Are tennis ball machines helpful in developing stroke?

[35ft6]

It's great for learning how to hit the ball. Being fed balls, by a machine or a human, is incredibly helpful. People really should do it more. You get more out of 30 minutes of being fed balls than an hour and a half of hitting with a partner IMO.

The danger is that you try to hit the ball too hard. You should really try to concentrate and work on a rally ball, not hitting winners.

Also, like I said, it's good for learning how to hit but it's not necessarily good at teaching you how to play tennis. You need to play matches and points to learn that.

[Jack & Coke]

Originally Posted by slicefox

how much did you pay for your ball machine? i want one.

I bought a Silent Partner PRO Programmable - it was a 10 hour demo unit for around $1,100.

(these are sample photos from their website)




Here are some videos from the Silent Partner's website:

http://www.sptennis.com/videos/OnCourt200.wmv
http://www.sptennis.com/videos/Ballmach120.wmv

I love my machine, but there are other bands that are just as good too!

I would recommend:

Silent Partner
Tennis Tutor
Lobster
SAM

for affordable, portable, battery operated, personal tennis ball machines.

There are other excellent ball machine bands as well, but they cater to Clubs rentals and are much more expensive, not portable, not battery operated, etc.

I wanted something that was portable, reliable, and can fire balls at me up to 85+ mph if I wanted to.

good luck

[rosenstar]

Originally Posted by Venetian

You can learn proper form all by yourself with the help of a ball machine. I did it with a wall and they suck.

I took lessons from a pro for several months when I was a junior and it only served to hinder my progress. Different people learn in different ways. You may just have to accept the fact that a ball machine is not for you.

I still think that a DEVELOPING player shouldn't be using a ball machine. If you have solid dependable strokes, and you want to practice a certain shot, then go for it. However, often times (I'll admit there are expections, but very few) people using a ball machine feel that they need to get every ball back, and in turn, stop using correct technique in an effort to retrieve every ball the machine spits out. Then they start practicing incorrect technique.

Originally Posted by raiden031

Yes a 3.0/3.5 hitting partner isn't typically a good hitting partner. Playing at a high level requires hundreds or thousands of hours of practice, regardless of how much knowledge they have about the game. A 3.0 can learn alot through reading and playing/practicing but may not have put in the hours yet to play at a higher level. So I disagree with you on that point.

Why do so many people not understand the fact that not everyone is rich! Who the hell can afford $50-75/hour for good instruction?? Certainly not me, at the age of 26 and house poor.

I don't understand this belief that its impossible to improve without lessons. I get compliments all the time as a 3.0 to 3.5 player on my technique, despite it being all self-learned. I recently beat a 4.0 in a lucky match and he thought I had all the shots, just need to get more match experience to compete at that level.

first of all I do understand the fact that not everyone can afford to take lessons, being that I was in that position at one point. but when people were talking about buying a ball machine (which I'm pretty sure is $200+ at least) I assumed they could afford one lesson every week or two. I'm really sorry if I sounded snobby or condesending by saying that, I really didn't intend to.

Also, it really takes incredible athletic talent to train one's self in a sport like tennis where there's so many things going on at once. Think about a forehand for example:

First you need to decide whether you're going to hit off your right foot or your left foot. This depends on both the grip you choose to use and the ball that your opponent hits to you. Next you need to move to the appropriate spot in time to make contact with the ball. then you need to prepare to hit the ball. You clear your left hand out of the way, turn your hips, make contact with the ball in the correct place (depending on how high and how far in front of you you like to take the ball). While making contact with the ball you must make the appropriate adjustments to decide on the spin, pace, depth, arc, and placement of the ball. This happens in a second or two.

If people video tape themselves and compare their video to roger federrer, it's very possible that they could develope solid strokes but still very challenging.

but to watch federrer play, and then just go out and do it? that doesn't happen. Anyone who says that is either an outstanding athlete who has complete and 100% control over every part of their body or has no clue what they're doing. I think most of the people who just watch the pro's and try to play like them really have no clue what they're doing.

I guess all I'm saying is that in order to improve, you really need a second set of eyes. You cannot name one pro who has perfected their technique all by themselves without anyone else's help.

as I said earlier, many people have no idea what they look like when they play, they think they have very smooth strokes when in reality they don't.

That's one of the reasons I'm often times skeptical of how people rate themselves or how good they claim to be.

Finally, I think everyone who's played tennis can agree that reading about it or watching it on tv is completely different from going out there and actually doing it yourself.

[NoBadMojo]

Originally Posted by Jack & Coke

Sorry, but that is a problem with the user and how they choose to utilize the training tool, not the machine.

A ball machine is just a tool. Like all tools, you must first learn how to use it properly to get what you want.

If you wanted an aerobic work out, then you got what you wanted.

If you wanted to develope, refine, groove, your strokes, then you failed you utilize the machine properly. (i.e. operator error)



This thread is about whether or not ball machines are helpful in developing your stroke. Not about the economics of what you are willing to spend in order to train and improve your game.

Are tennis ball machines helpful in developing stroke? yes

Are tennis ball machines the cheapest way to practice? no

I know how to use a ball machine. I'm a 5.0 and have been teaching tennis forever. I think they're better than nothing at all <sometimes>, but definitely in the realm of unecessary to play better tennis, and in many cases, people end up playing worse for the reasons earlier stated. I've seen this quite a few times by giving lessons to people who sspend a lot of time on ball machines and not enough time playing people.

