within that narrow portion of the range of motion the speed of the club is at a maximum. The increased speed within the narrow portion of the range is typically due to some activity of the athlete such as a rapid movement of the wrist within that narrow portion of the range of motion. For the purposes of illustration and without limit thereto, during a baseball swing the initial portion of the movement of the baseball bat is primarily a function of the rotation of the torso and rotation of the arms with virtually no use of the wrist. As the bat approaches the narrow portion of the range of motion, which is preferably over home plate or the preferred hitting zone, the involvement of the wrist significantly increases the speed of the bat through the hitting zone, which represents the narrow portion, thereby maximizing the impact force of the bat on the ball. Similar motions occur in virtually any sport wherein a ball or object is impacted by a moving club.

The precision of that portion of the swing wherein the torso, arms and wrist are all simultaneously involved, which is preferably within the narrow portion, determines the effectiveness of the swing. However, training the muscles to be at maximum effectiveness through the narrow portion of the range of motion is difficult as any motion of one part of the body may impact the timing and effectiveness of other portions of the body. Again, with reference to swinging a baseball bat for the purposes of discussion without limit thereto, if the torso rotates too quickly the arms may reach the intended hitting zone out of sync with the body and therefore the wrist rotation occurs prior to the bat being in the narrow portion of the larger range of motion resulting in a miss or a weak hit.

There has been a long-standing desire for a device for training an athlete to swing a club more precisely. Many attempts with an actual ball or object are normally employed, however, it is not uncommon for positive feed-back on poor swing mechanics to be realized resulting in the reinforcement of bad swing mechanics. By way of example, again with reference to baseball, a hard-hit foul ball may feel to the batter as if the ball was well struck even though the timing of the swing, or swing mechanics, may be responsible for the ball being out of play. Similarly, in golf, a hook or slice may feel well struck to the golfer. In each case, a limiting environment of practice, such as a batting cage or hitting into a net, may mask the true trajectory of the path of the ball thereby providing positive feedback on what is otherwise a flawed swinging motion. Furthermore, it is difficult to train the muscles adequately when actually striking a ball or object since any variation from optimum mechanics can cause injury.

The present invention, and methods of using the invention, provides an ability to improve the swinging of a club while simultaneously strengthening the appropriate muscles and training the appropriate proprioceptors.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is related to an enhanced training device and a system of training which is particularly suitable for training the sensory receptors, or proprioceptors, by providing the vestibular feedback of sound thereby enabling effective adjustments to motion to achieve a more effective swinging motion for the sport being played.

It is another object of the invention to provide an improved training device, and methods of use, for training the neuromuscular system that controls the movement of an athlete's wrists, hands, arms and upper body so the athlete can swing a club with greater speed, control, consistency and more explosive force.

A particular feature of the invention is the ability to train, with specificity, the fast twitch muscles that control wrist, hand and arm movement involved in swinging a club.

It is another object of the invention to train the sensory receptors, or proprioceptors, in the muscles and tendons to improve awareness of the relative position of the joints controlled by these muscles and tendons thereby enhancing dynamic joint stability which enables the individual to perform swinging movements more effectively.

It is another object of the invention to provide the user with a device that can be swung like a club to simulate the sound and feel of hitting a ball, or object, without actually having to hit a ball or object thereby providing the user with the vestibular feedback of feel and sound which can be beneficial for the trainer and individual in training for an improved swing. The sound and feel can be correlated with the optimum position of the hands and wrists during the swinging motion thereby allowing the individual to alter their swing to create an improved swing with a different feel and sound.

These and other embodiments, as will be realized, are provided in a flexible swing stick comprising a hollow tube with a distal end and a proximal end wherein at least the distal end is closed by an integral seal. At least one slidably received weight is in the hollow tube with the weight disposed to move from the proximal end to the distal end when the flexible swing stick is swung through a range of motion. The proximal end is closed, preferably by an integral seal.

Yet another embodiment is provided in a method for training comprising:

• grasping a flexible swing stick with at least one hand at a proximal end wherein the flexible swing stick comprises:
• a hollow tube comprising a distal end and the proximal end wherein at least the distal end is closed by an integral seal;
• at least one slidably received weight is in the hollow tube disposed to move from the proximal end to the distal end when the flexible swing stick is swung through at least a portion of a range of motion; and
• wherein the proximal end is closed;
• with the slidably received weight at the proximal end moving to the distal end upon swinging the flexible swing stick through the range of motion wherein the range of motion comprises a narrow portion; and
• wherein the slidably received weight impacts the distal end within the narrow portion of the range of motion;
• when swinging the flexible swing stick through at least a portion of the range of motion.

Yet another embodiment is provided in a method for forming a flexible swing stick. The method includes providing a hollow tube comprising a proximal end and a distal end and forming an integral seal on at least the distal end. Inserting at least one slidably receivable weight in the tube prior to either the forming of the integral seal on the proximal end or sealing of the proximal end.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional schematic view of an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a partial cut-away schematic view of an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of the process of manufacturing an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional side view of a representative mold for use in manufacturing an embodiment of the invention.

FIGS. 5-7 are sequential representations of an embodiment of the method of using the invention.

FIG. 8 is a schematic representation illustrating the narrow portion of a swing that is inside the larger range of motion of the swing.

DESCRIPTION

The instant invention is related to a flexible swing stick and methods of using the flexible swing stick for training primarily the wrists, hands and arms to swing a club with more consistency. More specifically, the flexible swing stick, and method of training, allows for training of the fast twitch muscles that control primarily wrist, hand and arm movement such that a person is able to swing a club faster, particularly where wrist movement during the swinging motion is critical, thereby providing stimulation for the person's relevant proprioceptors.

Throughout the description the term “club” is used to refer to sporting items typically used to hit an object such as a ball. Particularly preferred clubs are those used to hit or throw a ball or object such as in baseball, softball, golf, cricket, tennis, badminton, lacrosse, field hockey, ice hockey, racquetball, squash, pickleball, table tennis and the like. The invention is particularly suitable for training for the use of clubs which have a range of motion wherein a narrow range of the broader range of motion is intended to move the club at a higher velocity than the velocity outside of the narrow range such as the increased velocity achieved by involvement of the wrist during a portion of a swing which is otherwise primarily a swing of the arms and torso.

The instant invention is related to a flexible swing stick comprising a flexible elongated hollow tube with closed, preferably integrally sealed, ends containing weighted objects inside the hollow tube. The weighted objects are free to move inside the hollow tube for at least a portion of the length of the hollow tube. In use, the hollow tube is grasped at a proximal end by at least one hand and moved in a simulated swinging motion thereby allowing for the simultaneous training of the neuromuscular system and fast twitch muscles associated with the swinging motion. Effective use of the instant invention results in an increase in the physical awareness of the involved body parts during the swinging motion and significantly enhances the ability of an athlete to swing a club more effectively. More specifically, the present invention enables an individual to train for enhanced control, improved consistency and increased speed in the swinging motion by providing auditory and physical feed-back at the simulated position of impact with the ball or object which is within the narrow portion of the range of motion without having to actually hit, strike or throw a ball or object.

