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[0001] This invention relates to apparatus for training basketball players to properly shoot a basketball. More particularly, this invention relates to such apparatus which provides structure promoting proper shooting hand finger positioning upon shooting a basketball.
[0002] When a basketball player executes a set shot or a jump shot, he or she typically performs a multiple stage shooting stroke which is intended to accurately propel a basketball through an arc whose path extends through the hoop of a basketball goal. In the initial stage of such shooting stroke, the basketball is cradled in the player's palm or palms, and the ball is driven or accelerated through arm motion in the direction of the hoop. In the latter stage of such basketball shooting stroke, accelerative pressure against the ball is reduced, allowing the final instant of contact of the hand with the ball to “fine tune” the ball's trajectory. In such final phase of a shooting stroke, the tip or tips of one or more of the basketball player's fingers typically serve as a final ball contact point. Ideally, a right-handed basketball player will consistently allow only the tip of the index finger of his or her right hand to serve as such final ball contact point.
[0003] The index finger is ideally utilized as a final ball contact point because its natural extension is more closely aligned with the natural extension of the forearm than any of the other fingers. By allowing the index finger to serve as the final contact point, a natural hand positioning with respect to the forearm while shooting is promoted.
[0004] Inexperienced basketball players are known to erroneously allow fingers other than the index finger to serve as a final ball contact point; and they commonly fail to consistently utilize a single finger as a final ball contact point upon shooting basketballs. Such improper basketball shooting technique markedly slows progress in learning to accurately shoot a basketball. The instant inventive basketball training device promotes proper basketball shooting technique by causing a perceptible undesirable awkwardness in shooting whenever an inexperienced basketball player attempts to shoot a basketball without allowing the tip of his or her index finger to serve as the final ball contact point. The instant invention promotes such result by providing a glove-like finger positioning article having structure adapted for forwardly biasing or thrusting the index finger of the shooting hand, and by providing structure which awkwardly imbalances a basketball upon utilizing fingers other than the index finger as a final ball contact point.
[0005] A primary structural component of the instant inventive basketball shooting training device comprises a flexible sheet fitted and sized for covering the palmar aspect of a basketball player's shooting hand. Preferably, the flexible sheet comprises a neoprene cloth inserted sheet consisting of an approximately {fraction (3/16)}″ thick layer of neoprene covered on both sides by adhesively applied layers of polyester cloth. Such sheet material readily and securely receives nylon thread stitching for attachment of other structures. Other flexible sheet materials which may suitably be substituted for a neoprene cloth inserted sheet include vinyl, woven fabric, knitted fabric, synthetic rubber, natural rubber, synthetic leather and natural leather.
[0006] In operation of the present inventive device, a side of the flexible sheet is necessarily securely positioned by tensioning means against the palm of such basketball player's hand, such side being designated as a palm contact side of the flexible sheet. A preferred tensioning means for achieving such secure contact is configuration of left and right sides of the flexible sheet to form left and right hand encircling straps, such straps having lengths sufficient to allow their ends to overlap over the dorsal aspect of such player's hand. The tensioning means preferably further comprises a hook and loop fastener, commonly known by the trade term “VELCRO”, such fastener preferably being mounted upon such overlapped ends.
[0007] Instead of configuring the left and right sides of the flexible sheet to form left and right strap extensions, the tensioning means may suitably comprise separate cords, belts or straps extending leftwardly and rightwardly from such sides. Alternately, an elastic band extending continuously from the left side of the flexible sheet over it palm contact side, and attaching to the right side of the flexible sheet, may be suitably utilized as tensioning means. Suitable alternate attaching means for interconnecting the preferred straps tensioning means include buttons, snaps, zippers, hook and loop fasteners, lacings, magnetic fasteners, buckles, snap channel and ridge combinations, and hook and eye combinations.
[0008] The primary operative structure of the instant inventive basketball shooting training device comprises index finger biasing means adapted for forwardly thrusting or biasing the index finger of the hand upon which the device is mounted. A preferred index finger biasing means comprises a flexible strap having a distal end and a proximal end, the proximal end of the strap being fixedly mounted upon an upper end of the flexible sheet. Preferably, the distal end of such strap is provided with attaching means so that, upon drawing the strap around the index finger of a wearer's hand, the distal end of said strap may be stretched rearwardly and be securely attached to the flexible sheet over the dorsal aspect of the wearer's hand. Drawing strap in such manner applies a pulling force to the index finger, forwardly bending and forwardly biasing such finger. Such forward bias helps assure that the index finger correctly serves a final guiding contact point in basketball shooting. The attaching means mounted upon the distal end of the strap preferably comprises a hook pad capable of engaging with the preferred hook and loop pad of the leftwardly and rightwardly extending hand encircling straps.
[0009] In order to enhance stability of the flexible sheet as it is worn upon a basketball player's hand, it is preferable that such sheet incorporate a middle finger loop attached to its upper end, a ring finger loop attached to its upper end, and include a thumb receiving aperture.
[0010] Preferably, a raised basketball imbalancing pad is fixedly attached to the basketball facing side of the flexible sheet, such pad being positioned to cause awkward imbalancing of the basketball upon improper utilization of the wearer's middle or ring finger as a final ball contact point.
[0011] Use of the instant inventive basketball shooting training device during basketball practice or informal play trains a basketball player to appropriately and consistently utilize the tip of his or her index finger as the final ball contact point upon shooting a set shot or jump shot; resulting in enhanced shooting accuracy.
[0012] Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a basketball shooting training device adapted to be securely mounted upon the shooting hand of a basketball player.
[0013] It is a further object of the present invention to provide such a device adapted to forwardly thrust or bias the index finger of such shooting hand, training such player to consistently utilize the tip of such finger as a final ball contact point.
[0014] It is a further object of the present invention to provide such a device incorporating a raised ball imbalancing pad, positioned for further discouraging such player from utilizing fingers other than the ball shooting hand index finger as a final ball contact point.
[0015] Other and further objects, benefits, and advantages of the present invention will become known to those skilled in the art upon review of the Detailed Description which follows, and upon review of the appended drawings.
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[0023] Referring now to the drawings, and in particular to
[0024] Preferably, the rightwardly extending and leftwardly extending strap sections
[0025] Referring further simultaneously to
[0026] Referring simultaneously to
[0027] Referring further simultaneously to
[0028] Referring to
[0029] Referring simultaneously to
[0030] Referring to
[0031] While the principles of the invention have been made clear in the above illustrative embodiment, those skilled in the art may make modifications in the structure, arrangement, portions and components of the invention without departing from those principles. Accordingly, it is intended that the description and drawings be interpreted as illustrative and not in the limiting sense, and that the invention be given a scope commensurate with the appended claims.