A tennis trainer apparatus has a base, a center tube, and an upper structure. The base of the tennis trainer apparatus has a plurality of evenly distributed legs which may have wheels attached for ease of positioning the apparatus in various positions on a tennis court. The center tube is easily adjustable by placing a pin in holes at varying heights. The upper structure has a left arm and a right arm, and each arm has a holding rod attached. A ball with a ball loop is removably attached to the holding rods so that when the ball is struck it can easily travel like a regular tennis ball. The ball loop is attached to the ball through use of a small rod which is inserted into the tennis ball. Ball extenders with at least one and preferably two holding rods attached are used to raise and lower the height of the ball and ball loop, to create any shot in tennis, including a serve. A tennis trainer apparatus can be easily adapted to additional sports.

Systems and methods for tracking a sports ball assembly in real time during a sporting event are disclosed. A structure of the sports ball assembly is also disclosed. The sports ball assembly comprises at least one electronic circuit embedded or attached to a sports ball. The sports ball assembly is in network communication with a server processor via at least two receivers within a sports arena. The sports ball assembly generates and transmits UWB data packets comprising movement-related data for the sports ball assembly in real time at a predetermined rate. The at least two receivers receive the UWB data packets and transmit to the server processor with time stamps. The server processor is operable to determine a movement of the sports ball assembly based on the UWB data packets and the time stamps received from the at least two receivers.

Systems and methods for tracking a sports ball assembly in real time during a sporting event are disclosed. A structure of the sports ball assembly is also disclosed. The sports ball assembly comprises at least one electronic circuit embedded or attached to a sports ball. The sports ball assembly is in network communication with a server processor via at least two receivers within a sports arena. The sports ball assembly generates and transmits UWB data packets comprising movement-related data for the sports ball assembly in real time at a predetermined rate. The at least two receivers receive the UWB data packets and transmit to the server processor with time stamps. The server processor is operable to determine a movement of the sports ball assembly based on the UWB data packets and the time stamps received from the at least two receivers.

A rubber composition for a tennis ball includes a base rubber and a filler having a degree of flatness DL of not less than 50, the degree of flatness DL being obtained by dividing an average particle diameter D.sub.50 (μm) of the filler by an average thickness T (μm) of the filler. An amount of the filler per 100 parts by weight of the base rubber is not less than 1 part by weight and not greater than 150 parts by weight. A gas permeability coefficient GPS and a loss tangent tan δS of the rubber composition and a gas permeability coefficient GPL and a loss tangent tan δL of a rubber composition obtained by replacing the filler with kaolin clay having a degree of flatness DL of 20 satisfy (1): GPL/GPS≥1.02 and (2): |tan δL−tan δS|≤0.03. A tennis ball 2 includes a core 4 formed using the rubber composition.

A rubber composition for a tennis ball includes a base rubber and a filler having a degree of flatness DL of not less than 50, the degree of flatness DL being obtained by dividing an average particle diameter D.sub.50 (μm) of the filler by an average thickness T (μm) of the filler. An amount of the filler per 100 parts by weight of the base rubber is not less than 1 part by weight and not greater than 150 parts by weight. A gas permeability coefficient GPS and a loss tangent tan δS of the rubber composition and a gas permeability coefficient GPL and a loss tangent tan δL of a rubber composition obtained by replacing the filler with kaolin clay having a degree of flatness DL of 20 satisfy (1): GPL/GPS≥1.02 and (2): |tan δL−tan δS|≤0.03. A tennis ball 2 includes a core 4 formed using the rubber composition.

Systems and methods for tracking a sports ball assembly in real time during a sporting event are disclosed. A structure of the sports ball assembly is also disclosed. The sports ball assembly comprises at least one electronic circuit embedded or attached to a sports ball. The sports ball assembly is in network communication with a processor via at least two receivers within a sports arena. The sports ball assembly generates and transmits UWB data packets comprising movement-related data for the sports ball assembly in real time at a predetermined rate. The at least two receivers receive the UWB data packets and transmit to the processor with time stamps. The processor is operable to determine a movement of the sports ball assembly based on the UWB data packets and the time stamps received from the at least two receivers.

Systems and methods for tracking a sports ball assembly in real time during a sporting event are disclosed. A structure of the sports ball assembly is also disclosed. The sports ball assembly comprises at least one electronic circuit embedded or attached to a sports ball. The sports ball assembly is in network communication with a processor via at least two receivers within a sports arena. The sports ball assembly generates and transmits UWB data packets comprising movement-related data for the sports ball assembly in real time at a predetermined rate. The at least two receivers receive the UWB data packets and transmit to the processor with time stamps. The processor is operable to determine a movement of the sports ball assembly based on the UWB data packets and the time stamps received from the at least two receivers.

An illuminable ball device including at least one or more LEDs for illuminating said device, an electrical circuitry for controlling said one or more LEDs, a battery for providing power to said electrical circuitry and energize said one or more LEDs, a first housing including a casing, a second housing, a cavity part within said casing, wherein said cavity part is configured to received said second housing, a cap portion, in which said cap portion is configured to secure over said second housing, and wherein said cap portion and said second housing is attached to said casing part by a low reverse torque closure.

A sports ball comprising a cover disposed about a bladder is provided. The cover comprises an outer substrate and defines an outer substrate surface and a feature surface. The outer substrate surface defines a plurality of plateau sections. The feature surface is radially spaced apart from the outer substrate surface and further defines a plurality of indentations and a plurality of protrusions. Each indentation has an indentation terminus disposed on the feature surface and radially spaced apart from the outer substrate surface by an indentation depth. The protrusions are positioned on the plateau sections, and each protrusion has a protrusion terminus disposed on the feature surface and radially spaced apart from the outer substrate surface by a protrusion height. At least one protrusion is positioned less than a predetermined distance of about 1.0 millimeters from at least one of the indentations, thereby acting as a wickerbill on the ball.

A rubber composition for a hollow ball includes a base rubber and an inorganic filler. A weight reduction rate TGA.sub.650 from room temperature to 650° C. and a weight reduction rate TGA.sub.850 from room temperature to 850° C. of the rubber composition are measured under an air atmosphere by thermogravimetry conforming to JIS K0129. The weight reduction rate TGA.sub.650 of the rubber composition is not less than 63% and not greater than 99%. A difference (TGA.sub.850−TGA.sub.650) between the weight reduction rates TGA.sub.850 and TGA.sub.650 of the rubber composition is not less than 0% and not greater than 7%. A hollow ball 2 includes a hollow core 4 formed from the rubber composition.