Sports training device

Abstract

A sports training device having a line, an anchor coupled to a first end of the line, a glove coupled to a second end of the line, and a ball slidably mounted on the line. The anchor is configured to engage with a stationary support surface so as to retain the first end of the line in a stationary position. In use, one user will hold the glove away from the anchor so as to tension the line and then propel the ball along the line toward the opposite end. Another user can then strike the sliding ball with a bat, or other striking implement, and the one user can catch the ball with the glove.

1 . A method of practicing a sport using a line coupled at a first end to an anchor and coupled at a second end to a glove, the line having a ball slidably mounted thereon for movement between the first end and the second end, the method comprising: 
 holding the glove away from the anchor so as to tension the line;    propelling the ball along the line toward the first end; and    catching the ball with the glove after it has been struck with a striking implement and propelled along the line toward the second end.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 embedding the anchor in a stationary support surface so as to secure the anchor to the stationary support surface.    
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising: 
 removing the anchor from the stationary support surface.    
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 uncoupling the glove from the second end of the line.    
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising: 
 reversing the glove and then coupling the glove to the second end of the line.    
     
     
         6 . A sports training device comprising: 
 a line;    an anchor coupled to a first end of said line and having at least one spike;    a glove configured to receive at least a portion of a hand and being coupled to a second end of said line; and    a ball slidably mounted on said line.    
     
     
         7 . The sports training device of  claim 6 , said ball having a conduit passing therethrough.  
     
     
         8 . The sports training device of  claim 6 , further comprising: 
 a releasable connector for releasably retaining said ball on said glove, said releasable connector having a first portion located on said ball and a second portion located on said glove.    
     
     
         9 . The sports training device of  claim 8 , said releasable connector including a hook and loop type connector.  
     
     
         10 . The sports training device of  claim 6 , said glove including a portion for receiving fingers of the hand, a portion for receiving a thumb of the hand, and a web.  
     
     
         11 . The sports training device of  claim 6 , said glove being reversibly configured for use with either a right hand or a left hand of the pitcher.  
     
     
         12 . The sports training device of  claim 6 , further comprising: 
 a coupling mechanism located on a first side of said glove for removably coupling said glove to said second end of said line.    
     
     
         13 . The sports training device of  claim 12 , further comprising another coupling mechanism located on a second side of said glove opposite from said first side.  
     
     
         14 . The sports training device of  claim 6 , in combination with a striking implement.  
     
     
         15 . The sports training device of  claim 14 , said striking implement being a bat.  
     
     
         16 . A sports training device comprising: 
 a line having a ball slidably mounted thereon; and    a reversible glove having a first side and a second side located opposite from said first side, said first side including a first coupling mechanism for removably coupling said line to said glove, said second side including a second coupling mechanism for removably coupling said line to said glove.    
     
     
         17 . A sports training device comprising: 
 a line;    a ball slidably mounted on said line;    means for retaining one end of said line in a stationary position;    a reversible glove having a first cavity for receiving at least one finger, a second cavity for receiving a thumb, and a web located between said first cavity and said second cavity, said reversible glove including a first coupling mechanism located on a first side of said glove and a second coupling mechanism located on a second side of said glove, said first and second coupling mechanisms for removably coupling said glove to another end of said line; and    a releasable connector for releasably retaining said ball on said glove.