Improved training devices and methods of training are constantly being developed by professionals in all sports with one of the goals being to enhance the performance of the athlete. Swinging of a club is common to many sports such as baseball, softball, golf, cricket, tennis, badminton, lacrosse, field hockey, ice hockey, racquetball, squash, pickleball, table tennis and the like. It is an objective of this invention to provide a training device with the ability to enhance the training of an athlete's swinging motion by stimulating the athlete's fast twitch muscles that control the actions of primarily the wrists, hands and arms, and to enhance the athlete's sensory receptors in the muscles, tendons, ligaments and joints thereby enabling improved muscle movement in the swinging motion for a more precise swinging motion and enhanced power. A particular feature is the incorporation of vestibular feedback of feel and sound when swinging and oscillating the device thereby enabling the athlete to have a greater awareness of the position of their wrists, hands and arms at the point in their swing where contact with a ball or object approximately occurs enabling them to make more effective corrections and adjustments to their swing.

Proprioception and kinesthesia, the sensation of joint motion and acceleration, are the sensory feedback mechanisms for motor control and posture. These mechanisms work in concert with the vestibular system, which is a fluid filled network within the inner ear, that can feel the pull of gravity and helps the body keep oriented and balanced. The proprioception, kinesthesia and vestibular system work in concert to provide a constant influx of sensory information allowing for immediate and unconscious adjustments to the muscles and joints in order to achieve movement and balance.

Proprioception is the process by which the body can vary muscle contraction in immediate response to incoming information regarding external forces by utilizing stretch receptors in the muscles to provide feedback of the joint position in the body. Proprioceptors in the joints and where the tendons meet the muscles allow a person to be more aware of the coordination of the various muscles, joints and limbs that are involved in motion.

The proprioception sensory system utilizes proprioceptors in the muscles that monitor length, tension, pressure, and noxious stimuli. The muscle spindles, the most complex and studied of the proprioceptors, informs other neurons of the length of the muscle and the velocity of the stretch. The density of muscle spindles within a muscle increases for muscles involved in fine movements, as opposed to those involved in larger course movements. The brain utilizes input from many of these spindles and registers changes in angle and position that the muscle has accomplished. Spindles found in the arm and leg muscles, for example, aid in maintaining posture against gravity.

Another proprioceptor, the golgi tendon organ, is found where the tendons meet the muscle. They send detailed information about the tension occurring in specific parts of the muscle. There are also proprioceptors sending information to the nervous system from joints and ligaments. Depending on the amount, where in the body, and from what proprioceptors the different input is coming from, determines if the information will be made conscious or processed unconsciously. All the input coming into the nervous system is processed, and then depending on the state of the muscle, commands are sent back to the muscle.

The initiation of proprioception is the activation of a proprioreceptor in the periphery. The proprioceptive sense is believed to be composed of information from sensory neurons located in the inner ear, for motion and orientation, and in the stretch receptors located in the muscles and the joint-supporting ligaments. There are specific nerve receptors for this form of perception termed “proprioreceptors”, just as there are specific receptors for pressure, light, temperature, sound, and other sensory experiences. Proprioreceptors are sometimes known as adequate stimuli receptors.

Muscles have a combination of slow twitch and fast twitch muscle fibers. If a muscle can be fatigued quickly during rapid oscillatory use, then those muscles would have a high percentage of fast twitch muscle fiber with Type I IX being the largest of the fast twitch. It is known in the field of Exercise Science that moving a weighted object back-n-forth rapidly for a short amount of time is all that is required for an athlete to condition and stimulate the fast twitch muscles within the muscles being used. The light weight of the flexible swing stick combined with its flexibility allows for the use to condition and stimulate the fast twitch muscles that control primarily wrist, hand and arm movement in this application. Further, exercise science tells us that rapid back and forth oscillation has a positive effect on the enhancement of joint proprioception. Rapid oscillation in a back and forth manner of the instant invention can have a positive effect on an athlete's joint proprioception which can enable the athlete to develop enhanced dynamic joint stability and enhanced neuromuscular control that are useful when swinging a club. The combination of the sensory feedback of feel and sound upon impact of the moving weights within the flexible swing stick and the conditioning and stimulating of the sensory receptors, or proprioceptors, during the swinging motion is believed to provide the user of the flexible swing stick with an enhanced ability to both understand their swing and make corrections/adjustments to their swing in order to enhance their ability to strike the ball or object more accurately when they play their sport.

The flexible swing stick and method of using the present invention therefore allows for training of the proprioreceptors in concert with the muscles.

The flexible swing stick of the invention will be described with reference to the various figures which are included for the purpose of describing the invention without limit thereto. Throughout the invention similar elements will be numbered accordingly.

An embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 1 is a schematic view of the flexible swing stick showing the various material components used in the construction of the flexible swing stick. The surface treatment and surface tape are excluded from FIG. 1 for clarity. FIG. 2 is a partial cut-away schematic view of the flexible swing stick. The flexible swing stick, 10, has a preferred length of at least about 10″ to no more than about 70″, preferably weighing at least 10 to no more than 2000 grams, more preferably at least 225 to no more than 1000 grams and even more preferably at least 300 to no more than 700 grams. The flexible swing stick comprises a hollow tube, 22, with at least one end being closed by the application of heat, pressure, and molding to form an integrally sealed distal end, 19. An optional rod, 18, is within the hollow tube along with at least one slidably received weight, 14, and an optional flexible spacer, 15. An ⅛″ diameter steel rod is suitable for demonstration of the invention. A steel ball a suitable slidably received weight for demonstration of the invention. A foam flexible tube, preferably about ⅝″ in diameter, is suitable for demonstration of the invention. Foam flexible tubes typically have a natural curvature, often referred to in the art as roll set curl, resulting from the coiling of the tube. Natural curvature is observed when a tube is non-linear in an unperturbed state. The curvature provides some friction between the surface of the foam tube and the inside diameter of tube to keep the flexible spacer from moving as easily as the slidably received weights move within the tube. As would be realized from FIG. 1, the slidably received weights move in response to motion of the flexible swing stick with the stiffness of the flexible swing stick and rate of motion of the slidably received weights optimized by the effective choice of the rod and the length of motion within the length of the tube which is limited by the flexible spacer.

The proximal end of the tube, 11, is preferably an integrally sealed proximal end as will be described further herein. An optional but preferred cap, 12, over the proximal end is provided for aesthetics and to aid in hand placement or to mimic the club being simulated. A conventional, and widely available, thermoplastic rubber crutch tip pushed onto the end of the tube and held in place using a glue is suitable for use as an end cap. An optional but preferred surface treatment, 16, such as a wrap is provided for aesthetics and to improve the ability of the flexible swing stick to mimic the feel of the club for which the training is intended. A conventional, and widely available, peel-n-stick foil faced tape is suitable for demonstration of the invention. The surface treatment, preferably a wrap, can be applied to cover the entire circumference of the tube from near the end of the proximal end and part of the way down the length of the tube towards the distal end to improve the ability of the flexible tube to resist buckling if the flexible swing stick is swung and stopped abruptly during the swinging action as is typical in some training exercises as detailed further herein. A surface tape, 17, can be applied over the wrap, 16, preferably extending over the applied length of the previously applied wrap for the purpose of providing a gripping surface with a diameter and feel mimicking that of the intended club.

