Basketball Training Device

Abstract

A basketball training device is configured to be mounted on a regulation basketball hoop and provide shot guides for aiming shots in practice.

1 . A basketball training device, comprising:
 a support configured to be removably attached to a basketball hoop, the support including a plurality of shot guides placed so that at least one is visible to a person attempting to shoot a basketball into the basketball hoop.   
     
     
         2 . The basketball training device of  claim 1 , wherein the support is constructed from a material selected from the group consisting of high-density polyethylene (HDPE), polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), nylon, polycarbonate, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), aluminum, steel, tin, copper, brass, and alloys thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The basketball training device of  claim 1 , wherein the support is configured to be attached to the hoop by hooks that hang from a rim. 
     
     
         4 . The basketball training device of  claim 1 , wherein the shot guides are painted on the support. 
     
     
         5 . The basketball training device of  claim 1 , wherein the shot guides are integral with the support. 
     
     
         6 . The basketball training device of  claim 1 , wherein the shot guides include lights. 
     
     
         7 . The basketball training device of  claim 1 , wherein the shot guides include retroreflectors. 
     
     
         8 . The basketball training device of  claim 1 , further comprising a sensor configured to detect a basketball passing through the hoop. 
     
     
         9 . The basketball training device of  claim 8 , wherein the shot guides are responsive to the sensor. 
     
     
         10 . A basketball hoop for training a basketball shooter, comprising:
 a rim including shot guides placed around the rim, wherein at least one shot guide is placed to be visible to a person attempting to shoot a basketball into the hoop.   
     
     
         11 . The basketball hoop of  claim 10 , wherein the shot guides include retroreflectors. 
     
     
         12 . The basketball hoop of  claim 10 , wherein the shot guides include lights. 
     
     
         13 . A method of training a basketball shooter, comprising:
 providing shot guides on a rim of a basketball hoop, and   having the basketball shooter practice shooting at the shot guides.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising gradually making the shot guides less visible to the basketball shooter. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising making the shot guides responsive to whether a basketball passes through the rim. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising making the shot guides responsive to where the basketball passes through the rim. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the shot guides include lights.