[Oxford]

I got lessons when I started playing. I would take the info from the lessons and ingrain it with my ball machine which I bought from the get-go. It allows me to isolate parts of my stroke and ingrain it.

The debate is a no brainer. Sure you need to hit with a humanoid. But a ball machine will help you improve faster with good coaching. It is simply a tool.

The only thing I find that is that your footwork does not get a good workout with a ball machine and you can get lulled into standing still when you start playing with a person again. But that only lasts a little while. Even with oscillation, you start kinda knowing where the ball will be spit out and start sneaking over there

ox

[raiden031]

Originally Posted by rosenstar

I still think that a DEVELOPING player shouldn't be using a ball machine. If you have solid dependable strokes, and you want to practice a certain shot, then go for it. However, often times (I'll admit there are expections, but very few) people using a ball machine feel that they need to get every ball back, and in turn, stop using correct technique in an effort to retrieve every ball the machine spits out. Then they start practicing incorrect technique.



first of all I do understand the fact that not everyone can afford to take lessons, being that I was in that position at one point. but when people were talking about buying a ball machine (which I'm pretty sure is $200+ at least) I assumed they could afford one lesson every week or two. I'm really sorry if I sounded snobby or condesending by saying that, I really didn't intend to.

Also, it really takes incredible athletic talent to train one's self in a sport like tennis where there's so many things going on at once. Think about a forehand for example:

First you need to decide whether you're going to hit off your right foot or your left foot. This depends on both the grip you choose to use and the ball that your opponent hits to you. Next you need to move to the appropriate spot in time to make contact with the ball. then you need to prepare to hit the ball. You clear your left hand out of the way, turn your hips, make contact with the ball in the correct place (depending on how high and how far in front of you you like to take the ball). While making contact with the ball you must make the appropriate adjustments to decide on the spin, pace, depth, arc, and placement of the ball. This happens in a second or two.

If people video tape themselves and compare their video to roger federrer, it's very possible that they could develope solid strokes but still very challenging.

but to watch federrer play, and then just go out and do it? that doesn't happen. Anyone who says that is either an outstanding athlete who has complete and 100% control over every part of their body or has no clue what they're doing. I think most of the people who just watch the pro's and try to play like them really have no clue what they're doing.

I guess all I'm saying is that in order to improve, you really need a second set of eyes. You cannot name one pro who has perfected their technique all by themselves without anyone else's help.

as I said earlier, many people have no idea what they look like when they play, they think they have very smooth strokes when in reality they don't.

That's one of the reasons I'm often times skeptical of how people rate themselves or how good they claim to be.

Finally, I think everyone who's played tennis can agree that reading about it or watching it on tv is completely different from going out there and actually doing it yourself.

I didn't think you sounded condescending, but I think too many people on this board are under the assumption that regular lessons are feasible by the people asking questions on this board, when often they are not because they are expensive. If you take one lesson a week at $50/hour, then its at least $200/month, which is alot for some like myself. Alot of clubs rent out ball machines as cheap as $10/hour like my club. I only use mine probably twice a month.

Anyways, I agree its hard to learn proper tennis by yourself, but it just takes a certain kind of person to do it. As far as myself, I have several books that I've read into to understand technique from the textual explanations. Then I compare what they are saying to what the pros do. Then I practice in slow motion in front of my TV or in front of a mirror. Then I take it to the tennis wall and try it with a ball. Then I play against real people. Sure if I wanted to play D1 or go pro, lessons are really the only way to go. But if I want to improve in adult rec leagues, I think I will do just fine with my methodology. I do get complimented from higher level players who understand technique, so I know I'm at least close to doing things right. I know there are things I can do better, so as long as I continue to find my own flaws, I will correct them and continue my path to improvement.

[VaBeachTennis]

Hitting with a ball machine is good if you have a specific workout you are going to do. It's good to hit against the wall to work out ball contact issues. It's also good to hit against all different types and levels of players so you get court smart and ball smart. This helps you become a complete player. You just don't want to get stuck in one rut e.g. playing only 3.5 players, only hitting against a wall, or only using a ball machine, because you only will just get good at one specific thing. If you mix it up it's much better. One thing I do like about a ball machine, is that you can experiment with different grips and shots, work out your kinks, and not feel guilty about being inconsistent and frustrating some of your hitting partners. I know pros like Agassi used a ball machine.

[rosenstar]

Originally Posted by raiden031

I didn't think you sounded condescending, but I think too many people on this board are under the assumption that regular lessons are feasible by the people asking questions on this board, when often they are not because they are expensive. If you take one lesson a week at $50/hour, then its at least $200/month, which is alot for some like myself. Alot of clubs rent out ball machines as cheap as $10/hour like my club. I only use mine probably twice a month.

Anyways, I agree its hard to learn proper tennis by yourself, but it just takes a certain kind of person to do it. As far as myself, I have several books that I've read into to understand technique from the textual explanations. Then I compare what they are saying to what the pros do. Then I practice in slow motion in front of my TV or in front of a mirror. Then I take it to the tennis wall and try it with a ball. Then I play against real people. Sure if I wanted to play D1 or go pro, lessons are really the only way to go. But if I want to improve in adult rec leagues, I think I will do just fine with my methodology. I do get complimented from higher level players who understand technique, so I know I'm at least close to doing things right. I know there are things I can do better, so as long as I continue to find my own flaws, I will correct them and continue my path to improvement.

ok, I see where you're coming from. that makes sense