Instructional baseball

Abstract

An instructional ball having an inner core, an outer core is an ellipsoid, and an outer cover. The instructional ball has an ellipsoid shape, a longitudinal axis, and a generally circular transverse cross-section along a transverse axis.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for using an instructional ball to perform a gyroball pitch comprising the steps of:
 gripping the instructional ball, the instructional ball having a non-circular cross-section in plane with a longitudinal axis and a circular cross-section perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, a maximum cross-section of the circular cross-section being substantially equal to a maximum cross-section of a baseball; and   throwing the instructional ball thereby causing the instructional ball to rotate about the longitudinal axis.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the instructional ball is an ellipsoid. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the instructional ball includes a core enclosed within a cover. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the core encompasses an entirety of an inner volume of the instructional ball. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the instructional ball has an inner core and an outer core, the inner core being comprised of cork and the outer core being comprised of a material that resists abrasion. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the material that resists abrasion is rubber. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein a circumference of the instructional ball in plane with the longitudinal axis is between about 8.5 inches and about 9.5 inches. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the circumference of the instructional ball in plane with the longitudinal axis is between about 9 inches and about 9.25 inches. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the instructional baseball is comprised of materials having densities greater than that of materials used to form a baseball. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the throwing step occurs repeatedly to minimize wobble of the instruction ball about the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         11 . A method for making an instructional ball comprising the steps of:
 wrapping a cover about a core, the cover having an ellipsoid shape with a major diameter along a longitudinal axis and a minor diameter perpendicular to the longitudinal axis; and   stitching the cover together to form an ellipsoid instructional ball, the stitching resembling stitching of a baseball, the stitching being substantially located about the core.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the cover is comprised of two pieces. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the cover is comprised of a material including leather, cowhide, horsehide, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the stitching step involves rolled stitching. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the wrapping step includes wrapping the cover about the core so the core is commensurate with an internal surface of the cover. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the core includes an inner core and an outer core. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the inner and outer cores are comprised of a material including cork, rubber, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the material that makes up the inner and outer cores is layered. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising the step of:
 wrapping materials including yarn, twine, wool, or a combination thereof about the inner core. 
 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising the step of:
 shaping the instructional ball by injection molding.