Practice hitting tee

Abstract

A practice hitting tee has a support structure and a ball holder. The support structure has a base end and a distal end. The ball holder has sidewall, a first end, a second end, and a longitudinal axis. The ball holder may be formed of a flexible material and configured in a way that the second end has a ball receiving opening and the sidewall has at least one slit extending from the second end toward the first end. The ball holder is connected to the distal end of the support structure in a way that the second end of the ball holder extends downwardly away from the distal end of the support structure with the longitudinal axis at an angle greater than 0° but less than 40° relative to vertical when the base end of the support structure is positioned on a horizontal support surface and frictionally grips a ball having a porous cover when at least a portion of the ball is positioned in the ball receiving opening.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A practice hitting tee, comprising:
 a support structure having a base end and a distal end; and   a ball holder having sidewall, a first end, a second end opposite the first end, and a longitudinal axis extending from the first end to the second end, the ball holder formed of a flexible material and configured in a way that the second end has a ball receiving opening and the sidewall has at least one slit extending from the second end toward the first end, the ball holder connected to the distal end of the support structure in a way that the second end of the ball holder extends downwardly away from the distal end of the support structure with the longitudinal axis at an angle greater than 0° but less than 40° relative to vertical when the base end of the support structure is positioned on a horizontal support surface,   wherein the ball holder frictionally grips a ball having a porous cover when at least a portion of the ball is positioned in the ball receiving opening.   
     
     
         2 . The practice hitting tee of  claim 1 , wherein the angle of the longitudinal axis of the ball holder is fixed. 
     
     
         3 . The practice hitting tee of  claim 1 , wherein the angle of the longitudinal axis of the ball holder is adjustable. 
     
     
         4 . The practice hitting tee of  claim 1 , wherein the ball holder extends downwardly away from the distal end of the support structure with the longitudinal axis at an angle greater than about 20° but less than about 30° relative to vertical when the base end of the support structure is positioned on a horizontal support surface. 
     
     
         5 . The practice hitting tee of  claim 4 , wherein the angle of the longitudinal axis of the ball holder is fixed. 
     
     
         6 . The practice hitting tee of  claim 4 , wherein the angle of the longitudinal axis of the ball holder is adjustable. 
     
     
         7 . The practice hitting tee of  claim 1 , wherein the support structure has a generally inverted J-shape when the base end is positioned on a horizontal support surface. 
     
     
         8 . The practice hitting tee of  claim 7 , wherein the support structure is rigid between base end and the distal end. 
     
     
         9 . A practice hitting tee in combination with a ball having a porous cover, the practice hitting tee comprising:
 a support structure having a base end and a distal end; and   a ball holder having sidewall, a first end, a second end opposite the first end, and a longitudinal axis extending from the first end to the second end, the ball holder formed of a flexible material and configured in a way that the second end has a ball receiving opening and the sidewall has at least one slit extending from the second end toward the first end, the ball holder connected to the distal end of the support structure in a way that the second end of the ball holder extends downwardly away from the distal end of the support structure with the longitudinal axis at an angle greater than 0° but less than 40° relative to vertical when the base end of the support structure is positioned on a horizontal support surface,   wherein the ball is frictionally gripped by the ball holder with a portion of the ball extending downwardly from the ball holder.   
     
     
         10 . The combination of  claim 9 , wherein the angle of the longitudinal axis of the ball holder is fixed. 
     
     
         11 . The combination of  claim 9 , wherein the angle of the longitudinal axis of the ball holder is adjustable. 
     
     
         12 . The combination of  claim 9 , wherein the ball holder extends downwardly away from the distal end of the support structure with the longitudinal axis at an angle greater than about 20° but less than about 30° relative to vertical when the base end of the support structure is positioned on a horizontal support surface. 
     
     
         13 . The combination of  claim 12 , wherein the angle of the longitudinal axis of the ball holder is fixed. 
     
     
         14 . The combination of  claim 12 , wherein the angle of the longitudinal axis of the ball holder is adjustable. 
     
     
         15 . The combination of  claim 9 , wherein the support structure has a generally inverted J-shape when the base end is positioned on a horizontal support surface. 
     
     
         16 . The combination of  claim 15 , wherein the support structure is rigid between base end and the distal end. 
     
     
         17 . A method of supporting a ball, comprising:
 obtaining a ball holder having sidewall, a first end, and a second end opposite the first end, the ball holder formed of a flexible material and configured in a way that the second end has a ball receiving opening and the sidewall has at least one slit extending from the second end toward the first end;   supporting the ball holder in a way that the second end of the ball holder extends downwardly away from the distal end of the support structure with the longitudinal axis at an angle greater than 0° but less than 40° relative to vertical when the base end of the support structure is positioned on a horizontal support surface; and   positioning the ball into the ball receiving opening so that the ball is frictionally gripped by the ball holder with a portion of the ball extending downwardly from the ball holder.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising obscuring an upper portion of the ball from view. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the step of supporting the ball holder further comprises:
 positioning a support structure on a horizontal support surface, the support structure having a base end and a distal end; and   connecting the first end of the ball holder to the distal end of the support structure.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the step of supporting the ball holder further comprises:
 adjusting the angle of the vertical axis of the ball holder relative to vertical.