Wyndham Channin Payne
Engineering at Ellen St, Ama, LA

5365427, Nov 15, 1994

Feb 10, 1993

8/016028

Gerard C. Soignet - Thibodaux LA
Wyndham C. Payne - Ama LA

G06F 1544

364410

A system for evaluating the pre-existing free throw ability of the player, evaluating the players shot path, then defining the optimal path of the thrown ball from the point of release of the player to the rim of the target goal, and providing a target area suspended along the optimal path to assist the player in developing his or her ability to emulate the optimal path in adjusting their free throw method. The preferred, exemplary embodiment of the present invention teaches a two dimensional target path or three dimensional target conduit suspended along the defined optimal path of the calculated "perfect" free throw for the evaluated player, the target provided by a laser or series of lasers. The resulting target provides a visual indicator of the optimal path of the ball in free throw, which the user can attempt to emulate during practice, in order to improve and redefine his or her free throw ball path. Through repeated attempts at emulating the optimal path, the player can develop a "muscle memory" of the optimal arc trajectory for the "perfect" free throw, thereby providing a throw path having the highest margin of error, resulting in an improvement in scores.