Some CFL players noticed subtle changes in the feel of the football at training camps this year.

Others were oblivious and were surprised when informed the league has introduced new balls.

The CFL rolled out a new football this season with harder leather and a slightly larger circumference.

The NFLB次元官网网址檚 Wilson ball B次元官网网址� inscribed with the name B次元官网网址楾he DukeB次元官网网址� in honour of football legend Wellington (Duke) Mara B次元官网网址� was tested by the CFL last year.

The new CFL Wilson ball has the same laces and markings as the previous version, but the leather of The Duke.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 just a nicer leather,B次元官网网址� Calgary Stampeders quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell said.

B次元官网网址淚 think they come out of the box nicer. The biggest thing with the nicer leather is it wears in faster and itB次元官网网址檚 a better hold to it to me. The other ones, when they wore down they really were worn down.B次元官网网址�

Quarterbacks had their hands on the new footballs the most in CFL training camps.

B次元官网网址淚t feels a little more aerodynamic, but itB次元官网网址檚 nothing crazy,B次元官网网址� B.C. Lions quarterback Jon Jennings said.

When the CFL announced the ball overhaul in March, senior director of football operations Ryan Janzen said Wilson believes the leather holds pebble better.

B次元官网网址淥nce I did realize they were the new balls, I kind of compared them next to each other,B次元官网网址� Winnipeg Blue Bombers quarterback Matt Nichols said.

B次元官网网址淚 think they probably have a little bit better grip, at least for the way that I like them.B次元官网网址�

Saskatchewan Roughrider quarterback Brandon Bridge hopes the new ball will be easier to hang on to in wet weather.

B次元官网网址淭he old CFL balls, it was just so hard to even get a grip of,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淭he NFL ball is pretty good whenever it rains.B次元官网网址�

Montreal Alouettes receiver Chris Williams noticed a distinct difference between the feel and size of the old and new editions.

B次元官网网址淵ou can definitely tell itB次元官网网址檚 a little bit harder than the other one,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淎s a receiver, it just makes us focus even more because itB次元官网网址檚 coming and itB次元官网网址檚 going to be hard and youB次元官网网址檇 better catch it for your safety.

B次元官网网址淎 little bigger. For me it helps. I can see it a little bit easier and itB次元官网网址檚 more surface area to catch, easier on the hands and all that. I like it so far.B次元官网网址�

The Canadian ball is inscribed with the name of CFL commissioner Randy Ambrosie. An official CFL ball retails for $135.

Stampeder receiver Marken Michel says he doesnB次元官网网址檛 notice a difference when Mitchell throws to him because he caught NFL balls in off-season training.

Canadian teammate Anthony Parker also said the ball felt the same to him.

B次元官网网址淭o be honest, when Bo is throwing you that ball, they always feel hard,B次元官网网址� Parker said. B次元官网网址淭hey look the same, they feel the same, but apparently the guys not wearing gloves do notice it a little bit.B次元官网网址�

Lions quarterback Travis Lulay was among those in the donB次元官网网址檛-care camp when it came to the new balls.

B次元官网网址淚f you hadnB次元官网网址檛 said anything, I donB次元官网网址檛 think I would know (thereB次元官网网址檚 been a change),B次元官网网址� Lulay said.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e never been one of those guys who are super particular about the balls, and IB次元官网网址檝e tried to train myself that way, because I hate when I get into a game and the ball feels foreign.B次元官网网址�

ItB次元官网网址檚 been the laces, not the leather, thatB次元官网网址檚 forced American quarterbacks to adjust their grip upon arrival in Canada.

B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 a huge difference because the CFL lace is a raised rubber and the NFL lace is very low on the ball,B次元官网网址� explained Calgary quarterback Ricky Stanzi, who was a rookie last season.

B次元官网网址淭he ball at the beginning may feel big in the CFL because the laces are raising your hand on the ball.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址� Bill Beacon in Montreal, Judy Owen in Winnipeg, Darren Steinke in Saskatoon and Lowell Ullrich in Kamloops, B.C., contributed to this story.

Donna Spencer, The Canadian Press