THROWING TARGET, SYSTEM, AND METHOD

• US 20110003653A1
• Filed: 07/01/2010
• Published: 01/06/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stephen Joseph Stemle
• Original Assignee: Stephen Joseph Stemle
• Inventors: STEMLE, STEPHEN JOSEPH
• Granted Patent: US 8,579,734 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/456
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0046 Mechanical means for locating the point of impact or entry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2069/0006 for pitching
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2214/00 Training methods
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 63/007 Target zones without opening defined on a substantially horizontal surface
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0002 for baseball

Abstract

The present application is directed to a throwing target. The throwing target comprises a baseball strike zone, one or more target zones located in the strike zone and one or more target zones located around the strike zone. The throwing target also comprises one or more non-target zones located in the strike zone. The total surface area of the target zones located around the strike zone is greater than the total surface area of the target zones located within the strike zone.

Claims

1. A throwing target comprising:

a baseball strike zone;

one or more target zones located in the strike zone and one or more target zones located around the strike zone; and

one or more non-target zones located in the strike zone;

wherein the total surface area of the target zones located around the strike zone is greater than the total surface area of the target zones located within the strike zone.

2. The throwing target of claim 1 further including a non-target zone located in the upper half and middle third of the strike zone.

3. The throwing target of claim 2, wherein the non-target zone comprises up to about 30.0 percent of the total surface area of the strike zone.

4. The throwing target of claim 1 further including a target zone adjacent the bottom side of the strike zone having a height about equal to the outer diameter of the ball being used in conjunction with the throwing target.

5. The throwing target of claim 1, wherein the outermost target zones are irregularly shaped.

6. The throwing target of claim 1, wherein three sides of the strike zone are bordered by target zones and the fourth side of the strike zone is bordered by a non-target zone.

7. The throwing target of claim 6, wherein the non-target zone determines the upper border of the throwing target.

8. The throwing target of claim 1, wherein the width of the throwing target along the bottom most border is greater in distance than the height of the throwing target.

9. The throwing target of claim 1, wherein each of the outer most target zones include a protruding section.

10. The throwing target of claim 1, wherein the outer most target zones taper out toward their bottommost edges.

11. The throwing target of claim 1, wherein target zones located within the strike zone are separated by one or more non-target zones.

12. A method of training the management of a baseball strike zone while performing the act of pitching comprising:

providing a throwing target comprising (1) a baseball strike zone, (2) one or more target zones located in the strike zone and one or more target zones located around the strike zone; and

(3) one or more non-target zones located in the strike zone;

wherein the total surface area of the target zones located around the strike zone is greater than the total surface area of the target zones located within the strike zone; and

throwing a particular type of pitch toward a particular zone in an attempt to contact a particular zone with the thrown ball.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising providing an individual using the throwing target with a particular game scenario including a particular pitch count, a particular game situation, and particular batter to determine a particular pitch to be thrown toward the throwing target.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising determining which target zone to locate the particular pitch.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising determining which target zone to direct the particular pitch toward upon release of the ball from the individual'"'"'s hand.

16. The method of claim 12, further comprising throwing a particular pitch or pitches toward target zones within the strike zone prior to delivering a particular pitch or pitches to target zones located around the strike zone.

17. The method of claim 12, further comprising throwing a particular pitch toward a target zone located on the arm side of the throwing target and around the strike zone followed by throwing a particular pitch toward a target zone located on the opposite arm side of the throwing target and within the strike zone.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein particular types of pitches are selected from the group consisting of fastball pitches and off-speed pitches.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the individual'"'"'s arm motion is substantially similar when throwing fastball pitches and off-speed pitches toward the throwing target.

20. A system for training the management of a baseball strike zone while performing the act of pitching comprising:

a baseball home plate;

a pitchers mound set apart from the home plate; and

a pitcher'"'"'s throwing target comprising (1) a baseball strike zone, (2) one or more target zones in the strike zone and one or more target zones around the strike zone; and

(3) one or more non-target zones in the strike zone;

wherein the total surface area of the target zones around the strike zone is greater than the total surface area of the target zones within the strike zone, the throwing target being disposed along a target surface;

wherein the target surface is situated on an opposing side of the home plate apart from the pitchers mound, the throwing target facing the pitchers mound.