A method of manufacturing the flexible swing stick will be described with reference to FIG. 3. In FIG. 3 a hollow tube precursor, 221, is illustrated prior to processing. The preferred hollow tube precursor is thermoplastic tube which is hollow in the center and open at both ends, 25. To make the end of the hollow tube formable heat is applied to one end of the hollow tube precursor such that the heat is sufficient to cause the end of the hollow tube to become soft and appear almost liquid in appearance. Through a series of sequential manipulations the softened hollow tube is bonded across the opening, preferably using a mechanical device, such as a pair of pliers, to fuse opposite sides to form at least one fusion site, 23, which may also form a flaired section, 27, which is wider than the outside diameter (OD) of the hollow tube precursor. The flaired section can then be reduced to about the same as the OD as illustrated at 26. Ultimately, the integrally sealed distal end, 19, for example, is formed by heating and fusing the hollow tube precursor. The integral sealed end prohibits an optional rod, 18, optional flexible spacer, 15, and slidably received weights, 14, from exiting the hollow tube.

At least a portion of the outside of the hollow tube is preferably covered a surface treatment, 16, which may be an applied coating or a wrap. An applied coating is a material which is applied as a flowing chemical such as by a dip, spray or spread-on material, and a wrap is a material which is adhesively applied such as from a strip. The surface treatment is preferred to improve the grip, aesthetics, durability, stiffness or friction of the exterior of the hollow tube. A second surface treatment, 17, may be applied which may be an applied coating or a wrap. An applied coating is a material which is applied as a flowing chemical such as by a dip, spray or spread-on material, and a wrap is a material which is adhesively applied. Either surface treatment may be an adhesively bonded wrap such as a bat grip tape, 17, that is spirally wound around the circumference of the hollow tube, 22, starting at the proximal end, 11, for a distance axially down the length of the hollow tube, 22, at least covering the previously applied surface treatment, 16. The second surface treatment, 17, is preferred to improve the grip, aesthetics, durability, stiffness or friction of the exterior of the hollow tube.

In another embodiment the end of the hollow tube precursor is heated to the degree necessary for the hollow tube to fuse. The heated hollow tube precursor is placed in a device which forms the heated thermoplastic into an integrally sealed end. For the purposes of this description the term “integrally sealed” or an “integral seal” is used to define a hollow tube, with at least one end sealed wherein the seal is the same material as the hollow tube and the outside dimension of the hollow tube is substantially maintained.

With further reference to FIG. 3, the opposing sides of the heated tube, 222, are brought together with direct surface to surface contact preferably along the centerline of the hollow tube with enough pressure to force the two inside surfaces of the heated tube to come in contact for a time of about 5 seconds over an area about ¼ square inch where the hollow tube will fuse to itself, such as at that ¼ square inch position, as illustrated at 23 in FIG. 3B. This action will cause the end of the heated tube to flair out such that the cross-section of the flair exceeds beyond the OD of the heated tube. As illustrated in FIG. 3C the previously flared end, 27, having been heated with pressure applied to the outside edges, 27, of the heated tube such that the reformed end, 26, has no cross-sectional dimension greater than the original outside diameter of the hollow tube, 221, is molded to a smooth finished shape by the application of heat applied to the reformed end of the tube, 26, until the reformed end of the hollow tube and the immediate sides of the hollow tube near the end of the hollow tube, 26, are hot with the surface of the thermoplastic material becoming almost liquid in appearance. The hot end, 222, is inserted into the open end of the mold, 31, illustrated in FIG. 4 for a time preferably between 5 and 20 seconds with pressure applied axially to a section of the tube beyond the heated end thereby allowing the heated and partially fused end to conform to the shape of the interior of the mold. After cooling the integral seal, 119, is obtained with the original opening completely closed after formation of the integral seal.

FIG. 4 is a schematic side view of an embodiment of a mold used to shape and close the reformed or fused hollow tube by placing the hot end of the reformed hollow tube inside the open end of the mold, 31, and applying pressure to a portion of the end of the tube that is outside the open cavity of the mold, 31, axially along the length of the tube to force the hot hollow tube of the reformed end to conform to the dimensions of the inside of the mold, 31, thereby closing the end to form an integrally sealed end. An integral part of the repeated safe use of the flexible swing stick with the repeated impact of the slidable weights, 14, against the distal integrally sealed end, 119, is the method of fabricating at least one open end of a thermoplastic tube, without the use of glues or mechanical devices such as screws. The mold is represented as the open cavity of a threaded PVC bolt.

After forming the integral sealed end the internal components, as described relative to FIGS. 1 and 2, can be inserted into the hollow tube and the other end sealed, preferably, to also form an integrally sealed end.

The flexibility of the flexible swing stick in combination with the slidably received weights therein permits the flexible swing stick to be used in an oscillatory manner by holding the flexible swing stick at or near the handle, or proximal, end within the narrow portion of the range of motion. Swinging the flexible swing stick and incorporating oscillation within the narrow portion of the swing conditions and stimulates the fast twitch muscles of the wrist and forearms to train a user to move their wrists and their arms quicker and faster during the swinging motion. This oscillatory movement may be done at any position that the user selects within the range of motion thereby training the muscles and proprioceptors in any portion of the range of motion. Alternatively, when combined with the act of swinging the flexible swing stick, the user will abruptly stop their swinging motion part of the way through their swing, such as within the narrow portion, which applies forces at the proximal end of the flexible swing stick for several very short rapid back-n-forth movements. The rapid deacceleration coupled with several very short rapid back-n-forth movements causes the opposite, or distal, end of the flexible swing stick to oscillate in a back and forth manner. This motion mimics a throwing motion representative of the motion used in lacrosse, for example. The flexible swing stick is preferably oscillated back and forth with the length of the back and forth movement of the wrists small in the range of less than 1 inch up to approximately 3 inches at the proximal end of the flexible swing stick. Resuming the swing through to the end of the range of motion of the swing, after the oscillatory movement, produces a combination of benefits including fast twitch muscle activation and stimulation of the appropriate sensory receptors, or proprioceptors, for improved joint mobility. Vestibular feedback of feel and sound at impact of the slidably received weights at the distal end can allow the user to have a better sense of the position of their wrists, hands and arms at this critical impact position which can allow the user to better understand their current swing and make corrections and improvements to their swinging motion. Stopping of the swinging movement part of the way through the range of motion preferably occurs at about the time when the user feels and hears the impact of the weighted objects inside the flexible swing stick striking the inside of the distal end of the flexible swing stick.

In a particular use, the flexible swing stick is held by the user with at least one hand positioned at or near the proximal end of the flexible swing stick and at a position along the swinging path of the flexible swing stick where the weights inside the flexible swing stick are free to move inside the flexible swing stick. During the beginning of the exercise the slidably received weights are positioned at the proximal end of the flexible swing stick. As the flexible swing stick transitions through the range of motion the slidably received weights move to the distal end of the flexible swing stick and upon impact with the inside of the distal end of the flexible swing stick with the swing being abruptly stopped and followed by several back-n-forth oscillations at the proximal end of the flexible swing stick stimulates and conditions the fast twitch muscles in the user's forearms and wrists due to the oscillating frequency and amplitude of the opposite, distal, end of the flexible swing stick with resistance increasing as the frequency of back and forth movement of the hands and arms increases.

