Disclosed herein is a sporting ball with a specific image printed on the sporting ball. The image is generated, selected, or captured by a user, which triggers a process for printing the image onto the ball. Further disclosed are systems and methods for printing and delivering the sporting ball with the image. The image may be an image of the user, a favorite sports athlete, or a celebrity. Certain preferred embodiments utilize a basketball, a soccer ball, or a football. However, alternative embodiments may include any type of sporting ball. The image may be captured by numerous means recognizable by those skilled in the art, including but not limited to a computing device, a cellular phone, a tablet, a web cam, a digital cam, and other traditional non-digital cameras.

A method of manufacturing an article comprises etching an etched feature on a surface of a first polymeric sheet, and forming a fluid-filled bladder element from the first polymeric sheet, with the fluid-filled bladder element having a sealable internal cavity that retains fluid. The method includes assembling the bladder element in the article so that a first portion of the bladder element having the etched feature is exposed to view, and a second portion of the bladder element is blocked from view by the article. An article includes the bladder element with the etched feature.

An exercise ball includes a spherical cage and a sphere. The spherical cage includes two opposite openings. The sphere includes two opposite convex portions formed thereon. The sphere is inserted in the spherical cage. The sphere is inserted in the spherical cage and the convex portions are inserted in the openings to keep the sphere in the spherical cage.

The present invention provides golf balls having a pattern of stellated polygon shaped dimples and grooves with pre-selected and coordinated color appearances on the outer surface of the ball to produce a unique and desirable overall golf ball color appearance.

The present invention relates to two integrated billiard balls for training, which include an image ball and an object ball assembled together by a connecting means and integrated through spherical contact therebetween so that, at the time of billiard training, a trainee can figure out a situation in which the trainee can hit the object ball coupled to the image ball of the training billiard balls, with a predetermined thickness, just by accurately hitting a cue ball while aiming the center of the image ball. Therefore, the present invention enables a trainee to easily practice thickness adjustment of an object ball and thus improve his or her billiard capability.

A baseball pitching training device used to instruct the throwing of a fastball, curveball, and change-up by a right handed pitcher through indicia placement on the baseball cover while maintaining the structural integrity of the baseball. The indicia provide finger alignment to grip the baseball needed to throw the desired pitch used in the sport of baseball. Correct finger alignment allows the baseball to sit in the right hand supported by the thumb, and non grip finger(s) to throw the chosen baseball pitch.

An electronic golf aid system for assisting users with reading greens on golf courses includes a camera that captures images of the user's field of view, and an electronic display device with a display screen that displays captured images. A processor, which communicates with the camera and display device, is programmed to: receive signals from the camera indicative of images of a golf ball and a cup on the green; determine respective locations for the golf ball and cup; determine a perspective view of the topology of the green between the golf ball and cup from the user's point of view; determine, based on the green's topology, a proposed trajectory line from the golf ball's location to the cup's location; and direct the electronic display device to display the proposed trajectory line superimposed on the surface of the green as the green is shown in real-time on the display screen.

A sports ball (10), such as a football (12), has outer panels (14) of leather. The outer panels (14) have embossed pebbles (16) to enhance grip. Each outer panel (14) is formed by embossing the pebbles (16) on a segment (54) forming one or more of the outer panels (14) after the segment (54) has been cut from the unembossed full hide or half hide from which it comes. This provides great advantages in flexibility and consistency of manufacturing in addition to improved performance such as grip and aerodynamics.

A device is provided for receiving projectiles and creating a pattern. The device includes a plurality of hoops arranged in parallel and configured to receive the projectiles. A two-dimensional grid could be providedacross a plurality of channels of the device, or on a display of the devicein order to display the projectiles received by the plurality of hoops. In some examples, projectiles may be received by a plurality of channels, and the pattern is created within the channels and is viewable through apertures across the channels. In other examples, sensors may be used to determine when a projectile has passed through one of the hoops, and indicators may be displayed in corresponding vertical columns of a two-dimensional grid on a display.

A training device for assisting a user in achieving a proper throwing motion of one or more baseball pitch types is provided. The device includes a main body with a central portion and first and second end portions provided on the upper and lower ends of the central portion to define an elongated cylindrical shape. The device can also include a guide strip provided on the exterior surface of the main body and extending vertically along the central portion. The device may by thrown by a user using the same form and mechanics as a traditional baseball and can be used to train proper throwing mechanics by allowing a user to visually identify the rotational axis of the pitch after release. The elongated shape and increased height of the device enables a user to easily identify the rotational axis and make adjustments until proper mechanics are achieved.