AmericanTwist
Hall of Fame
Yeah the ball dribbling can be quite puzzling. I see no instance where that helps in anything. Clearly a glitch.
Tennis Warehouse Playtest: Tenniix Pro Ball Machine
- Thread starter TW Staff
- Start date
JonathanShefftz
Rookie
Would be curious if anyone can try my Custom Ball Path, either the first one or the second one (a bit more challenging).
My machine has now become almost completely dysfunctional for such a ball path: the approach shot lands just barely within the baseline and the lobs are dribbles that don’t even reach the net.
The Custom Ball Types on their own though are just fine.
So something about the firmware for this machine is horribly wrong.
My machine has now become almost completely dysfunctional for such a ball path: the approach shot lands just barely within the baseline and the lobs are dribbles that don’t even reach the net.
The Custom Ball Types on their own though are just fine.
So something about the firmware for this machine is horribly wrong.
esgee48
G.O.A.T.
Firmware or software? I get the impression something has been overridden by your separate exercises when combined. Only way to fix something like that is to reload the offending firmware or software. I assume when you turn it on, it self checks and says it is ready which says FW may be OK.
JonathanShefftz
Rookie
^ Now I’m thinking the erratic behavior is caused by two threaded bolts that have backed out of the bottom feed wheel.
Tenniix has been in touch with me via FB Messenger and asked me to check that, plus some other parts for potential looseness.
Nothing is loose, and the feed wheel still has two other bolts that are totally secure.
With some difficulty (tight confines!), I successfully tightened both bolts back down.
Everything was fine yesterday evening when I used the machine briefly (blowing off some steam after sitting inside all day for work, while my daughter had played earlier in the day).
Today I wanted to test the machine a bit more (even though I’d played with my daughter) and at first everything was fine.
Then it got worse and worse…
I checked the feed wheel, and both bolts had backed out again, even worse than before.
The puzzling part was that some shots were still fine, but others went nowhere.
Then again…that does make sense, since those shots are using the two feed wheels in different ratios.
Tenniix said a replacement machine will be available. I’ll report back eventually on the outcome … especially frustrating until then since that lower block in my Google Sheet is a hugely helpful routine! Given that the speed and spin of the Tenniix is just barely adequate, and given that some of the parameters can be tricky to dial in just right, took many hours to set this up, so I sure hope this works out well eventually!
Tenniix has been in touch with me via FB Messenger and asked me to check that, plus some other parts for potential looseness.
Nothing is loose, and the feed wheel still has two other bolts that are totally secure.
With some difficulty (tight confines!), I successfully tightened both bolts back down.
Everything was fine yesterday evening when I used the machine briefly (blowing off some steam after sitting inside all day for work, while my daughter had played earlier in the day).
Today I wanted to test the machine a bit more (even though I’d played with my daughter) and at first everything was fine.
Then it got worse and worse…
I checked the feed wheel, and both bolts had backed out again, even worse than before.
The puzzling part was that some shots were still fine, but others went nowhere.
Then again…that does make sense, since those shots are using the two feed wheels in different ratios.
Tenniix said a replacement machine will be available. I’ll report back eventually on the outcome … especially frustrating until then since that lower block in my Google Sheet is a hugely helpful routine! Given that the speed and spin of the Tenniix is just barely adequate, and given that some of the parameters can be tricky to dial in just right, took many hours to set this up, so I sure hope this works out well eventually!
you want custom with tenniix? You should just be happy with the base settings and whatever speed and spin you actually get since their spec claims are aspirational. I wonder how many false claims have to occur for people to say this product isn’t as described. For that to happen people are going to have to be willing to call out tenniix even when it doesn’t directly affect them, which as we have seen thus far is difficult for people to do.
I have gone thru 5 ball machines in the past year and I’ve used several more at clubs and when I played in college. They all have issues even though I am very happy with the one settled on, I think that I can still improve on it.
I am currently in the prototyping stage now but I hope to have a test model ready to share with others by February. I am not going to try to make this into an actual business but it’ll be fun to see what I can engineer, as a non engineer (I’m a theoretical physicist who is very uncomfortable in the lab)
I have gone thru 5 ball machines in the past year and I’ve used several more at clubs and when I played in college. They all have issues even though I am very happy with the one settled on, I think that I can still improve on it.