The hollow tube is preferably a plastic material such as polypropylene. In a particularly preferred embodiment the polypropylene has a flexural modulus of between 100,000 psi and 400,000 psi. The hollow tube is preferably produced by the extrusion process and preferably has a smooth rounded interior. The hollow tube has a preferred OD of 0.70″ to 2″. Use of a material with a flexural modulus of greater than 1000 psi is desired with an upper limit of the flexural modulus of 10,000,000 psi. The outside diameter of the flexible swing stick is preferably from at least ½″ to more than 3″ and the wall thickness is preferably at least 0.05″ to no more than 0.25″. Particularly preferred hollow tubes feature unreinforced extruded thermoplastic tubes or reinforced thermoplastic or thermoset resin tubes using continuous glass or carbon fibers produced by a variety of processes including filament winding, pultrusion, braided sleeves impregnated with a resin over a mandrel, B-staged continuous glass or carbon fiber tape wrapped over a mandrel and cured with heat and pressure or other composite processing method. In order to achieve the desired flexibility and durability of the tube used in the construction of the flexible swing stick the hollow tube can be engineered by selecting fibers, resins, orientation of fibers, outside and inside diameter of the tube, consistent outside and inside diameter the length of the tube or a tapered tube, length of the tube to produce a tube that will provide suitable flexibility and durability. The following combination of variables produces a tube that functions acceptability in the construction of the flexible swing stick: an extruded unreinforced thermoplastic hollow tube using a ‘no brake’ polypropylene resin formula from Hudson Extrusions, Inc. with an outside diameter of 0.890″ and an inside diameter of 0.715″ with a length of between 34 and 36 inches with both ends of the tube closed using the previously described process of fusing and molding both ends of the tube. Using a flexural bending modulus of 150,000 psi for the Hudson ‘no brake’ polypropylene along, the EI (or stiffness) of this tube calculates to be 2696 lbs-int.

The slidably received weights are preferably round in shape and partially fill the inside of the flexible tube with enough space to allow for movement inside the tube. The slidably received weights inside the flexible swing stick are preferably metal with a diameter of at least 0.154″ to no more than 0.625″ with steel shot or steel balls being preferred and 4.5 mm (0.18″) BB's acceptable.

An optional, but preferred flexible spacer, such as a length of round foam backer rod or the like, placed inside the tube between the particles and the proximal end of the flexible swing stick reduces the length that the particles may travel inside the tube for the purpose of adjusting the point of impact during the swinging of the flexible swing stick. If the space in the interior for the particles to move is filled less than full, this permits the particles to move and create the dynamic action of impact that is desired when the arms and hands are moved in swinging the flexible swing stick.

An optional but preferred rod can be used to limit the flexibility of the flexible swing stick. A ⅛″ diameter carbon steel rod with a length about ½″ less than the inside length of the thermoplastic tube is suitable for demonstration of the invention. The stiffness, or EI, of the ⅛″ diameter carbon steel rod with an E=30,000,000 psi is 359 lbs-int. It is desirable that the EI of the extruded unreinforced thermoplastic hollow tube is greater than the rod.

The total weight of the flexible swing stick is approximately the weight of the club being trained for and is preferably at least about 10 grams to no more than about 1000 grams and more preferably at least about 300 grams to no more than about 700 grams. To simulate a softball bat, or a 7-iron golf club, about 400 grams is optimal for most users.

An embodiment of the method of use of the invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 5-7. In FIG. 5 the flexible swing stick, 10, is preferably held by 2 hands, 21, of the user, as in a golf grip, at the proximal end of the flexible swing stick, 10. The slidably received weights, 14, are persuaded towards the proximal end and are in contact with the flexible spacer, 15, if used. As the user swings the flexible swing stick through the range of motion as shown by the arrows, 33, in FIG. 6, the slidably received weights, 14, move towards the distal end, 29, of the flexible swing stick contacting the interior of the hollow tube at the integral sealed end, 19. The slidably received weights, 14, preferably impact the distal end of the flexible swing stick,10, at a time during the downward swinging motion as in FIG. 6 preferably corresponding to the narrow portion of the range of motion when the user swings the flexible swing stick from the top of their swing in a downward motion towards the bottom of their swing with a follow-thru as in FIG. 7 to completion of the swing. The illustrations of FIGS. 5-7 are representative of a baseball swing, a golf swing or many other swing motions for a club with the difference being the plane within which the club swings.

FIG. 8 illustrates the range of motion, 300, through which a club transits in a typical swing. It is preferable, in most instances, that the range of motion remain in a plane. The narrow portion, 301, represents the region with a higher club velocity than the regions on either side thereof. In some swings the range of motion may exceed 360°.

When the flexible swing stick is swung the distal end of the flexible swing stick can vary from a very slow speed to very high speeds with speeds exceeding 100 miles per hour not uncommon. In golf, the average club head speed for an average golfer is about 80 miles per hours within the narrow portion of the range of motion. A professional baseball player can have a bat speed of well over 100 miles per hour within the narrow portion of the range of motion. Therefore, it is essential that the distal end of this flexible swing stick have sufficient structural integrity to withstand many impacts of the slidably received weights impacting the distal end of the flexible swing stick. The thermoplastic material selected is preferably able to fuse to itself under the correct heat and correct pressure with the reheating insuring that the previous heating and pressure allows the material to fully fuse. Both ends of the flexible swing stick may be fully fused in like manner.

The material of construction for the hollow tube is selected to make the flexible swing stick light in weight, flexible to bend without buckling, flexible to be able to be oscillated back and forth rapidly and resistant to impact damage from impact by the slidably received weights fast impingement. It is important that the flexible swing stick have a degree of flexibility but not be too flexible. Significant bending forces are exerted when the flexible elongated flexible swing stick is swung fast and it is important that this flexible swing stick be light weight such that the flexible swing stick can be swung as fast as the athlete swings their normal club. It is important for the user to hear and feel the impact of the slidably received weights impacting the opposite end of the flexible swing stick, called vestibular feedback, when the flexible swing stick is swung and impact within the hollow tube of the flexible swing stick occurs. The mind of the user obtains a better sense of their swing when they can hear and feel the impact of the slidably received weights impacting the distal end of the flexible swing stick in much the same way as the user hears and feels the impact when actually hitting a ball or object. With this flexible swing stick, the act of hitting or throwing the ball or object is removed, and the user can mentally focus on their swing motion and be consciously aware of the impact sound and feel. Also, a trained coach can hear the sound and see the person's swing and can mentally correlate the two vestibular inputs to help coach the player to improve the athlete's swing.

In many instances a coach may want an athlete to stop the flexible swing stick part way through the swing for a variety of reasons including mimicking a throw. The stopping action can produce significant stress on the hands and arms so a tailored degree of flexibility in the flexible swing stick is important. Also, a flexible material will be less damaging to one's joints than a rigid device such as an aluminum or wooden bar or steel or graphite shafted golf club. The length of the flexible swing stick is preferably between at least 10″ to no more than 70″ and more preferably at least 20″ to no more than 40″.

