Unevenly weighted sports ball

Abstract

The present invention relates to an unevenly weighted practice ball for sports (e.g., lacrosse) that, when used in training (e.g., in conjunction with a pitch back or rebounder), delivers the ball unpredictably to a player so that the player can improve their catching and reaction skills. Where the total weight of the practice ball is greater than that of a corresponding regulation ball, the player will also be benefitting from strength training.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An unevenly weighted sports ball comprising an elastomeric material and being defined by first and second hemispheres. 
     
     
         2 . The sports ball of  claim 1 , wherein the material in each hemisphere is the same but there is a greater mass of the material in the first hemisphere than in the second hemisphere in at least one orientation of the ball. 
     
     
         3 . The sports ball of  claim 1 , wherein the material in each hemisphere is different, with the overall mass and/or density of the material in the first hemisphere being greater than the overall mass and/or density of the material in the second hemisphere in at least one orientation of the ball. 
     
     
         4 . The sports ball of  claim 1 , wherein the ball comprises an outer shell having a cavity therein and an inner body freely disposed within the cavity. 
     
     
         5 . The sports ball of  claim 1 , wherein the ball further comprises a metal, ceramic, or wood. 
     
     
         6 . The sports ball of  claim 5 , wherein the metal is aluminum, copper, iron, lead, nickel, tin, titanium, or an alloy thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The sports ball of  claim 1 , wherein the elastomeric material is natural or synthetic rubber (polyisoprene), polybutadiene, chloroprene rubber, poly chloroprene, butyl rubber, styrene-butadine rubber, nitrile rubber, ethylene propylene rubber, epichlorohydrin rubber, polyacrylic rubber, silicone rubber, fluorosilicone rubber, fluoroelastomers, perfluorelastomers, polyether block amindes, chlorosulfonated polyethylene, or ethylene-vinyl acetate.