Own a ball machine or rent one???

[David Thomas]

I am thinking about buying a ball machine but was concerned about the cost of keeping good balls in the machine. I was wondering how often people need to replace balls in their ball machines to keep good balls in it. I know you can get a case of tennis balls through Costco for about $50, but if I have to keep doing that once a month, I think I am better off just renting the ball machine from the club for $10 for 2 hours and let them pay for the tennis balls. I would like to buy my own ball machine, but I'm thinking it might be just as cheap just to rent one from a club, if they can keep good balls in the machine. I have tried pressureless balls and don't like hitting with them. Thanks for any information about the pros and cons of owning your own ball machine or just renting one from the club!

 

[Mongolmike]

Depends how often you will use the machine. If you plan on using it daily or every other day, then you will have to replace the balls monthly. That, however, would still be cheaper then paying to rent a club's machine every day or every other day (unless your club offers really cheap ball machine rental?).

I buy 1-2 cases of balls per year thru TW, delivered to my front door. After a match and if l opened a can, l collect the balls and put them in a spare hopper. When that hopper is full, l get rid of the balls I'd been using in the machine, and put in the balls I'd been collecting in the hopper into the machine. Works good enough for me. I've always got a can to open (definately NOT that guy who never pops a can, or insists on using balls with no fur because they still bounce when dropped from shoulder height!)... so I've got balls for a match and l replenish my ball machine stock.

Also, when I'm using the machine/hitting serves, and l come across a ball that is noticeably worse then the others, l pull it out of the group...so that kinda weeds things out too.

Now during the summer, when I'm playing a lot, l don't use the machine as often as l do in the spring, or on days off when l just want to hit for 30 minutes with the machine. I don't use it so often that l need to restock balls every month...but again, compared to the cost of the ball rental machine at clubs....it's still cheaper to buy own balls imo.

 

[NoChance]

Because I am also thinking about a ball machine purchase, I recently picked up a container (can't call it a can) of the new Wilson Triniti balls. They do not come in a pressurized can; the material used to make the rubber "core" of the ball is supposed to retain pressure for a much longer period of time.

I tried the balls with an indoor doubles group of friends. The ball played like a normal Wilson (championship) ball. The other three guys in the group did not realize that it was a "different" ball. Two months later (this morning) I did a bounce test vs. a Wilson championship ball that had been opened yesterday. The bounce was the same.

The Triniti ball is more expensive, but it might be the ticket for a ball machine owner. TW carries the Triniti ball. Check it out.

 

[ducatisf]

I rented a ball machine from this marketplace that connects renters with ball machine owners...really good idea. they have a partner program for owners to join the network. you can purchase the machine knowing there could be a way to recoup that cost too.

Tennismachinerentals.com - Find Tennis Machines For Rent

Tennis Machine Rentals is the 1st and only marketplace connecting owners of tennis ball machines with the general public.

www.tennismachinerentals.com

 

[blablavla]

I am thinking about buying a ball machine but was concerned about the cost of keeping good balls in the machine. I was wondering how often people need to replace balls in their ball machines to keep good balls in it. I know you can get a case of tennis balls through Costco for about $50, but if I have to keep doing that once a month, I think I am better off just renting the ball machine from the club for $10 for 2 hours and let them pay for the tennis balls. I would like to buy my own ball machine, but I'm thinking it might be just as cheap just to rent one from a club, if they can keep good balls in the machine. I have tried pressureless balls and don't like hitting with them. Thanks for any information about the pros and cons of owning your own ball machine or just renting one from the club!

read the instructions first.
my ballmachine requires pressureless balls.
with pressureless balls it is a question of usage & preference. The coaches in my club use same balls for an entire season. I couldn't.

if you want to use pressurized balls, then it is not usage only question.
usage means that they lose fur, so become less controllable.
but they as well lose pressure from the moment when you open the can. So, you can open the can, not hit even once, and some 2 or 3 weeks later you might not enjoy them anymore.

but then you have folks that play happily with dead balls, and don't bother.

so, in summary, it really depends on your expectations.