When a player stops their swinging motion part way thru their swing significant bending forces are exerted on the thermoplastic tube of the flexible swing stick. A typical bat grip tape as the outside wrap at the handle end of the flexible swing stick and the length of this wrap of about 9 inches from the proximal end protects against the hollow tube from buckling. To further minimize buckling, a first wrap of a foil-faced or fabric reinforced adhesively backed tape is applied from the handle, or proximal, end of the flexible swing stick to a position just inside the wrap of the bat grip tape around the circumference of the hollow tube. This foil backed or fabric reinforced tape provides significant resistance to buckling while at the same time not adding undue weight to the flexible swing stick. To further limit the tendency of the flexible swing stick to buckle rod, a ⅛″ diameter carbon steel rod with a length preferably of less than about ½″ less than the inside length of the thermoplastic tube after the closing of both ends, may be used. The rod limits the oscillation amplitude of the impact end of the flexible swing stick, when the person stops their swing part way thru their swinging motion, and this limiting of the oscillation amplitude reduces buckling at or near the hand position. If the user swings hard enough to cause buckling to occur, the selection of an extruded ‘no brake’ polypropylene material as the material for the extruded thermoplastic tube has shown to insure that the hollow tube only crimps at the buckling location and does not tear or rip with all of the materials inside the thermoplastic tube remaining inside the hollow tube and not exiting the hollow tube where they may injure someone.

The distal end of the flexible swing stick may also be oscillated back and forth, by the user holding the flexible swing stick with at least one hand at the proximal end of the flexible swing stick, followed by movement of just the user's wrists in an articulating manner side to side or up and down or by movement of the user's wrists, hand and arm in unison in a side to side or up and down manner which may include an independent articulating movement of the wrists at the same time that the wrist, hand and arm are moving side to side or up and down in unison. Exercise professionals state that if a given muscle, such as the wrist or forearm, can be fatigued in a short period of time, between 5 and 30 seconds, thru a repetitive motion, either back and forth, up and down or in a circle or elliptical pattern, where the load on the muscles is significant but not damaging, then there are fast twitch muscles fibers in that muscle. Rapid oscillation thru a repetitive motion, either back and forth, side to side or up and down, under an appropriate load or resistance, defines a proven method of conditioning and stimulating the fast twitch muscle fibers in the muscles being used to activate the rapid oscillation. Conditioning and stimulating the fast twitch muscle fibers will enable a person to swing a club faster and if the club is swung faster, then the ball or object has the chance to have a higher velocity due to being struck or thrown optimally. This method of oscillating the flexible swing stick by holding it at the proximal end, as described above, may be performed at any location along the swinging motion or in the case where the person stops their swing part way through their swing, the oscillation may be performed for a short period of time, at that position, with the person completing their swing following the oscillation. In this method where the swinging motion is stopped and the flexible swing stick oscillated followed by completion of the swing will not only condition and stimulate the fast twitch muscle fibers but when the swing is stopped an impact of the slidably received weights inside the flexible swing stick occurs providing the vestibular feedback of feel from impact and the sound from impact. Together, significant enhancement can occur to improving the swing of the person or athlete.

EXAMPLES

Example A

A 32¾″ ‘no brake’ formula thermoplastic polypropylene unpigmented extruded tubing with an outside diameter of 0.890″ and an inside diameter of 0.715″ from Hudson Extrusions Inc.; Hudson, Ohio was used as a hollow tube.

Both ends of the elongated thermoplastic extruded tubing were closed for safe and effective use wherein at least one end, used as the distal end, is formed as an integrally sealed end without the use of glues or mechanical devices such as screws clamps, end caps, etc. To form the integrally sealed end the thermoplastic tube was heated using a heat gun, such as Intertek VT-1000 heat gun, for about 15 seconds followed quickly by the application of a controlled amount of pressure for about 5 seconds using a clamping device such as a pair of pliers, to bring in contact or pinch together and fusing two opposite sides of the inside diameter of the open end of the thermoplastic tube. The pressure was applied to the outside diameter of the thermoplastic tube at approximately the centerline of the tube for a contact area of about ¼ square inch to fuse the two opposing sections of the inside diameter of the thermoplastic tube to each other creating a flattened end of the thermoplastic tube. While the fused end of the tube was still hot, but with the clamps removed, pressure was applied to the outside diameter edges of the major axis of the flattened end of the thermoplastic tube towards each other using a clamping device such as a pair of pliers such that the flattened end with fused section is further reshaped such that no exterior dimension of the reshaped end of the tube is greater than the original OD of the tube. Using the heat gun, the end was reheated for about 15 seconds to reheat the reshaped end of the thermoplastic tube followed by insertion of the reheated and reshaped end of thermoplastic tube into the open end of a round mold. A threaded or non-threaded hex-head ¾″ PVC bolt made by LASCO, and sold at Lowes, Inc. is a suitable round mold. An adequate amount of pressure was applied to the opposite end of the tube to compress and mold the reheated and reshaped end of the tube to the inside dimensions of the mold thereby creating a molded closed end as an integral seal which is able to resist the repeated impact of the slidably received weights.

After allowing the integral seal to cool, for approximately 10 minutes, 381 grams of 4.5 mm BB's by Daisy® were inserted into the open end and the open end was fused and reshaped, in a manner similar to the process described above, to form a second integral seal. A 0.843″×1.5″ black PVC end cap made by Stock Caps was applied over the end of the first integral seal. A #19 black crutch tip, supplied by Schacht-Pfister of Huntington, Ind. was applied over the second integral seal. The #19 crutch tip, previously applied was moved about ½″ towards the end of the flexible tube and a black cushioned bat grip tape, as manufactured by Rawlings, was applied in a 45 degree spiral pattern around the circumference of the flexible tube starting at the edge of the open end of the #19 crutch tip and extending approximately 9″ down the length of the flexible tube.

The weight of the finished flexible swing stick was about 445 grams and the height of the BB's inside the hollow tube from the first fused end was about 14″. The calculated distance inside the flexible tube for the BB's to move freely as the flexible swing stick was about 18.25″. Using a simple cantilever beam deflection equation of, Deflection (inches)=[PL³ divided by (3*E*I)]−the deflection in inches can be computed. The flexural modulus of the flexible thermoplastic polypropylene ‘no brake’ tube is about 150,000 psi and the moment of inertia (I) for the round shape with an OD of 0.89″ and ID of 0.715″ was calculated to be 0.01797. Therefore, the deflection at the end of the flexible swing stick with a cantilever length of approximately 16.5″ is 0.54″. This deflection was used as a reference for evaluating the flexibility and performance of the flexible swing stick when the flexible swing stick was swung or oscillated by users. In order for the flexible swing stick to be used properly, the BB's inside must be in a position to move to the distal end during use. In baseball or golf, the distal end is higher than the proximal end, as measured from the ground, so the BB's will be able to move freely to the distal end of the flexible swing stick during the swinging or oscillating of the flexible swing stick.

Example A failed for use when tested as a baseball bat with the failure mode being a crimping of the flexible tube in the area of the tube that was wrapped with the bat grip tape. Further, it failed in the training drill where the flexible swing stick was swung like a baseball bat but about ½ way through the swing the user stopped the swing abruptly for the purpose of oscillating the flexible swing stick back and forth at that position for a number of times. The momentum generated by the abrupt stopping of the swinging action combined with the length of the flexible swing stick and the weight of the BB's was too much lateral bending force for the flexible tube to resist, and it crimped rendering the flexible swing stick unusable for further use as a baseball bat simulator. But the ‘no break’ characteristics of the Hudson ‘no brake’ material kept the flexible swing stick safe as no opening in the wall of the flexible swing stick was created for the BB's to escape. In other applications Example A would be suitable for use.

