Tennis ball machines are ball-throwing devices that allow a person to practice tennis strokes or a group to practice or drill, with or without an instructor. Ball machines use different methods to project balls and come with different features designed to add variety, realism and convenience to a practice session. Used properly, ball machines can help you improve your game against a live opponent.
Ball Projection
Ball machines send balls via air compression or rotating wheels. In compressed-air machines, ball are fed from a holding area into a pneumatic tube, blocking the air. When the air pressure builds to a strong enough point, the ball is forced out of the tube toward the player. Machines with rotating wheels feed balls between two wheels that squeeze the ball between them, making them shoot toward the player.
Ball Spin
Both types of ball machines put spin on a tennis ball to add variety and realism to practices. Pneumatic tube machines use a an adapter inside the tube against which one side of the ball brushes, creating either a backward spin (to simulate slice) or a forward spin (to simulate topspin). In rotating wheel ball machines, the wheels are set one on top of the other (instead of side by side), with one wheel spinning faster than the other to create slice or topspin.
Ball Wear
Because the ball is compressed against the hard rubber wheels in rotating wheel ball machines, balls wear out faster when used in this type of machine instead of a pneumatic tube machine.
Power
Most ball machines are powered by an electric current (plug in) or batteries.
Portability
Machines are usually large enough that they are not suited for auto transportation, although most come with wheels that allow them to move from a tennis pro shop, storage shed or garage with ease. Truly portable models are generally battery operated.
Programmability
Expensive ball machines can be programmed to vary ball placement, spin, depth, trajectory and speed. Some machines have a panel built into or hung on the side into which ball projection patterns are programmed. Others have wireless remotes that allow the player to turn the machine on and off from the opposite side of the net. This helps players avoid having to run across the court after the machine is started while several balls are shot to no effect, or it lets coaches stop and start lessons and drills.
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