Patent attributes
A softball pitching aid enables one to practice throwing rise balls and drop balls at slower speeds than that required by a standard softball. It comprises a ball with opposing convex surfaces at either end of and disposed about a central axis and a plurality of symmetrical slots protruding into its outer surface and disposed circumferentially along the central axis. The ball is constructed of polyurethane foam or other lightweight material. When thrown correctly, the slots interact with ambient air to cause the ball to rise or drop. The slots and lightweight material allow the ball to rise or drop at lower speeds. The slots further provide guidance for gripping the ball and leverage for increasing its spin rate during flight. The ball further comprises a two-tone coloring scheme that, in conjunction with the symmetrical slots, provides instant visual feedback during flight as to whether it was thrown correctly.