Example B

A flexible swing stick was prepared as in Example A with a 35″ hollow tube and 243 grams of 5/16″ diameter steel balls by B C Precision balls from Amazon inserted into the open end of the flexible tube. A single, ½″ diameter steel ball from BC Precision balls from Amazon was inserted into the open end of the hollow tube. The 8 gram ½″ diameter steel ball prevented the smaller 5/16″ diameter steel balls from moving past it inside the hollow tube having an inside diameter of 0.715″. The ½″ diameter steel balls removes the potential of a 5/16″ diameter steel ball from becoming stuck or wedged between the outside diameter of flexible grey foam backer rod and the inside diameter of the thermoplastic tube. The function of the 5/16″ steel balls plus the ½″ diameter steel ball is to add weight to the flexible swing stick plus the steel balls are able to move freely back and forth inside the hollow tube as the flexible swing stick is swung or oscillated back and forth. A ⅝″ diameter×5.5″ long piece of flexible grey foam backer rod from M-D Building Product, Inc., Oklahoma City, Okla. was inserted into the open end of the thermoplastic tube and pushed, using a long wooden dowel rod, to the opposite end to be in contact with the steel shot. This was done so that the heat from the heat gun would not melt the foam as the opposite, or proximal, end was fused. The open end was fused and reshaped as described relative to Example A. A 0.843″×1.5″ black PVC end cap made by Stock Caps was applied over the end of the flexible swing stick at the place where the first end was fused, reshaped and molded. A #19 black crutch tip, supplied by Schacht-Pfister of Huntington, Ind. was applied over the proximal end of the flexible swing stick. The #19 crutch tip, previously applied was moved about ½″ towards the end of the flexible tube and a black cushioned bat grip tape, as manufactured by Rawlings, was applied in a 45 degree spiral pattern around the circumference of the flexible tube starting at the edge of the open end of the #19 crutch tip and extending approximately 9″ down the length of the flexible tube.

The weight of the finished flexible swing stick was 398 grams and the height of the steel shot, the 5/16″ diameter steel shot, inside the flexible tube from the first fused end was 10.5″ which was significantly less than the 14″ from Example A. The use of the flexible foam backer rod reduced the available length that the steel shot could move inside the hollow tube which provided satisfactory feedback wherein the sound of the impacting steel balls occur at the centerline of the player's body when tested by a high school softball team. The use of backer rod gives a means to vary the impact position during a player's swing to meet desired criteria.

This flexible swing stick also failed in use with the failure mode being a crimping of the flexible tube in the area of the tube that was wrapped with the bat grip tape at a position about 7″ from the handle, or proximal, end of the flexible swing stick. It failed in training, in this application, where the flexible swing stick was swung like a baseball bat but about ½ way through the swing the user stopped the swing abruptly for the purpose of oscillating the flexible swing stick back and forth at that position for a number of times. The momentum generated by the abrupt stopping of the swinging action combined with the length of the flexible swing stick and the weight of the steel shot achieved too much lateral bending force for the flexible tube to resist. The tube crimped rendering the flexible swing stick unusable for further use. Increasing the starting length of flexible thermoplastic tube to 35″ was seen as a positive as this length was closer to the length of a female softball bat as used in the intended test. But the ‘no break’ characteristics of the Hudson ‘no brake’ material kept the flexible swing stick safe as no opening in the wall of the flexible swing stick was created for the steel balls to escape. The use of the larger diameter 5/16″ steel balls was an improvement as the sound of the impacting 5/16″ steel balls was louder and perceived as better than the impact noise of the smaller BB's.

Example C

A flexible swing stick was prepared as in Example B with 48 grams of ⅝″ diameter steel balls by BC Precision balls and 198 grams of ½″ diameter steel balls from BC Precision balls from Amazon. The ⅝″ diameter steel balls created a louder impact sound than either the 5/16″ steel balls or the BB's when the flexible swing stick was swung. The function of the ⅝″ diameter steel balls plus the ½″ diameter steel balls is to add weight. The louder sound of the steel balls making impact with the inside end of the flexible swing stick using just 3, ⅝″ diameter steel balls with the remainder of the weight of steel balls being ½″ diameter steel balls allowed this construction of the flexible swing stick to be lighter in weight. A ⅝″ diameter×5.0″ long piece of flexible grey foam backer rod from M-D Building Product, Inc., Oklahoma City, Okla. was inserted into the open end of the thermoplastic tube and pushed, using a long wooden dowel rod, to the opposite end to be in contact with the ½″ diameter steel balls to insure the heat from the heat gun would not melt the backer rod as the opposite end was integrally sealed. The open end of the flexible tube was fused and reshaped in a manner similar to the opposite end. A 0.843″×1.5″ black PVC end cap made by Stock Caps was applied over the end of the flexible swing stick at the end where the first end was fused, reshaped and molded. A #19 black crutch tip, supplied by Schacht-Pfister of Huntington, Ind. was applied over the other end of the flexible swing stick. The #19 crutch tip, previously applied was moved about ½″ towards the end of the flexible tube and a thicker bat grip tape, as manufactured by Rawlings, was applied in a 45 degree spiral pattern around the circumference of the flexible tube starting at the edge of the open end of the #19 crutch tip and extending approximately 9″ down the length of the flexible tube. The bat grip tape was thicker than the bat grip tape used in Example B and was believed to offer greater resistance to bucking in the handle area.

The weight of the finished flexible swing stick was 386 grams and the height of the steel shot plus the back rod was 18.875″ leaving a length of 14.375″ for the steel shot to travel inside the flexible swing stick. The use of the flexible foam backer rod reduced the available length that the steel shot could move inside the thermoplastic tube and this satisfied feedback from trials with the flexible swing stick where the coach wanted the sound of the impacting steel balls to occur sooner during the swinging of the bat by the player. In female softball training, some coaches want the player to make contact with the ball at the position when the ball is about at the centerline of the player's body and the use of the backer rod gives a means to vary the impact position during the player's swing.

This flexible swing stick also failed in use with a failure mode being a crimping of the flexible tube in the area of the tube that was wrapped with the bat grip tape at a position about 7″ from the handle, or proximal, end of the flexible swing stick. It failed in training where the flexible swing stick was swung like a baseball bat but about ½ way through the swing the user stopped the swing abruptly for the purpose of oscillating the flexible swing stick back and forth at that position for a number of times. This embodiment would be suitable for other applications.

