Sports training ball with enhanced gripping surface

Abstract

A sports ball, such as a lacrosse ball, comprising, an outer shell layer defining an enclosure having an interior volume for housing a filler material, the outer shell layer comprising a plurality of sections (pads or panels) connected along a plurality of seams, the sections having an outer surface comprising one or more layers of a substantially smooth non-woven synthetic leather, such as a synthetic suede, microfiber, or micro-velour, with an optional surface coating, which produce a frictional resistance (coefficient of friction) which decreases ball slippage against a surface or when released from the strings of a lacrosse stick.

1 .- 33 . (canceled) 
     
     
         34 . A sports ball comprising:
 an outer shell layer defining an enclosure having an interior volume for housing a filler material, the outer shell layer comprising a plurality of sections connected along a plurality of seams, the sections having an outer surface comprising substrate being a leather or a synthetic non-woven synthetic material; and   the filler material.   
     
     
         35 . The sports ball of  claim 34 , wherein the substrate is a suede or velour and comprises a micro-texture. 
     
     
         36 . The sports ball of  claim 34 , wherein the substrate comprises a pattern. 
     
     
         37 . The sports ball of  claim 34 , wherein the substrate comprises a pattern of holes. 
     
     
         38 . The sports ball of  claim 34 , wherein the outer shell layer comprises 2-64 sections. 
     
     
         39 . The sports ball of  claim 38 , wherein the outer shell layer comprises 2-12 sections. 
     
     
         40 . The sports ball of  claim 34 , wherein the sports ball is a regulation size baseball, softball, field hockey ball, handball, jai alai ball, hurling puck, ice hockey puck, roller hockey ball, or street hockey ball. 
     
     
         41 . The sports ball of  claim 34 , wherein the sports ball is a regulation size field hockey ball. 
     
     
         42 . The sports ball of  claim 34 , wherein the sports ball is a regulation size baseball. 
     
     
         43 . The sports ball of  claim 34 , wherein the sports ball is a heavy lacrosse ball weighing about 160 g to about 170 g. 
     
     
         44 . The sports ball of  claim 34 , wherein the sports ball is a mini lacrosse ball having a circumference between about 6.5 inches and about 7.5 inches, and weighing about 100 g to about 130 g. 
     
     
         45 . The sports ball of  claim 34 , wherein the synthetic material comprises a microfiber. 
     
     
         46 . The sports ball of  claim 34 , wherein the synthetic material comprises a polymer selected from the group consisting of polyurethane, polyester, nylon, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), acrylic, polyolefin and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         47 . The sports ball of  claim 34 , further comprising an inner woven or non-woven fabric layer joined on an interior side of the substrate. 
     
     
         48 . The sports ball of  claim 47 , wherein the inner woven or non-woven fabric layer is a material selected from the group consisting of polyurethane, cotton, polyester, nylon, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), acrylic, polyolefin, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         49 . The sports ball of  claim 47 , wherein the inner woven or non-woven fabric layer is a synthetic suede. 
     
     
         50 . The sports ball of  claim 47 , wherein the substrate and the inner woven or non-woven fabric layer are joined by an adhesive. 
     
     
         51 . The sports ball of  claim 34 , wherein the sports ball remains intact after being thrown 10 or more consecutive times against metal plates at speeds of about 50-about 70 mph.