I am currently in the prototyping stage now but I hope to have a test model ready to share with others by February. I am not going to try to make this into an actual business but it’ll be fun to see what I can engineer, as a non engineer (I’m a theoretical physicist who is very uncomfortable in the lab)
JonathanShefftz
Rookie
Yipes, I hadn't thought about that -- sure hope just bad luck of the draw with two threaded bolts that weren't torqued properly and/or didn't have threadlocker applied.Maybe Tennix should use you as a testbed type. BITD, s/w and h/w had to be tested ie be idiot proof. You are a living example cuz Tennix probably never imagined the sequence of activities you’re putting the machine thru, hence the mechanical failures.
If I could access the bolt heads straight-on, then I could easily crank them down, with some Loctite Red for good measure.
But that would require significant disassembly, which doesn't seem feasible.
Given the tight confines, the only option I've figured out so far is to grasp the bolt heads from the side with vise grips, but the bolt heads are so slim that once they're flush again I can't get them any tighter.
Meanwhile, Tenniix is developing a more expensive model with greater mechanical capabilities.
And Pongbot is going in the opposite direction, as the new multi-sport machine will be less expensive with diminished mechanical capabilities.
AmericanTwist
Hall of Fame
If you are designing one incorporate side spin capabilities for lefty/righty hit balls and on slice shots. I don't think most machine makers really play tennis!you want custom with tenniix? You should just be happy with the base settings and whatever speed and spin you actually get since their spec claims are aspirational. I wonder how many false claims have to occur for people to say this product isn’t as described. For that to happen people are going to have to be willing to call out tenniix even when it doesn’t directly affect them, which as we have seen thus far is difficult for people to do.
I have gone thru 5 ball machines in the past year and I’ve used several more at clubs and when I played in college. They all have issues even though I am very happy with the one settled on, I think that I can still improve on it.
I am currently in the prototyping stage now but I hope to have a test model ready to share with others by February. I am not going to try to make this into an actual business but it’ll be fun to see what I can engineer, as a non engineer (I’m a theoretical physicist who is very uncomfortable in the lab)
AmericanTwist
Hall of Fame
Did anyone figure out why some balls just dribble out? I hope that is not a designed selected ball type. That is useless.
WilsonBlade98
Rookie
Are you referring to the Omni?
Seems like they first need to get their current model working properly.
JonathanShefftz
Rookie
Probably because two of the threaded bolts backed out for the bottom feed wheel. I can turn them back but not with enough torque to get them to stay tight.
The pattern of how I fixed it but only temporarily could explain how the problem went away but then returned.
I might test that theory tomorrow.
Meanwhile, a replace unit is eventually coming my way.
JonathanShefftz
Rookie
Yes.
And although the main selling point is the ability to work for three different racquet sports, also seems to be better mechanically.
Might be the Tenniix solution to the mechanical shortcomings of its intro model - just make a more capable and more expensive model.
Which is kind of ironic since Pongbot is going in the opposite direction with its new model.
WilsonBlade98
Rookie
Are you referring to the Omni?
Seems like they need to get their current product working better before moving on to the next one…
onehandbh
G.O.A.T.
Is there a nut on the otherside of the bolt?
If there is and there is enough space, try adding a locktite washer to keep it from loosening.
JonathanShefftz
Rookie
Doubtful. And moot anyway: the confines are hopelessly tight. I order three different designs of ultra low profile screwdrivers from [the 300 lb gorilla etailer]. Close, but ... not close enough.
So the only way to tighten the bolt is with visegrip pliers attached to the fastener head.
But once the head is almost flush with the surface, then I can't tighten it any further.
Hence it backs out again.
If I had a means of directly accessing the fastener head, then with some Loctite Red I'm sure those threaded bolts would be in there for eternity.
(I do all sorts of one-off repairs for ski mountaineering gear, so usually these are just fun challenges, but I'm totally stymied here.)
Cowboy
Professional
I have not experienced this.
JonathanShefftz
Rookie
Test result was ... inconclusive.
The current status of the two loose bolts definitely isn't causing the problem, as the machine started off okay yet then almost immediately became dysfunctional for everything while the boltheads were still almost flush (i.e., before they inevitably backed out again, given that I haven't figure out a way to apply any significant torque, although I have perfected my quick method of making them flush again).
