DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0023] Referring to the several views of the drawings, and initially FIG. 1, the tennis training system of the present invention is shown and is generally indicated as 10. In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, a plurality of programmable robotic ball shooting machines are positionable at predetermined locations at one end of a tennis court (see FIGS. 2 and 3). Preferably, two or more of the robotic ball shooting machines are used in the system and are linked together by cable or wireless signal communication to communicate with one another.

[0024] As seen in FIG. 1, three programmable robotic ball shooting machines 20, 30 and 40 are provided and communicate via a link 50. The communication link 50 may be a conductor, such as a cable or wire connection or, alternatively, the communication link 50 may be a wireless signal communication such as radio or infrared signals. Each of the robotic ball shooting machines 20, 30 and 40 are provided with a protective housing 52 which is shaped to deflect tennis balls which may inadvertently strike the housing. The ball shooting machines 20, 30 and 40 may further be supported on wheels 54 to facilitate movement of the machines onto the tennis court and into proper position. The housing interior of each of the ball shooting machines is structured for holding a supply of tennis balls in a manner similar to that of conventional automatic tennis ball shooting machines. A robotic ball feed and firing mechanism is further provided within the housing interior of each ball shooting machine 20, 30 and 40. The robotic ball feed and firing mechanisms is controlled by a computer device within the housing interior which is preprogrammed with a particular sequence of shots. The shot sequence program may be created on an external computer device, such as a laptop computer or handheld computer device (e.g. a PALM Computer). The shot sequence program is then loaded into the memory of the computer device contained in each ball shooting machine 20, 30 and 40. The shot sequence program is particular to each ball shooting machine position and provides specific instructions to each ball shooting machine 20, 30 and 40 for firing each shot in the programmed shot sequence at an angle (i.e. along a select line of fire) and at a speed, spin and height which is particular to each ball shooting machine position, thereby controlling the angle and depth of each shot fired from any one of the machines in order to hit predetermined locations on the opposite side of the court.

[0025] A remote control device 60 is provided with control buttons 62, 64 and 66 for selectively commanding any one of the plurality of ball shooting machines to instantly fire the next shot of the preprogrammed shot sequence. The remote control device 60 communicates with the ball shooting machines through either a hardwire (i.e. cable or wire) connection or, alternatively, a wireless signal connection (i.e. radio or infrared signals). The remote control device 60 may communicate directly with each of the plurality of ball shooting machines 20, 30 and 40 or, alternatively, the remote control can communicate with one of the ball shooting machines which serves as a master. The remaining ball shooting machines, serving as slaves, can receive the fire command instructions from the master via the communication link 50.

[0026] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the positioning of the ball shooting machines on a tennis court are shown in accordance with preferred embodiments thereof Specifically, the ball shooting machines are positioned at predetermined locations on one side 82 of a tennis court 80, and preferably behind base line 83 at one end of the tennis court. Upon receipt of a fire command from the remote control device 60, the selected ball shooting machine instantly fires a tennis ball at an angle, speed, spin and height as directed by the computer device so that the fired shot will be directed to a predetermined location on the opposite side 84 of the tennis court 80 according to the shot sequence program. For example, if the next shot in the shot sequence program is to be a drop shot, at a particular location on the opposite side of the court, then each ball shooting machine is prepared to fire the drop shot at an angle, speed, spin and height which will cause the fired tennis ball to hit the location of the desired drop shot. Alternatively, if the next shot in the shot sequence is to be a long drive, then each ball machine is prepared to fire the next tennis ball in the shot sequence at the angle, speed, spin and height which achieves the long drive shot to the specific court location.

[0027] As seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, each ball shooting machine 20, 30 and 40 is prepared to fire a shot at one of a plurality of angles as indicated by the lines extending from each of the respective ball shooting machines to the numbered positions 1 through 9 and A-B on the opposite side 84 of the tennis court 80. Then, by varying the speed, spin and height of each fired shot, the depth along any of the desired angles can be controlled so that the fired tennis ball will strike the court at any desired position along the line of fire. More specifically, referring to FIG. 4, each ball shooting machine 20, 30 and 40 is adapted to fire each shot in the programmed shot sequence at a speed, spin and height which will cause the fired ball to travel over the net 80 and land at select, predetermined locations on side 84 of the tennis court in a manner which achieves a particular type of tennis shot.

[0028] Accordingly, in use, when a practicing tennis player on the opposite side of the court 84 hits a tennis shot towards, for example, ball shooting machine 30, then remote control 60 is operated by depressing the appropriate control button to activate the firing of the next shot in the preprogrammed shot sequence from ball shooting machine 30. The fired shot will then be in accordance with the preprogrammed shot sequence, traveling along one of the angled lines of fire at a speed, spin and height which will cause the fired tennis ball to reach the predetermined location on the opposite side 84 of the court, thereby simulating the return shot of an opposing player on side 82 of the tennis court 80. In this manner, each tennis shot made by a practicing player on side 84 of the tennis court 80 can be selectively returned by any of the ball shooting machines 20, 30 or 40 so that a return shot is fired at a moment in time and from a direction that an opponent would ordinarily play the ball on the opposite side of the net 86.

[0029] The programmed shot sequence can replicate a series of shots in a volley, game, set or match. Moreover, the programmed shot sequence can be based on the identical shots made by a player in a previous match. Thus, a tennis player preparing to play an opponent in an upcoming match can use the tennis training system and method of the present invention to prepare for play against the opponent. In this instance, the preprogrammed shot sequence can be based upon the opponent's shots made in a previous match against the practicing tennis player or another opponent. In this manner, the practicing tennis player can practice in a virtual match against an upcoming opponent and become better acquainted with the style of play and type of shots normally made by the opponent. Moreover, a practicing player can use the tennis training system and method of the present invention to correct mistakes made in previous matches against an opponent while developing skills to better handle difficult shots normally made by the opponent.

[0030] While the instant invention has been shown and described in accordance with preferred and practical embodiments thereof, it is recognized that departures from the instant disclosure are contemplated within the spirit and scope of the present invention as set forth in the following claims and under the doctrine of equivalents.