Example D

A flexible swing stick was prepared, as in Example B, with a 35″ ‘no brake’ formula thermoplastic polypropylene unpigmented extruded tubing with an outside diameter of 0.890″ and an inside diameter of 0.715″ from Hudson Extrusions Inc.; Hudson, Ohio with 48 grams of ⅝″ diameter steel balls by B C Precision balls from Amazon inserted into the open end of the flexible tube and 168 grams of ½″ diameter steel balls from BC Precision balls from Amazon. The ⅝″ diameter steel balls created a louder impact sound than either the 5/16″ steel balls or the BB's when the flexible swing stick was swung. The function of the ⅝″ diameter steel balls plus the ½″ diameter steel balls is to add weight plus the steel balls are able to move freely back and forth inside the tube as the flexible swing stick is swung or oscillated back and forth. The louder the sound of the steel balls making impact with the inside end of the flexible swing stick using just 3, ⅝″ diameter steel balls with the remainder of the weight of steel balls being ½″ diameter steel balls allowed this construction to be lighter in weight than using all ⅝″ diameter steel balls. A ⅝″ diameter×6.0″ long piece of flexible grey foam backer rod from M-D Building Product, Inc., Oklahoma City, Okla. was inserted into the open end of the thermoplastic tube and pushed, using a long wooden dowel rod, to the opposite end of the tube to be in contact with the ½″ diameter steel balls to avoid subsequent heat damage as discussed above. A 0.843″×1.5″ black PVC end cap made by Stock Caps was applied over the end of first fused end. Two strips of 1″ wide Gorrilla® duct tape were applied at the handle end of the flexible swing stick, starting about ½″ from the handle end of the flexible tube, down the length of the flexible tube with the 2 strips positioned to provide for approximately the same space between the strips. A #19 black crutch tip, supplied by Schacht-Pfister of Huntington, Ind. was applied over the handle end of and over the end of the previously applied strips of Gorilla® duct tape. A thicker bat grip tape, referred to as Lizard bat grip tape manufactured by Rawlings, was applied in a 45 degree spiral pattern around the circumference of the hollow tube starting at the edge of the open end of the #19 crutch tip and over the previously applied strips of Gorilla® duct tape extending approximately 9″ down the length of the hollow tube to cover completely the strips of Gorilla® duct tape.

The weight of the finished flexible swing stick was 371 grams and the height of the steel shot plus the backer rod was 18.375″ leaving a length of 15.125″ for the steel shot to travel inside the flexible swing stick. The use of the flexible foam backer rod reduced the available length that the steel shot could move inside the thermoplastic tube and this satisfied feedback from previous trials with the flexible swing stick where the coach wanted the sound of the impacting steel balls to occur sooner during the swinging of the bat by the player. The use of the backer rod gives a means to vary the impact position during the player's swing to meet the coach's needs.

With repeated use this embodiment did not fail.

Example E

A flexible swing stick was prepared, as in Example B, with a 35″ ‘no brake’ formula thermoplastic polypropylene unpigmented extruded tubing with an outside diameter of 0.890″ and an inside diameter of 0.715″ from Hudson Extrusions Inc.; Hudson, Ohio with 192 grams of ½″ diameter steel balls by B C Precision from Amazon and a ⅛″ diameter carbon steel rod in contact with the inside wall of the thermoplastic tubing. A ⅝″ diameter steel ball cannot be used as it will not fit inside the thermoplastic tube with the ⅛″ diameter carbon steel inside. The sound of the steel balls making impact with the inside end of the thermoplastic tube is not as loud when using all ½″ diameter steel balls as compare to the use of both ⅝″ and ½″ diameter steel balls with the ⅝″ steel balls being the first steel balls to impact the inside end of the thermoplastic tube. The function of ½″ diameter steel balls is to add weight plus the steel balls are able to move freely back and forth inside the tube as the flexible swing stick is swung or oscillated back and forth which will be explained later. A ⅝″ diameter×6.0″ long piece of flexible grey foam backer rod from M-D Building Product, Inc., Oklahoma City, Okla. was inserted into the open end of the thermoplastic tube and in contact with a length of the surface of the ⅛″ diameter carbon steel rod and pushed, using a long wooden dowel rod, to the opposite end of the tube in contact with the ½″ diameter steel balls. This was done to avoid heat damage as discussed above. A 0.843″×1.5″ black PVC end cap made by Stock Caps was applied over the end of the flexible tube at the first fused end of the thermoplastic tube. Two strips of 2.5″ wide 3M 3340 cold weather foil faced tape×9″ long were applied longitudinally to the outside diameter length of the thermoplastic tube starting at the handle, or proximal, end of the tube with the 2 strips applied such that they overlap approximately evenly creating total coverage of the outer surface of thermoplastic tube for the 9 inches from the handle end. A #19 black crutch tip, supplied by Schacht-Pfister of Huntington, Ind. was applied over the handle end of the flexible swing stick and over the previously applied strips of the 3M tape. Lizard bat grip tape, as manufactured by Rawlings, was applied in a 45 degree spiral pattern around the circumference of the flexible tube starting at the edge of the open end of the #19 crutch tip and over the previously applied the 3M tape strips.

The weight of the finished flexible swing stick was 400 grams and the height of the steel shot plus the backer rod was 18″ leaving a length of 15.25″ for the steel shot to travel inside the flexible swing stick. The use of the flexible foam backer rod reduced the available length that the steel shot could move longitudinally inside the hollow tube and this satisfied feedback from previous trials using the flexible swing stick where the coach wanted the sound of the impacting steel balls to occur sooner during the swinging of the bat by the player.

After extended use this embodiment did not fail.

Example F

A flexible swing stick was prepared, as in Example B, with a 35″ ‘no brake’ formula thermoplastic polypropylene unpigmented extruded tubing with an outside diameter of 0.890″ and an inside diameter of 0.715″ from Hudson Extrusions Inc.; Hudson, Ohio with 32 grams of ⅝″ diameter steel balls by B C Precision balls from Amazon are and 168 grams of ½″ diameter steel balls from BC Precision balls from Amazon. The use of the ⅝″ diameter steel balls created a louder impact sound than either the 5/16″ steel balls or the BB's when the flexible swing stick was swung. The function of the ⅝″ diameter steel balls plus the ½″ diameter steel balls is to add weight plus the steel balls are able to move freely back and forth inside the tube as the flexible swing stick is swung or oscillated back and forth. The louder sound of the steel balls making impact with the inside end of the flexible swing stick using just 2, ⅝″ diameter steel balls with the remainder of the weight of steel balls being ½″ diameter steel balls allowed this construction of the flexible swing stick to be lighter in weight than using all ⅝″ diameter steel balls. A ⅝″ diameter×7.0″ long piece of flexible grey foam backer rod from M-D Building Product, Inc., Oklahoma City, Okla. was inserted into the open end of the thermoplastic tube and pushed, using a long wooden dowel rod, to the opposite end of the tube to be in contact with the ½″ diameter steel balls. A 0.843″×1.5″ black PVC end cap made by Stock Caps was applied over the fused end of the flexible swing stick at the end where the first end was fused, reshaped and molded. Two, 2.5″ wide strips of 3M 3340 cold weather foil faced tape×9″ long were applied longitudinally to the outside diameter length of the thermoplastic tube starting at handle, or proximal end with the 2 strips applied such that they overlap approximately evenly creating total coverage of the outer surface of the thermoplastic tube for the 9 inches from the handle end. A #19 black crutch tip, supplied by Schacht-Pfister of Huntington, Ind. was applied over the handle, or proximal, end of flexible swing stick and over the previously applied strips of 3M tape. Lizard bat grip tape, as manufactured by Rawlings, was applied in a 45 degree spiral pattern around the circumference of the flexible tube starting at the edge of the open end of the #19 crutch tip and over the previously applied strips of 3M tape and extending approximately 9″ down the length of the flexible tube to cover completely the strips of 3M tape.