Perhaps their prior loose status caused some damage?
Either way, I received the shipping label last night so off it goes now to California.
The label arrived the night of August 16, after putting in my approved request on the morning of August 7 -- leading up to that was an extended back-and-forth with Tenniix via FB Messenger, starting all the way back on July 16.
The total three-week time to reach the resolution of a replacement unit was mainly because I was using the machine only infrequently, and the dribbling behavior was inconsistent, and even went away entirely for one session.
The total nine-day time to receive a shipping label after being told that was the resolution appears to be mainly because different parts of Tenniix weren't communicating quicky with each other.
Probably didn't help that the Tenniix returns are based out of California and my Tenniix FB Messenger rep is in China.
(A couple times some Chinese characters and AI prefacing slipped through -- for which I received an apology, although all the messages were clearly and professionally written to a standard as good or better than any U.S.- and human-based customer service.)
In addition to receiving a new unit, I am receiving a partial refund of $50.
At this point, I would prefer to receive a full refund but no replacement unit.
The frustrating part is having put so much time into dialing in the custom ball types to max out the unit's performance (which on its own for individual shots is adequate, even if barely so, regardless of unfulfilled marketing claims) and seeing a kind of teaser for how well this can work -- until it wasn't working.
Based on Strava tracklogs, I used it a total of eight times and ~10.4 hours, although many of those hours were with the feeding wheels running but not actually serving any balls, as I spent lots of time on the app setting up custom ball types and ball paths (plus getting sucked into work email).
The irony is that I never got around to setting my 16 yo daughter with it, which was the only reason for its purchase.
However, I have concluded that in addition to the obvious benefits of repeating a specific shot and keeping one's game from getting rusty, a ball machine is useful for:
- Mindless fun and exercise (although at least it sure came in handy once after spending an entire day testifying in deposition).
- Practicing a sequence for closing out a point, which is somewhat a regular practice partner probably won't be so keen on being subjected to in warm-up.
- Coming to the realization that certain shots haven't actually returned all that well after a two-decade hiatus from the sport, since otherwise I've been justifying it with, Okay, sure, I totally flubbed that, but more of a one-off kind of situation, and my opponent did something to throw me off, etc.
I'll post again (eventually ...) once I have put the replacement unit through my various custom ball types and custom ball paths -- sure hope this one doesn't suffer the same failure, ugh!
kayakbound
New User
Bought a Tenniix Pro ball machine direct from the company in Jan 26 for $1k. It arrived in April without the AI module - but that arrived approx late May. Finally got it out on the court mid June and it worked perfectly. Easy setup, connectivity was a breeze, voice module spot on. Didn't measure ball speed but it was not an issue for us. That day we ran it training mode - mostly baseline hitting - forehand and backhand. All in all, we were very pleased with our purchase until ... Took it out a week later and it would not work properly. No matter the settings in training, match, custom modes - using voice module or app - the machine would shoot out eight or nine balls rapid fire and then error out. Notified Tenniix on 6/27 about the issue - got a reply on 6/29 that stated they were "incredibly sorry" along with your standard "hard power reset," "contact terminal cleaning" and AI module "re-seat and boot" instructions. Sent in multiple videos, tried every "fix" they recommended and after one month of emailing back and forth (with lengthy delays waiting for them to reply back) they determined on 7/24 that we needed to return it for a replacement (which will not be mailed out until ours has arrived). As of today, we are still waiting on the return shipping label. I asked for a refund - they didn't even respond to my request. Now just hoping and praying that one day in the not too distant future we receive a functioning ball machine. Damned shame though that their customer service operation is a total nightmare!
kayakbound
New User
Just got the shipping label - three weeks later!
^^ reason 500 i cannot in good faith recommend this machine to others
yesterday i got a weird (official) email from youtube on behalf of tenniix asking to "collaborate" on my negative videos on youtube, which gives them access to the stats among other things. SO WEIRD! reason 501...
yesterday i got a weird (official) email from youtube on behalf of tenniix asking to "collaborate" on my negative videos on youtube, which gives them access to the stats among other things. SO WEIRD! reason 501...
Thanks and good idea. Any other requests?
