A Swing Training Practice Club

Abstract

A practice club for practicing a sport is described, the practice club including a club shaft; an extendible bump assembly including a stopper movable between a rest position in which it rests against a mounting stop, and an extended position in which the stopper extends a selected distance from the stop. There is also described a sports club or bat with a tension indicator disposed on a shaft of the practice club or bat to indicate tension of an inextensible stringer or resilient element in or on the practice club or bat.

1 . A practice club or bat for practicing a sport, the practice club including:
 a club shaft including a handle end and a distal end;   an extendable head assembly including a resilient extensible connector, a tensioner for to place the resilient extensible connector under a selected among of tension, and a head,   the head movable in use between a rest position in which it rests against a mounting stop at the distal end, and an extended position during a time the club is being swung, in which the head extends a selected distance from the distal end mounting stop.   
     
     
         2 . The practice club in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the length of the connector is variable to vary the tension of the connector. 
     
     
         3 . The practice club in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the mass of the head is variable to vary the dynamic of the swing. 
     
     
         4 . The practice club in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the connector includes one or more inextensible cord portions. 
     
     
         5 . The practice club in accordance with  claim 1  further including a tension indicator disposed on the club shaft. 
     
     
         6 . The practice club in accordance with  claim 5  wherein the tension indicator includes a window on a club shaft wall to provide a view of the connector. 
     
     
         7 . The practice club in accordance with  claim 5  wherein the connector includes markings thereon to indicate tension to a player. 
     
     
         8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . The practice club in accordance with  claim 2  wherein the tension adjuster tensioner is in the form of a rotatable actuator which is configured to draw the resilient cord around an axle. 
     
     
         10 . The practice club in accordance with  claim 2  wherein the tension adjuster tensioner is in the form of a rotatable actuator which draws a lace around an axle so as to extend or retract the connector. 
     
     
         11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . The practice club in accordance with  claim 2  wherein the tensioner includes a clutch to provide release and engagement positions for the axle relative to the stopper. 
     
     
         13 . The practice club in accordance with  claim 2  wherein the tensioner includes an axle accessible from both ends of the stopper. 
     
     
         14 . The practice club in accordance with  claim 2  wherein the tensioner includes an axle that is configured to be depressed to release the clutch. 
     
     
         15 . The practice club in accordance with  claim 2  wherein the tensioner includes an axle that extends transversely to the club shaft. 
     
     
         16 . The practice club in accordance with  claim 2  wherein the tensioner includes a clutch that includes a ratchet to control the release of the tension in the cord. 
     
     
         17 . The practice club in accordance with claim  2  wherein the tensioner may include a biasing element to provide fail safe locking position for the clutch. 
     
     
         18 . The practice dub in accordance with  claim 1  wherein a mounting stop is provided, in the form of flange or a cup for receiving the head, and the mounting stop is a shape cooperating with the head or stopper shape to receive the stopper on a broad surface area. 
     
     
         19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . The practice club in accordance with  claim 1  including a joint to tilt the mounting stop to an angle transverse to the club shaft. 
     
     
         21 . The practice club in accordance with  claim 2  wherein the mass of the stopper is varied by providing mass receivers on or in the stopper. 
     
     
         22 . The practice dub in accordance with  claim 21  wherein the stopper is hollow and includes an access port to receive weights inside. 
     
     
         23 . A sports club or bat with a tension indicator disposed on a shaft of the practice club or bat to indicate tension of an inextensible stringer or resilient element in or on the practice club or bat. 
     
     
         24 - 28 . (canceled)