My club won't let me bring in a ball machine!

6

6_lotus

Guest
Do you know if this is a common occurrence? Do you think it's OK?

I am just about pulling the trigger on a ball machine, so I went and ask at my club if I could bring one in. Initially, the club owner said why not, but then he consulted the pro who just flat out objected to the ball machine. It's a small 3-court place, not really a club, but it's 5 mn from my place. It's run by a nice family but they have this ageing pro who trains mostly the well-off damsels and kiddos of the neighborhood.

I am a bit peeved, should have I seen this coming? :confused: .
 
PBODY99

PBODY99

Legend
Well the Pro sees this as a threat to his income stream. Some may people come to him just to get balls fed, and don't really try to follow the instruction. I know this has happened in a number of clubs I've belong to in the last 35 years. That is also a reason why many clubs RENT ball machines.:cool:
 
V

Vadn1

New User
A club near my home allows a player to bring his/her own ball machine; however, the club still charges the individual a hourly ball machine rental rate.
 
grimmbomb21

grimmbomb21

Professional
Vadn1 said:
A club near my home allows a player to bring his/her own ball machine; however, the club still charges the individual a hourly ball machine rental rate.
Click to expand...

That's stupid. I also am a new member at a club that doesn't allow you to bring your ball machines.

When I first signed up, the manager said there shouldn't be a problem. However, the head pro said that he provides a ball machine at an hourly rate, and no others were allowed.

I don't know what kind of pro the guy is, but he certainly was a head...:cool:
 
B

Bagumbawalla

G.O.A.T.
Suggestion:

Offer to leave the ball machine there, so the pro can use it also. This way he can have two lessons going at the same time, one warming up with the machine while he works with the other. Stipulate that you will use it during specified times that are convenient to you (when you would be using it, anyway).

Good luck,

B
 
D

Dopke

Semi-Pro
Bagumbawalla said:
Suggestion:

Offer to leave the ball machine there, so the pro can use it also. This way he can have two lessons going at the same time, one warming up with the machine while he works with the other. Stipulate that you will use it during specified times that are convenient to you (when you would be using it, anyway).

Good luck,

B
Click to expand...

If you trust the pro in handling, storing, and taking care of the ball machine- sounds like a good idea. But I'd be wary of doing so if you can't fully trust him. You're pretty much handing over an expensive machine to someone to do whatever they want with it.
 
Nuke

Nuke

Hall of Fame
I don't think leaving your machine for the pro to use is a good idea. The pro will wind up putting more hours on it than you, and when it breaks, you'll be blaming the pro.
 
carpetgrub

carpetgrub

New User
I'm surprised the club doesn't offer a ball machine to begin with. Depending on how much your club dues are those amenities should be provided. I can understand why they won't let you bring one in though, probably a liability issue. If you do pay a boat load and no machine is available I would seriously look to move.
 
M

mctennis

Legend
6_lotus said:
Do you know if this is a common occurrence? Do you think it's OK?

I am just about pulling the trigger on a ball machine, so I went and ask at my club if I could bring one in. Initially, the club owner said why not, but then he consulted the pro who just flat out objected to the ball machine. It's a small 3-court place, not really a club, but it's 5 mn from my place. It's run by a nice family but they have this ageing pro who trains mostly the well-off damsels and kiddos of the neighborhood.

I am a bit peeved, should have I seen this coming? :confused: .
Click to expand...

I'd change clubs. period!!
 
A

andrew_b

Rookie
Some clubs restrict ball machines because of the noise. I consider this reasonable, since it's incredibly annoying to be playin next to a court with a really noisy machine. Some clubs just have bad accoustics.

Also, I understand why a club that rents ball machines wouldn't allow outside ones to be brought into the club. They have invested in them to be rented, and maybe they even selected particular models because of their features (including low noise). My club doesn't allow outside machines for this reason, as well as the hassle it would be getting personal ones in and out of the club, along with the risk of damage and/or injury moving the thing in and out. They have high quality machines and rent them at a reasonable rate.

I would suggest asking the owner/manager if they can explain their reluctance to let you bring it in, maybe if it's the noise thing they'd agree to do it during really slow times. Now, if it's because the pro wants you to rent him to feed you balls, I'd go elsewhere.....

play well,
Andrew
 
Ronaldo

Ronaldo

Bionic Poster
andrew_b said:
Some clubs restrict ball machines because of the noise. I consider this reasonable, since it's incredibly annoying to be playin next to a court with a really noisy machine. Some clubs just have bad accoustics.

Also, I understand why a club that rents ball machines wouldn't allow outside ones to be brought into the club. They have invested in them to be rented, and maybe they even selected particular models because of their features (including low noise). My club doesn't allow outside machines for this reason, as well as the hassle it would be getting personal ones in and out of the club, along with the risk of damage and/or injury moving the thing in and out. They have high quality machines and rent them at a reasonable rate.

I would suggest asking the owner/manager if they can explain their reluctance to let you bring it in, maybe if it's the noise thing they'd agree to do it during really slow times. Now, if it's because the pro wants you to rent him to feed you balls, I'd go elsewhere.....

play well,
Andrew
Click to expand...
Every ball machine at any club I've been a member spent more time down needing repair than in use.
 
varuscelli

varuscelli

Professional
My club says it's OK...

My local fitness center doubles as my tennis club. (They have five outdoor courts and two indoor, so it's small level as far as tennis is concerned.) They used to have a ball machine or two that could be rented at an hourly rate, but not any longer.

I recently asked club management if I could bring in a ball machine, and they said 'no problem.' If I want to use it indoors, I'll have to pay the indoor court fee on a per-hour or per-half-hour basis, just as any other player would. If I want to use it outdoors, all I have to do it reserve court time and use it as far as feasibly possible from other players who might also be present and actually playing understandably). Bottom line is that they have no objection, and a few of their other members bring their own machines in as well, on occasion.
 
varuscelli

varuscelli

Professional
PS to 6_lotus:

Does your small tennis club also have a ball machine that they rent out, such that yours might actually pose a bit of a threat to their own prospective income?

In any case, I'd certainly revisit the issue with the owners and get a concrete reason why they should disallow it. On most levels, I see it as an unreasonable stand (and one they might be talked out of with a little effort).
 
C

CyberInferno

Rookie
grimmbomb21 said:
That's stupid. I also am a new member at a club that doesn't allow you to bring your ball machines.

When I first signed up, the manager said there shouldn't be a problem. However, the head pro said that he provides a ball machine at an hourly rate, and no others were allowed.

I don't know what kind of pro the guy is, but he certainly was a head...:cool:
Click to expand...
It's the same philosophy behind why you can't bring your own pro out to a club. The situation would be different if the club didn't have a ball machine you could rent. Then they're just being snotty. If it's something they offer, they want you to rent it through them.

At the club where I work (and am a member), we have had people try to bring out pros. Every time, a member has brought the issue to our attention.
Ronaldo said:
Every ball machine at any club I've been a member spent more time down needing repair than in use.
Click to expand...
Strange. I've been working here for six months and our ball machine has been down for a week total. Five days when it actually needed repairing, and two days as a result of the extension cord wearing through twice.
 
T

TheDesertFox47

New User
haha thats crazy
my club has ball machines for members to use for free and if ya want to bring one, they don't give a cr*p.
Besides, whos in charge there? the owner or the pro? You go tell the owner to get some bawls and tell the pro that u can use that machine.
 
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