Tennis Info Center
Click on the links below to see our updated Tennis Info or scroll down to see new items.
Whats New?
- Playmate Freedom Kit $795
Allows the wireless freedom of bringing the control box to the other side of the court. Kit includes transmitter, short cable to connect transmitter to box, receiver, mounting screws, and a fence-mount bracket.
Available NOW! <click here
THE SPLIT-STEP
Misunderstood by most players and difficult to teach under the best of circumstances, the Split-Step remains one of the most important concepts because of its impact of getting to the proper hitting position. Executed late and a player is hanging in the air without the ability to begin accelerating to the ball; executed early and the player is flat footed and cannot capitalize on the laws of physics. Playmate now provides the complete set of tools that will allow this most difficult and yet most important aspect of the game to be learned while using a Playmate Ball Machine.
Click here to see a demo video
- Timing Light Base Unit $299
(Base Unit located on ball machine)
FEATURES
- This is a training device used for learning or improving the player’s split-step and thus their movement on the court.
- This device operate only with Playmate Ball Machines: THE ACE, THE DEUCE, THE SMASH, GRAND SLAM, THE GENIE & THE PLAYMATE PC
- Easy installation
- The Base Unit hangs from front top of ball machine directly above the ball exit hole.
- The cable routes to the left side and into the bottom of the ball machine hopper.
- Two 4 pin connectors plug into control panel connector sockets 3 & 4.
- Bright LEDs with a black background are easily seen from the far end of court
- The device provides the player with timing information relative to the next ball delivery.
- LEDs sequence down in a vertically direction to alert the player to begin loading the legs so that the player can be prepared to hop when the bottom LED comes ON.
- A ball will emerge from the ball machine while the player is at the top of their hop
- A Practice Mode Sequence (where-in a ball is NOT delivered) cycle the LEDs thru five sequences, thus allowing the player to practice the split-step timing without dealing with the ball. See the Remote Practice Option for details.
An output cable can be inserted into the phone connector at the top right side of the Base Unit and connected to the ‘Camera Option’ via a phone cable and coupler; this combines valuable timing information with the student’s video for examination by the teaching pro and student.
FEATURES
- A player will automatically activate the ball machine after going thru a normal service motion and stepping off the PAD.
- Any sequence of multiple shots can be initiated for emulating an actual serve/return rally or particular combinations or sequences of ground strokes.
- Once the sequence of shots is complete the ball machine stops delivering balls until the next player activates the PAD, thus providing time for coach/student feedback.
- The timing of the delivered ball can be adjusted at the PAD, so that for various serve speeds the server can advance to different locations relative to the net.
- Doubles teams can practice serving and playing out points with multiple RANDOM shots and/or ball directions that can be RANDOM.
- The PAD can be used with or without the Split-Step Display to learn the most difficult of the Split-Steps, that of timing the split-step after serving.
- All ball machine functions are still available, for example shot delay, feed rate, speed etc.
- Players can practice the Return of Serve using the PAD to start the ball machine ‘serve’ by stepping off the PAD. One or more service balls can be sequenced so that FH, BH and serves to the body can be learned.
- Two players can practice returning serve and poaching the return of serve where the player returning the ball can initiate a ‘ball machine serve’ by stepping off the PAD located behind the baseline.
FEATURES
- The option allows coaches to video tape students and LED indicator which is illuminated when the split-step should be executed and allows the coach to see whether the player is hopping to soon or to late (or not at all).
- A small red LED is mounted in the end of a plastic tube that attaches to a microphone holder shoe of a video camera.
- The small red LED is timed to flash at the start of the down movement of the LED’s and then come ON for 0.2 seconds while the player is rising into the air for the hop portion of the split-step, then goes OFF when the ball is ejected.
- The Camera Option plugs into either the RJ11 at the top side of the Base Unit or the RJ11 at the top side of the Repeater Unit with cable lengths up to 100′. A cable coupler must be used with the Camera LED Option.
- The LED holder can be moved forward and aft, or tilted to any chosen position in the video frame so that close-ups and wide angled shots can be captured with minimum blockage of the player.
FEATURES
- This option allows coaches and students to sequence the Split-Step Display without a ball being delivered from the ball machine.
- This feature will allow the coach to train the student how to respond to the Split-Step Display and not be concerned with hitting a ball at the same time.
- When the red button is pressed the Split-Step Display will sequence 5 times with a slight pause between the 5 sequences.
- A small red LED is mounted near the bottom of the remote’s handle and will flash at the start of the down movement of the LEDs and then come ON for 0.2 sec when the student is supposed to be in the ‘hop’ portion or the split-step. The coach can use their peripheral vision to monitor the LED while watching the student’s execution of the split-step.
- The Remote Option plugs into either the RJ11 at the top side of the Base Unit or the RJ11 at the top side of the Repeater Unit with cable lengths up to 100′. A cable coupler must be used with the Remote Option.
FEATURES
- This option allows both the Camera Option and the Remote Practice Option to be used at the same time.
- The Splitter Option must be used with either 1 coupler on the input cable side of the splitter or with a coupler in each of the output cables going to the Camera Option and Remote Practice Option.
(Located on net or within 100′ of ball machine)
FEATURES
- A Split-Step Repeater device is similar to the Base Unit and can be added by connecting a 4 wire phone cable between the RJ11 at the top side of the Base Unit to the RJ11 on the back of the Repeater.
- The Repeater provides an alternative display synchronized with the Base Unit for hanging on the net cord or other convenient observation points.
- This is a great addition for group lessons, as waiting players can more easily see and practice timing their Split-Step.
- An audible beep is provided with the Remote Practice Option to indicate the instant the ball would emerge from the ball machine and when the player should be at the peak of the hop.
- A Repeater Unit can be cascaded by connecting a 4 wire phone cable from the RJ11 at the top side of the Base Unit to the RJ11 at the back of the Repeater, then from the RJ11 at the top side of the Repeater Unit to either the Camera LED Option, Remote Practice Option or both.
- When a Repeater is used the video ‘Camera LED Option’ will plug into the RJ11 at the top side of the Repeater.
- Using the Camera Option and the Remote Practice Option will require purchase of the Splitter Option; see details on this option.