Baseball and softball training device for improved spin rate and efficiency

Abstract

A ball (e.g., baseball or softball) training device features a ball and at least one weight positioned along either a first axis or second axis of the ball. Use of the ball training device improves both spin rates and spin efficiency for pitchers by providing proprioceptive feedback about the break of the ball as it is released from the hand.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A ball training device for pitchers, comprising:
 a ball; and   at least one weight inside the ball extending along an axis, the weight configured to spin longitudinally when the ball training device is thrown by a pitcher.   
     
     
         2 . The ball training device of  claim 1 , wherein the ball comprises a first ball portion configured to couple to a second ball portion. 
     
     
         3 . The ball training device of  claim 2 , wherein the first ball portion comprises a first weight aperture. 
     
     
         4 . The ball training device of  claim 3 , wherein the second ball portion comprises a second weight aperture. 
     
     
         5 . The ball training device of  claim 2 , wherein the first ball portion comprises a lip configured to mate with a groove in the second ball portion. 
     
     
         6 . The ball training device of  claim 4 , wherein the first ball portion comprises a lip configured to mate with a groove in the second ball portion. 
     
     
         7 . The ball training device of  claim 6 , wherein the first and second ball portions each comprise a hollow portion to offset the weight of the weight, the ball training device having a regulation weight. 
     
     
         8 . The ball training device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one weight is removably couplable to the ball. 
     
     
         9 . The ball training device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one weight comprises a first weight and a second weight positioned at opposite ends of an axis. 
     
     
         10 . The ball training device of  claim 9 , wherein the first and second weights are removably couplable to the ball. 
     
     
         11 . A ball training device for pitchers, comprising:
 a first ball portion comprising a lip;   a second ball portion comprising a groove;   wherein the lip of the first ball portion is configured to mate with the groove of the second ball portion;   the first ball portion further comprising a first weight aperture;   the second ball portion further comprising a second weight aperture;   a weight configured to be received within the first and second weight apertures when the lip and groove are mated.   
     
     
         12 . The ball training device of  claim 11 , wherein the first ball portion and second ball portion each comprise a hollow portion. 
     
     
         13 . The ball training device of  claim 11 , wherein the total weight of the ball training device is the regulation weight of a baseball or softball. 
     
     
         14 . The ball training device of  claim 11 , wherein the lip extends from a first mating portion. 
     
     
         15 . The ball training device of  claim 14 , wherein the groove is positioned in a second mating portion. 
     
     
         16 . A method of pitch training using a ball training device, the method comprising:
 throwing a first ball training device comprising a weight on a first spin axis corresponding to a two-seam fastball; and   throwing a second ball training device comprising a weight on a second spin axis corresponding to a four-seam fastball.