A baseball and a method of instructing throwing a baseball is disclosed. The baseball has a seam, a first, preferably green, color zone placed on a first side of the ball, a second, preferably yellow color zone placed around a first circumference of the ball, and a third, preferably red, color zone placed on a second side of the ball. A pair of finger placement markings are carried on the first color zone. The baseball player is instructed to engage in a proper throwing motion, and the ball confirms by maintaining visual line of sight with the first color zone throughout, providing feedback of a correct throwing motion in which the ball is drawn. away from the target with the arm and hand placed in a correct position.

A method of forming a pickleball in an additive manufacturing system includes selecting one of a polymer or liquid resin material from which the pickleball is to be additively manufactured. A computer file is provided containing computer readable instructions for the automated additive manufacturing of a computer generated model of the pickleball, the instructions including a definition of the geometric shape of the pickleball divided into a plurality of successively layered cross sectional slices. A 3D printer executes the instructions to initiate an automated additive manufacturing of a physical pickleball from the selected polymer, corresponding to the design of the computer generated model. The 3D printer creates solid cross sections of the pickleball in the selected material that are progressively and integrally bonded together and correspond to the successively layered cross sectional slices of the pickleball design, to form a complete pickleball.

A high-elastic degradable pickleball is made from raw materials such as polylactic acid, polypropylene carbonate elastomer, and nanosilica, the pickleball prepared by the invention uses polylactic acid and polypropylene carbonate elastomer as basic raw materials, which can be completely biodegraded in nature, is environmentally friendly, pollution-free, and has both strength and toughness: it can withstand 2,000 beats without cracking or stretching; it has good resilience and moderate elasticity, when dropped from 1 m, its rebound height is no more than 40 or 45 centimeters.

A pickleball apparatus is disclosed, wherein the pickleball apparatus comprises a spherical body and a plurality of holes defined therethrough. The plurality of holes may be defined through the spherical body from an exterior surface of the spherical body to an interior surface of the spherical body. Each of the plurality of holes may be countersunk to the exterior surface to form an outer ring and an inner ring. Each of the plurality of holes may taper from the outer ring to the inner ring such that the inner ring has a diameter that is less than a diameter of the outer ring, the outer ring is coterminous with the exterior surface of the spherical body, and the inner ring has an inset depth relative to the exterior surface of the spherical body.

A pickleball apparatus is disclosed, wherein the pickleball apparatus comprises a spherical body and a plurality of holes defined therethrough. The plurality of holes may be defined through the spherical body from an exterior surface of the spherical body to an interior surface of the spherical body. Each of the plurality of holes may be countersunk to the exterior surface to form an outer ring and an inner ring. Each of the plurality of holes may taper from the outer ring to the inner ring such that the inner ring has a diameter that is less than a diameter of the outer ring, the outer ring is coterminous with the exterior surface of the spherical body, and the inner ring has an inset depth relative to the exterior surface of the spherical body.

The ball is a thin-walled hollow sphere that includes an array of apertures with dimples in a pattern that are concentric to the aperture array. Dimples are provided on the exterior surface of the ball between the apertures with the pattern and dimensions of the dimples varying based on proximity to the apertures. Internal protuberances are provided on the interior surface of the hollow ball such that the interior surface also manages aerodynamic airflow through the ball. Channels are also provided around each of the apertures within the ball which may intersect proximate dimples or be spaced therefrom. The ball also includes apertures having converging and diverging sidewalls that form a venturi shape to increase inflow air into the apertures and outflow air out of the apertures. Finally, the ball also maintains a weight:diameter ratio within a fixed range.

A ball is configured for use in racket and paddle sport games. These configurations include a material composition that is sensitive to mechanical force. This composition may change colors in response to a crack or other defect in the surface of the ball. In one implementation, the ball may have a thin, peripheral wall that encloses a hollow interior. This ball may find use in pickleball and, thus, meets the requirements and parameters for use in the sport.

A pickleball apparatus is disclosed, wherein the pickleball apparatus comprises a spherical body and a plurality of holes defined therethrough. The plurality of holes may be defined through the spherical body from an exterior surface of the spherical body to an interior surface of the spherical body. Each of the plurality of holes may be countersunk to the exterior surface to form an outer ring and an inner ring. Each of the plurality of holes may taper from the outer ring to the inner ring such that the inner ring has a diameter that is less than a diameter of the outer ring, the outer ring is coterminous with the exterior surface of the spherical body, and the inner ring has an inset depth relative to the exterior surface of the spherical body.

A pickleball ball is provided for increasing durability, improving performance, and/or reducing the loudness and/or frequency of sound generated when said ball strikes a paddle. The ball being a hollow ball comprised of a spherical shell defining a hollow cavity. The ball is made of a graphene-infused polymer material and the shell defines a plurality of holes distributed around the surface of the ball.

Methods and apparatus for lowering an actual and perceived-sound level produced by sports equipment are described. In some examples, methods and apparatus to lower sound levels produced by pickleball balls are described. In some examples, internal surface features such as ribs, peaks, tabs, channels, divots, and damping layers may be applied. In some examples, composite layered designs may result in lowered amplitude and/or in shifted resonant frequencies. In some examples, heat or light sources may be used to alter the internal surfaces of ball constructs. In some examples the composite layered design may include isolated surface plates. In some examples, electroactive components may reduce sound emission. Methods of measuring a sound level at frequencies and using the measurement results to iteratively design ball designs are described.