Split weight bladder football

An American football comprising:

• an inflatable, one-piece bladder formed in a generally elliptical shape and fabricated of an elastomeric material;
• four panels secured together over the bladder, each panel being of a similar, generally oval shape with inturned edges secured together by stitching to form four seams;
• an essentially inextensible liner formed of four liner components, each liner component being of a similar, generally oval shape with inturned edges secured together and to an associated panel by stitching to form four seams, the liner components being located between the panels and the bladder;
• an opening formed centrally along a part of one seam at a location where the panels and liner components are not stitched;
• lacing located along the opening to couple the inturned edges in place of the stitching;
• closure means comprising two patches and a tongue located between the bladder and liner components, the patches being stitched to the liner component and panels on opposite sides of the opening, the tongue being stitched to a liner component and panel and extending to a location between the bladder and patches;
• and
• at least a pair of spaced apart counterweights of an elastomeric material, each of a weight substantially equal to half that of said lacing and closure means and molded to the bladder internally thereof and spaced from the seam of the panels opposite said lacing a predetermined distance so that there is no abatement of punting or kicking efficiency while still allowing a true spiral pass to be thrown.