Patent ID: 8632429

Claim:
A basketball, comprising: a plurality of more than eight panels extending longitudinally across the basketball, wherein at least two of the panels converge at a first pole of the basketball and at a second pole of the basketball opposite the first pole; a plurality of seams, wherein a seam separates each panel from an adjacent panel; and a rotational speed cue including separate portions arranged between the first pole and the second pole, wherein the separate portions of the rotational speed cue are provided at locations along the seams and extend beyond outer edges of the seams, wherein each of the separate portions of the rotational speed cue includes a finger positioning portion visually distinct from the rotational speed cue; wherein the separate portions are identical in size and shape, wherein the separate portions are symmetric about an equator of the ball and are arranged equidistant in a line along the equator of the ball, and wherein above a predetermined rotational speed, the separate portions appear to form a single line, and below the predetermined rotational speed, the separate portions are separately distinguishable.