Abstract A game apparatus particularly adaptable for use in practicing and learning the fundamentals of the game of tennis includes a ball, e.g., a tennis ball, suspended from a cord. The cord is connected at one end of a rigid rod having springs selectively coupled to the other end, and a stabilizing member is coupled to and spaced from the ends of the rod. The rod and stabilizing member are rotatably coupled to a supporting structure. In use, when the suspended ball is truck with a blow, e.g., with a tennis racket, the ball will swing outward in an arc, against the force of a spring and the gravitational force acting on the stabilizer, and then will rapidly and smoothly return to the stroking position as a result of the combined forces of gravity and a spring.
A game apparatus, including a support structure having an elevated horizontally disposed elongated first member connected thereto, said first member being connected to said support structure such that one of its end is fixed and its other end is free, an elongated second member connected intermediate its ends to said first member at a generally right angle thereto and at a selected distance from the ends thereof, an elongated rigid member vertically disposed and rotatably coupled intermediate its ends to the free end of said first member, first and second elongated spring members having one end connected to the upper end of said rigid member and their other ends connected to respective ends of said second member, a stabilizing member connected to said rigid member and rotatably coupled to the free end of said first member, and wherein a ball is suspended from the lower end of said rigid member.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
150 words
A game apparatus, including a support structure having an elevated horizontally disposed elongated first member connected thereto, said first member being connected to said support structure such that one of its end is fixed and its other end is free, an elongated second member connected intermediate its ends to said first member at a generally right angle thereto and at a selected distance from the ends thereof, an elongated rigid member vertically disposed and rotatably coupled intermediate its ends to the free end of said first member, first and second elongated spring members having one end connected to the upper end of said rigid member and their other ends connected to respective ends of said second member, a stabilizing member connected to said rigid member and rotatably coupled to the free end of said first member, and wherein a ball is suspended from the lower end of said rigid member.