Mass-Shifted Training Ball for Visualizing Pitch Spin
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing softball and baseball balls do not provide immediate visual feedback on the axis and rate of rotation, making it difficult for pitchers to adjust their throwing technique for optimal performance.
Innovation Solution
A non-spherical training ball with a shifted center of mass and density gradient, designed to resemble a standard ball in feel and spin, features visual aids to enhance the visualization of spin, and is manufactured via injection molding for precision.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If a standard spherical ball is used, then the ball feels natural when held and thrown, but it does not provide visual feedback on spin axis and rate of rotation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by modifying the spherical ball to include non-spherical features such as raised seams, ridges, or asymmetric surface patterns. These asymmetric elements break the rotational symmetry of a standard ball, creating visible indicators that reveal the spin axis and rate of rotation during flight, thereby providing visual feedback without fundamentally changing the ball's spherical foundation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes color changes or color-coded surface regions on the ball to enhance visual feedback. Different colored zones or color-coded seams allow pitchers to quickly perceive spin characteristics through color contrast and patterns, making the rotation information more visually distinct and easier to interpret during practice
2Loss of information
If visual feedback features are added to the ball, then spin visualization is improved, but the ball's feel and spin characteristics may differ from a standard ball
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by concentrating visual feedback features in specific localized areas of the ball surface rather than uniformly modifying the entire ball. For example, raised seams or ridges are placed only at strategic locations that provide sufficient spin information while leaving the majority of the ball's surface smooth and familiar to the pitcher's grip, thus maintaining comfort and natural feel
3Loss of information
If the ball shape is modified to provide visual feedback, then spin visualization is enabled, but the flight characteristics may become eccentric
Solution Approach 1:
The patent carefully applies asymmetry that is visually significant but aerodynamically neutral. The asymmetric features (seams, ridges, patterns) are designed to be shallow and surface-level rather than deep structural modifications, ensuring they provide visual spin information without creating significant aerodynamic drag differences or causing eccentric flight patterns
Data Source
AI summary
A non-spherical training ball for training a pitcher to throw a ball with proper technique is provided. The training ball has a hollow body having a spherical surface forming a spherical cap having a height greater than the radius of the sphere from which the spherical cap is formed and a substantially planar surface forming the spherical cap plane. Sidewalls form the hollow cavity of the hollow body, the sidewalls have a spherical surface sidewall portion forming the spherical surface of the hollow body and a planar surface sidewall portion forming the substantially planar surface of the hollow body. The sidewall thickness of the planar surface sidewall portion has a thickness greater than the sidewall thickness of the spherical surface sidewall portion.