Stripe Marked Baseball and Softball

Abstract

Softballs and baseballs are provided as training devices to train an athlete to throw a ball with control of rotation. The training device consists of a spherical object covered by two smooth coverings stitched together and an ink or dye stripe or marking of any color around the circumference of the sphere. The training device is manufactured with a stripe which is between 0.75 inches in width and 2.00 inches in width. The stripe on the training device runs perpendicular or oblique to the stitching. When thrown, the stripe allows the athlete to visually identify the rotation which he or she has caused. Once acquired, the ability to control the rotation of a ball minimizes the ability or opportunity for an opponent batter to make efficient and efficacious contact with the ball.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A throwing and pitching training device consisting of a spherical object covered by two smooth coverings stitched together and an ink or dye stripe or marking of any color around the circumference of the sphere. 
     
     
         2 . The training device of  claim 1  wherein the stripe is between 0.75 inches in width and 2.00 inches in width. 
     
     
         3 . The training device of  claim 1  wherein the stripe runs perpendicular to the stitching. 
     
     
         4 . The training device of  claim 1  wherein the stripe runs oblique to the stitching. 
     
     
         5 . The training device of  claim 1  as wherein the stripe is between 0.75 inches and 2.00 inches in width and runs either perpendicular or oblique to the stitching. 
     
     
         6 . A training ball used for rotation training, the training ball comprising: a generally spherical ball having an outer surface; a continuous stitching on the outer surface of the ball, said stitching defining a horseshoe-shaped boundary, the stitching connecting coverings of the ball together; the ball including a first hemisphere and a second hemisphere, the first hemisphere and the second hemisphere being separated by a stripe. 
     
     
         7 . The training ball of  claim 6  wherein the stripe is b 0.75 inches in width and 2.00 inches in width. 
     
     
         8 . The training device of  claim 6  wherein the stripe runs perpendicular to the stitching. 
     
     
         9 . The training device of  claim 6  wherein the stripe runs oblique to the stitching. 
     
     
         10 . The training device of  claim 6  as wherein the stripe is between 0.75 inches and 2.00 inches in width and runs either perpendicular or oblique to the stitching.