A sports ball comprising a cover having an outer substrate surface is provided. The cover may include plurality of panels, wherein each panel has a respective panel surface. The panel surfaces of the respective panels collectively comprise the outer substrate surface of the cover. A surface texture is disposed upon and additively applied to the outer substrate surface. The surface texture is disposed on the respective panel surfaces in customizable, panel-specific, predefined panel arrangements. The surface texture defines surface profile that includes an alternating and repeating series of land areas and raised portions, wherein each raised portion is positioned between a plurality of land areas. The raised portions extend from the outer substrate surface and are formed from a dimensional ink, wherein each of the plurality of raised portions has a terminus that is spaced apart from the outer substrate a height of greater than about 0.05 millimeters (mm).

A ball includes a bladder and multi-layer cover. The multi-layer cover includes an outer layer and an intermediate layer between the outer layer and the bladder. The intermediate layer is formed of a plurality of perforated panels. In at least one embodiment, the plurality of perforated panels are foam panels defining an array of apertures. In at least some embodiments, the array of apertures in the intermediate layer are detectable by one or more human senses via the outer layer.

A ball has a lightweight inner bladder and an outer layer that covers the inner bladder. The inner bladder bunches up against the inner surface of the outer layer. The bunched up surface of the inner bladder may be flattened upon impact, thereby absorbing energy. The bunched up inner bladder may create an uneven surface on the outer layer thereby altering the manner through which the ball travels through the air. The outer layer may be provided with lines, indentations, graphics and/or other features that improve the performance of the ball and/or that replicate some or all of the characteristics of the exterior surface of the regulation ball it simulates. The ball may be configured for any of a variety of sports or games.

A luminous ball is provided, including a sphere, at least one covering spliced to wrap the sphere, at least one seam formed on an edge of the covering, a plurality of thread apertures disposed at two sides of the seam, at least one thread penetrating the plurality of thread apertures to stitch the edge of the covering between the two sides of the seam, and a light-emitting device disposed in the sphere. The light-emitting device includes a light-emitting unit, a power unit, and an electrical insulating unit breaking an electrical connection between the light-emitting unit and the power unit. The electrical insulating unit is removable. The electrical connection between the light-emitting unit and the power unit is provided when the electrical insulating unit is removed such that lights emitted by the light-emitting unit penetrate the sphere and are visible through the seam and the thread apertures.

A golf utility device includes upper and lower baseplates and a ball alignment tool. The alignment tool is mechanically coupled with, but rotationally independent of, the upper and lower base plates. The alignment tool includes an upper surface with an arrow. Before putting, a golfer places the golf utility device on the green behind a ball that has been circumscribed with an annular ring, removes the ball, calculates the line of play, and aligns the arrow therewith. The ball is then returned to the green with the annular ring aligned by the arrow on the alignment tool. A golfer subsequently aligns his putt using the alignment of the annular ring. Additional golf tools may be attached to the upper or lower baseplates, including, but not limited to, a ball marker, a divot repair tool, a range finder, a spike wrench, a golf tee, and a fidget/focus device.

A colored golf ball has improved luxurious appearance without impairing its visibility. The colored golf ball of the present invention includes a core; a cover placed around the core having dimples formed on its surface; and a coating layer placed on top of the cover, in which the coating layer includes a polymer matrix having a bright material dispersed therein, and an L.sub.0 value, which represents an L value in the Lab color system of the colored golf ball before being covered with the coating layer, is 25 or less, and the difference L between the L.sub.0 value and an L.sub.1 value, which represents an L value in the Lab color system of the colored golf ball after being covered with the coating layer, is 5 or more.

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 positioning system includes a golf ball and a mobile terminal. The golf ball includes a battery and a transmitter configured to operate with electric power supplied from the battery and transmit a radio signal to outside of the golf ball. The mobile terminal includes a receiver configured to receive the radio signal from the golf ball and a processor configured to measure the position of the mobile terminal, and to measure the position of the golf ball based on the strength of the radio signal received by the receiver at two or more points at which the measured position of the mobile terminal differs.

A golf aid for assisting a user in reading a green includes a user tracking system to determine the location of a user on a golf course, a heads up display, and a processor. The heads up display is configured to be worn on the user's head, and to display an image within a field of view of the user. The processor is in communication with the user tracking system and with the heads up display, and maintains a representation of a topology for each of a plurality of golf greens, receives an indication of the location of the user from the user tracking system, identifies one of the plurality of golf greens that is the closest to the user, and displays a representation of the topology within the field of view of the user via the heads up display.

An object with a tactile outer layer includes, for example, a ball having an outer surface and a series of protrusions or spikes on the outer surface. The protrusion each appear as a tear-dropped shape mass that includes a base having a relatively flat bottom adhered to the outer surface of the ball and a narrow tip and/or curved tail extending away from the outer surface.

Manufacturing can be performed by mounting the object and utilizing injection arms that deposit elastomer globules on the object. The globules are deposited by pressure through a reservoir in the injection arm and the injection arms are then withdrawn to product the tail shape.