Boomer The Tennis Robot
The Ultimate Tennis Ball Machine

Meet "Boomer"- the toughest opponent you'd ever want to play. While other tennis ball machines can feed the ball, vary its speed, spin and placement, or even offer the user the option of entering a programmed sequence of shots, Boomer is the first tennis ball machine that allows the user to actually play against it. Boomer can serve, return, play out a point, call the lines and the score, rate the quality of your shots - even talk trash - and can do it at any level of ability, from rank beginner to world champion. Click here to see a video of Boomer in action.

Boomer game mode
Utilizing a computer and a television camera, Boomer can see, think, talk and interact to give a player the feel of live play. The player sets the desired level of difficulty. Boomer watches each shot the player hits and, if the ball is in, replies with a realistic (and more or less random) return. If you hit a very good shot, you can win the point outright, or at least get a weak return. If you hit a weak shot, get ready to run because Boomer will likely hit a strong return back. Even a very weak shot can occasionally win the point because Boomer will sometimes hit one in the net for an unforced error. If the ball is out, Boomer says so, then says the score and serves up the next ball to start play. If the player is serving, Boomer tosses the player 1 or 2 balls and directs him or her to serve to the deuce or ad court. The player can play anywhere from one point to a tiebreaker to a full 2 out of 3 set match.

Boomer drill mode
Boomer offers a variety of drills: groundstroke, volley, overhead, net, approach, serve and volley. All drills can be done at any selected level, from 2.0 to 7.0. After each drill, Boomer gives a score from 1.0 to 7.0 based on the position and speed of the player's shots. At the end of each drill, Boomer gives you a rating (from 2.0 to 7.0) and also an average speed in mph.

Boomer also quickly adjusts the level of its shots to match the player. If you hit several good shots, Boomer will raise its level by throwing balls harder, deeper, wider and with more spin. Conversely, if you miss a few shots, Boomer will back down the level until you start making the shots.

Boomer rating test
The ratings test gives the user 12 balls to serve, 24 groundstrokes, 24 volleys and net shots and plays 4 games (each at an increasing level). It then gives the user a rating on each component, as well as an overall rating.

Built in Radar gun
Boomer uses the camera to detect the speed of each shot. This is very useful in measuring and improving your serve.

Boomer is ideal for:
a. Private courts to provide a ready partner for games or drills at any level.
b. Resorts and clubs wishing to achieve quality partner matching by advertising "We will guarantee you a partner at your NTR level."
c. High performance facilities such as Upland Tennis Club in Upland, CA have improved their players tournament results in less than two months.
d. Clubs can rate players for proper league and round robin play.

Pricing
Purchase: $14,450
Rental: $600/month
Installation: Usually free in the Northeast,
$500 plus travel expenses outside the Northeast