The weight of the finished flexible swing stick was 356 grams and the height of the steel shot plus the backer rod was 18.75″ leaving a length of 14.50″ for the steel shot to travel inside the flexible swing stick.

After extended use this embodiment did not fail.

Example G

A flexible swing stick was prepared, as in Example B, with a 23″ ‘no brake’ formula thermoplastic polypropylene unpigmented extruded tubing with an outside diameter of 0.890″ and an inside diameter of 0.715″ from Hudson Extrusions Inc.; Hudson, Ohio as a practice device mimicking a tennis racquet. The flexible swing stick utilized 168 grams of 5/16″ steel balls by Moore Sales from Amazon and a 5″ long piece of foam back rod by M-D Building Products, Inc. of Oklahoma City, Okla. A 0.843″×1.5″ black PVC end cap made by Stock Caps was applied over the end of the flexible swing stick where the first end was fused. A 5.25″ long exterior ground foam sleeve with ID=0.890″ from www.grabongrips.com was slipped over the handle, or proximal end of the thermoplastic tube. A #19 black crutch tip, supplied by Schacht-Pfister of Huntington, Ind. was applied over the handle end using DAP Rapid Fuse™ All Purpose Adhesive by DAP Products, Inc. of Baltimore, Md. applied inside the #19 crutch tip prior to pushing #19 crutch tip onto end of the thermoplastic tube.

The weight of the finished flexible swing stick was 290 grams and the height of the 5/16″ steel balls inside the flexible tube from the first fused end was 7″. The calculated distance inside the flexible tube for the steel balls to move freely as the flexible swing stick is used is about 9.5″.

After extended use the embodiment did not fail.

Example H

A flexible swing stick was prepared, as in Example G, using a 26″ ‘no brake’ formula thermoplastic polypropylene unpigmented extruded tubing with an outside diameter of 0.890″ and an inside diameter of 0.715″ from Hudson Extrusions Inc.; Hudson, Ohio for use as a swing stick for young female softball players in the range of 7 to 9 years of age as these young players need to train with a device that is shorter than the 35″ long swing sticks described above. The flexible swing stick utilized 48 grams of ⅝″ steel balls by B C Precision balls from Amazon and 168 grams of ½″ diameter steel balls from B C Precision balls from Amazon. No foam backer rod was used with this flexible swing stick.

A #19 black crutch tip, supplied by Schacht-Pfister of Huntington, Ind. was applied over the handle, or proximal, end using DAP Rapid Fuse™ All Purpose Adhesive by DAP Products, Inc. of Baltimore, Md. applied inside the #19 crutch tip prior to pushing the #19 crutch tip onto end of the thermoplastic tube. A Lizard bat grip tape, as manufactured by Rawlings, was applied in a 45 degree spiral pattern around the circumference of the flexible tube starting at the edge of the open end of the #19 crutch tip and extending approximately 9″ down the length of the flexible thermoplastic tube.

After extended use this embodiment did not fail.

The invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments without limit thereto. One of skill in the art would realize additional embodiments and improvements which are not specifically stated but which are within the meets and bounds of the claims appended hereto.

Claims

1. A flexible swing stick comprising;

a hollow tube comprising a distal end and a proximal end wherein at least said distal end is closed by an integral seal;

at least one slidably received weight in said hollow tube disposed to move from said proximal end to said distal end when said flexible swing stick is swung through a range of motion; and

wherein said proximal end is closed.

2. The flexible swing stick of claim 1 wherein said proximal end is closed by a second integral seal.

3. The flexible swing stick of claim 1 wherein said proximal end is closed by an end cap or plug.

4. The flexible swing stick of claim 1 wherein said hollow tube comprises a thermoplastic or thermoset polymer.

5. The flexible swing stick of claim 4 wherein said hollow tube comprises polypropylene.

6. The flexible swing stick of claim 1 wherein said hollow tube has a flexural modulus of 1,000 to 10,000,000 psi.

7. The flexible swing stick of claim 6 wherein said hollow tube has a flexural modulus of 100,000 to 400,000 psi.

8. The flexible swing stick of claim 1 wherein said hollow tube has an outside diameter of at least 0.5″ to no more than 3″.

9. The flexible swing stick of claim 1 wherein said hollow tube has wall thickness of at least 0.05″ to no more than 0.25″.

10. The flexible swing stick of claim 1 wherein said hollow tube comprises a reinforced polymer.

11. The flexible swing stick of claim 10 wherein said reinforced polymer comprises a glass or carbon.

12. The flexible swing stick of claim 1 further comprising a flexible spacer in said hollow tube.

13. The flexible swing stick of claim 12 wherein said flexible spacer has a curvature.

14. The flexible swing stick of claim 12 wherein said flexible spacer is between said proximal end and said slidably received weight.

15. The flexible swing stick of claim 1 further comprising a rod in said hollow tube.

16. The flexible swing stick of claim 15 wherein said rod has a stiffness or EI less than that of said hollow tube.

17. The flexible swing stick of claim 16 wherein said rod has a stiffness or EI less than ½ of said hollow tube.

18. The flexible swing stick of claim 1 wherein said slidably received weight is a ball.

19. The flexible swing stick of claim 18 wherein said ball is a metal ball.

20. The flexible swing stick of claim 19 wherein said ball is a stainless steel ball.

21. The flexible swing stick of claim 18 wherein said ball has a diameter of at least 0.154 to no more than 0.625.

22. The flexible swing stick of claim 1 further comprising a surface treatment.

23. The flexible swing stick of claim 22 wherein said surface treatment comprises a wrap on an exterior surface of said hollow tube.

24. The flexible swing stick of claim 23 wherein said wrap is selected from peel-n-stick foil faced metal tape, adhesively bonded fabric tape and peel-n-stick spiral wrapped bat tape.

25. The flexible swing stick of claim 24 further comprising a tape over said wrap.

26. The flexible swing stick of claim 1 having a length of at least 10″ to no more than 70″.

27. The flexible swing stick of claim 26 wherein said length is at least 20″ to no more than 40″.

28. The flexible swing stick of claim 1 having a weight of at least 10 grams to no more than 2000.

29. The flexible swing stick of claim 28 having a weight of at least 225 grams to no more than 1000.

30. The flexible swing stick of claim 29 having a weight of at least 300 grams to no more than 700.

31. The flexible swing stick of claim 29 further comprising an end cap.

32. A method for training comprising:

grasping a flexible swing stick with at least one hand at a proximal end wherein said flexible swing stick comprises: a hollow tube comprising a distal end and said proximal end wherein at least said distal end is closed by an integral seal; at least one slidably received weight in said hollow tube disposed to move from said proximal end to said distal end when said flexible swing stick is swung through at least a portion of a range of motion; and wherein said proximal end is closed; with said slidably received weight at said proximal end moving to said distal end upon swinging said flexible swing stick through said range of motion wherein said range of motion comprises a narrow portion; and wherein said slidably received weight impacts said distal end within said narrow portion of said range of motion; when swinging said flexible swing stick through at least a portion of said range of motion.

33-65. (canceled)

66. A method for forming a flexible swing stick comprising:

providing a hollow tube comprising a proximal end and a distal end;

forming an integral seal on at least said distal end;

sealing said proximal end; and

inserting at least one slidably receivable weight in said tube prior to either said forming of said integral seal or said sealing of said proximal end.

67-97. (canceled)