A sports ball comprising a transparent outer wall surrounding a hollow cavity and defining a geometric center, and a central core object suspended at the geometric center of the hollow cavity. The ball may have the shape of a sphere having a center point, with the central core object suspended at the center point of the sphere. In other cases, the ball may be oblong or ellipsoid, with the central core object suspended at the center points of the respective major and minor axes of the ellipsoid. The transparent outer wall of the ball may be elastically deformable, and may be comprised of a transparent inflatable bladder contiguous with an inner surface of a transparent outer skin. The transparent outer skin may be comprised of a plurality of outer facets joined together, such as by sewing.

A system and method for playing a pin based game with an impact resistant ball and process of forming an impact resistant ball are provided. The impact resistant ball has an increased resistance to damage caused to a ball by repeated impact with objects such as a game board and game pins thereby decreasing the frequency with which the ball must be replaced. The impact resistant ball also has utility to afford a larger segment of the population the ability to properly grip and throw the impact resistant ball by providing an increased length gripper able to accommodate a greater range of hand sizes. The impact resistant ball has further utility to automatically identify and transmit data including the impact of the ball with the game pins and ball metrics including speed, pressure and weight.

A system and method for playing a pin based game with an impact resistant ball and process of forming an impact resistant ball are provided. The impact resistant ball has an increased resistance to damage caused to a ball by repeated impact with objects such as a game board and game pins thereby decreasing the frequency with which the ball must be replaced. The impact resistant ball also has utility to afford a larger segment of the population the ability to properly grip and throw the impact resistant ball by providing an increased length gripper able to accommodate a greater range of hand sizes. The impact resistant ball has further utility to automatically identify and transmit data including the impact of the ball with the game pins and ball metrics including speed, pressure and weight.

A gravity training ball includes a ball core unit having a predetermined weight specification, a buffer unit covering the ball core unit and made of a material having a shock absorbing effect, and an outer cover unit covering the buffer unit. The ball core unit includes an inner bladder defining a receiving space, and a filler received in the receiving space. The inner bladder has an inflation valve for inflation of air into the receiving space. The buffer unit has a thickness ranging from 2 mm to 30 mm. The ball core unit further includes an inner wrapped yarn layer disposed between the inner bladder and the buffer unit. The outer cover unit includes an outer cover layer covering the buffer unit.

A gravity training ball includes a ball core unit having a predetermined weight specification, a buffer unit covering the ball core unit and made of a material having a shock absorbing effect, and an outer cover unit covering the buffer unit. The ball core unit includes an inner bladder defining a receiving space, and a filler received in the receiving space. The inner bladder has an inflation valve for inflation of air into the receiving space. The buffer unit has a thickness ranging from 2 mm to 30 mm. The ball core unit further includes an inner wrapped yarn layer disposed between the inner bladder and the buffer unit. The outer cover unit includes an outer cover layer covering the buffer unit.

A ball retrieving apparatus used by a player for independently practicing the skills of throwing and catching an American style football. The football contains a modified rubber bladder of reduced size, enabling the ball to achieve a proper and consistent bounce due to the ball's flexible ends. The apparatus comprises a regulation style football pivotally and detachably communing with an elastic shock cord including swivels. The cord is anchored to a band worn on the player's wrist. When the ball is thrown in a forward direction, the cord stretches forward. When the cord reaches its maximum forward displacement, the ball snaps back, bouncing one time as it flies back toward the player. Because of the modified bladder, the ball returns in the air so that after one hop it may be caught by the thrower. The consistent bounce allows the player to independently throw and catch the ball numerous times in rapid succession.

An American-style football may include a prolate spheroidal shaped bladder having a longitudinal axis, an outermost layer about the bladder, a lacing surface featuring a series of parallel projections from an exterior of the outermost layer and an intermediate sandwiched between the bladder and the outermost layer, wherein the intermediate layer is configured to decrease a MOI of the football.

An American-style football may include a prolate spheroidal shaped bladder having a longitudinal axis, an outermost layer about the bladder, a lacing surface featuring a series of parallel projections from an exterior of the outermost layer and an intermediate sandwiched between the bladder and the outermost layer, wherein the intermediate layer is configured to decrease a MOI of the football.

A sports ball includes sensing electronics embedded therein. The electronics are supported on an inner surface of the wall of the ball within an elastomeric boot that extends inwardly toward the center of the ball. The elastomeric boot is configured to protect the electronics from damage due to shock as the ball is used, and to have little if any effect on the performance characteristics of the ball.

A sports ball includes sensing electronics embedded therein. The electronics are supported on an inner surface of the wall of the ball within an elastomeric boot that extends inwardly toward the center of the ball. The elastomeric boot is configured to protect the electronics from damage due to shock as the ball is used, and to have little if any effect on the performance characteristics of the ball.