A game ball configured for organized, competitive play and having a total mass. The game ball includes an inflatable bladder, a layer of reinforcing material surrounding the bladder, an elastomeric layer surrounding the bladder, and a plurality of cover panels positioned over the layer of reinforcing material and the elastomeric layer. The bladder has a bladder mass that is greater than 25 percent of the total mass. The elastomeric layer and the layer of reinforcing material have a collective mass that is less than 55 percent of the total mass. The game ball is formed without one or more of electronics, batteries and charging coils.

One or more aspects of the present disclosure are directed to bladders that incorporate a multi-layer optical film that impart a structural color to the bladder. The present disclosure is also directed to articles including the bladders having a multi-layer optical film, and methods for making articles and bladders having a multi-layer optical film.

A sports ball is provided and may include an interior bladder and a cover disposed about the interior bladder. The cover may comprise a plurality of adjoining panels. The cover may further define an exterior surface comprising a plurality of plateau sections and a plurality of indentations extending radially inward from the exterior surface. The plurality of indentations may include a plurality of peripheral channels or seams and a plurality of interior channels. Each seam has a seam length and the plurality of seams has a first aggregate deboss length. Each interior channel has a channel length and the plurality of interior channels has a second aggregate deboss length. Collectively, the seams and interior channels have an aggregate feature length, which is defined as a sum of the first aggregate deboss length and the second aggregate deboss length. The aggregate feature length is greater than 800 centimeters.

A sports ball is provided and may include an interior bladder and a cover disposed about the interior bladder. The cover may comprise a plurality of adjoining panels. The cover may further define an exterior surface comprising a plurality of plateau sections and a plurality of indentations extending radially inward from the exterior surface. The plurality of indentations may include a plurality of peripheral channels or seams and a plurality of interior channels. Each seam has a seam length and the plurality of seams has a first aggregate deboss length. Each interior channel has a channel length and the plurality of interior channels has a second aggregate deboss length. Collectively, the seams and interior channels have an aggregate feature length, which is defined as a sum of the first aggregate deboss length and the second aggregate deboss length. The aggregate feature length is greater than 800 centimeters.

One or more aspects of the present disclosure are directed to bladders that incorporate a multi-layer optical film that impart a structural color to the bladder. The present disclosure is also directed to articles including the bladders having a multi-layer optical film, and methods for making articles and bladders having a multi-layer optical film.

One or more aspects of the present disclosure are directed to bladders that incorporate a multi-layer optical film that impart a structural color to the bladder. The present disclosure is also directed to articles including the bladders having a multi-layer optical film, and methods for making articles and bladders having a multi-layer optical film.

A ball body is covered by a plurality of skin members formed integrally of a soft material comprised of resin or rubber as a shaped structure having a front wall portion, a circumferential wall portion and a recess portion altogether. In the recess portion, between the ball body and each skin member, there is formed a hollow portion surrounded by the ball body and the respective skin member and separating the ball body and the front wall portion from each other. As a cushion portion and an air present portion are coexistent in each hollow portion, when a person grips a ball, the cushion portion is collapsed to increase the area of contact between the outer face of the ball and the pulp(s) of the finger(s), thus facilitating the person's gripping of the ball. The readily grippable state of the ball can be maintained for a long period of time.

A ball body is covered by a plurality of skin members formed integrally of a soft material comprised of resin or rubber as a shaped structure having a front wall portion, a circumferential wall portion and a recess portion altogether. In the recess portion, between the ball body and each skin member, there is formed a hollow portion surrounded by the ball body and the respective skin member and separating the ball body and the front wall portion from each other. As a cushion portion and an air present portion are coexistent in each hollow portion, when a person grips a ball, the cushion portion is collapsed to increase the area of contact between the outer face of the ball and the pulp(s) of the finger(s), thus facilitating the person's gripping of the ball. The readily grippable state of the ball can be maintained for a long period of time.

An American-style football configured for direct contact with a user's hands. The football includes an inflatable prolate spheroidal shaped bladder, at least first, second, third and fourth cover panels collectively positioned over the bladder, and a lacing coupled to the first and fourth cover panels. The cover panels are formed of a natural leather and include a pebbled texture. Each of the first, second, third and fourth cover panels have an outer surface that defines cover panel outer surface areas. At least one of the cover panels includes a prep gauge portion and a non-prep gauge portion. The prep gauge portion extends over at least 5 percent, and less than 80 percent, of the outer surface area of the at least one of the cover panels. The non-prep gauge portion has a first color and the prep gauge portion has a second color that is darker than the first color.

An American-style football configured for direct contact with a user's hands. The football includes an inflatable prolate spheroidal shaped bladder, at least first, second, third and fourth cover panels collectively positioned over the bladder, and a lacing coupled to the first and fourth cover panels. The cover panels are formed of a natural leather and include a pebbled texture. Each of the first, second, third and fourth cover panels have an outer surface that defines cover panel outer surface areas. At least one of the cover panels includes a prep gauge portion and a non-prep gauge portion. The prep gauge portion extends over at least 5 percent, and less than 80 percent, of the outer surface area of the at least one of the cover panels. The non-prep gauge portion has a first color and the prep gauge portion has a second color that is darker than the first color.