If you’re like many tennis directors or club managers, your ball machine (assuming you have one in working order) is an untapped resource, which can increase revenues on many levels. The first and most obvious is that an active series of ball machine programs at a club can provide a broader and better range of services to members. And, the second benefit is that it can simply add net profits to your bottom line! Here are a number of winning ideas we have compiled to effortlessly make more money with ball machines.
- Free Demonstrations
An easy way to get players interested in training with a ball machine is to simply make sure members know one is available. Set aside certain popular times to exhibit the ball machine and its capabilities. Have an experienced staff member demonstrate various drills and techniques, as well as explain the basic operation of the machine. Then let each player have a few minutes to hit some balls and see how the machine feels. Give away a few free half-hour or hour passes to players who seem enthusiastic. This will enable individuals who might be deterred by the rental fee to see exactly how much they can get for their money.
- High-Visibility
This little trick works wonders to generate increased ball machine interest and use. Instead of placing the ball machine on a back, low-visibility court, how about putting it up front on the most highly visible court of your facility? Another benefit aside from generating increased on-looker interest is that it allows your staff to respond quickly whenever a user may be in need of help.
- Use Videos and Advertisements
Almost every facility has a public area where players congregate or at least pass through. In this lounge or pro shop area, try playing various ball machine videos to generate interest in a specific program. For example, how about playing the new ball machine video "Millennium Tennis" to generate interest in the ball machine. You can also display advertisements for ball machine rentals and posters of upcoming demonstrations and clinics which utilize the ball machine and its training capabilities. Just remember to post a sign by the video monitor with a catchy phrase like "Ball machines are the number one training partner in the world. Contact the front desk to arrange a convenient time for both of you."
- Balls Hit Club
A little friendly competition is good for everyone. So why not set up a "Balls Hit Club" in order to tap into that competitive attitude! The average player hits about 750 balls in an hour-long rental. Keep track of the hours each player puts in with the ball machine and then establish categories such as "The 10,000 Balls Hit Club," and so on. Not only will this allow players to do a little bragging about who’s ready for upcoming matches and who’s not, but it will also enable them to set goals and then watch them materialize.
- Ball Machine and Lesson Packages
Every coach will agree that to increase overall student improvement, you must get him or her to practice consistently with a ball machine. Practice is, after all, what ball machines are designed for. It is important to make the ball machine a significant part of both the lesson and posted lesson curriculums. In order to encourage students to utilize this winning combination, try offering "Package Deals" that include both weekly lesson periods and weekly practice sessions with the ball machine. Once students begin to improve rapidly, offer to sell them additional ball machine practice sessions at a discounted price.
- Target Training
Keep them coming back for more by helping them get the most out of their time on the court with a ball machine. Set up targets in order to make practice more fun and at the same time more productive. The use of ropes or air targets will enable players to readily see their improvement both in accuracy and consistency. Charge a minimal fee in order to have a qualified staff member set up the proper targets and help explain their applications. Providing additional services such as this will help keep your ball machine program running at full capacity.
- Ball Machine Mini-Lessons
As well as offering lesson packages that include ball machine rental, why not offer ball machine rentals that include an introductory mini-lesson? Players are often highly enthusiastic about getting on the court with a ball machine, and although they certainly get a great workout, they often spend at least a part of that time practicing the wrong techniques. To help alleviate this problem, offer a short, 10- or 15-minute lesson at a nominal cost for those players who simply want to rent the ball machine for a one-hour workout. This way instructors will have the opportunity to introduce themselves and demonstrate drills and techniques to help the players with their games.
- Shared Revenue
The teaching professional is the most important link between the players and the ball machine. Because of this connection it is often up to the instructor to help promote the machine through the various lesson programs offered. If players are not taught to practice with the ball machine, their ball machine use will be minimal. In order to ensure the success of a ball machine program, it is important that revenues generated by the rental of the ball machine be shared with the teaching professionals. This will not only encourage the instructors to promote the machine in each of their lessons, but will also encourage them to create new drills and practice methods for use with the machine outside of their specific lesson programs.
- Presentation
One of the best ways to ensure that the players who use your ball machine today will continue to use it in the future is to make sure the machine is maintained and presented as professionally as possible. This means not only keeping the machine operating properly, but also having it prepared and ready to go as soon as a player walks onto the court. The hopper should be loaded with good balls, the extension cord plugged in, and a ball mower and remote control accessible. These small steps will help the customer get the most out of their rental and keep them coming back for more.
- The Right Machine
The best way to captivate your audience is to simply keep them from getting bored with your performance. Likewise, the best way to maintain the broadest customer base is to offer them a machine with the broadest range of features. While a simpler machine might appear to cost less, it may actually end up costing you more in the long run because better players will soon tire of it and cease to use it as a practice tool. A better machine, on the other hand, can start out at the level of any player and gradually progress along with them all the way from practice drills to game simulation. If you invest in a better machine to start with, you’ll end up with better revenues