Training with State-of-the-Art Ball Machine Benefits Your Technique

With Coach Matty & Coach Fidan                           

The ball machine has been a staple of tennis training since the 1920s when French tennis star Rene LaCoste patented the first hand-cranked ball machine. For the succeeding decades, the machine has been optimized to help players develop correct technique through continuous repetition.

Today, Court 16 leverages state-of-the-art ball machines at its Manhattan-Financial District and Downtown Brooklyn locations to reimagine tennis training for every kind of player. From high-intensity group classes to one-on-one lessons, coaches can focus on observing and correcting technique whileplayers work up a serious sweat reacting to different spins, speeds, and frequencies.

Court 16 coaches Matty and Fidan highlight the many ways ball machine training can be beneficial and specifically how Court 16’s innovative approach can take your tennis game to the next level.

Q: Can you introduce yourselves and tell us about your roles at Court 16?

Matty McGaffney: I’m Matty McGaffney. I’ve coached across all our clubs and am currently the Head Coach for our Court 16 FiDi location. I build a lot of the programming for our ball machine classes, oversee our FiDi coaching team, and coach all levels of tennis and pickleball for kids and adults.

Fidan Khalilzade: I’m Fidan Khalilzade, and I’m one of the coaches at our Court 16 FiDi club. I lead many of our high-intensity ball-machine classes, pickleball clinics, and kids classes.

Q: When did you start playing tennis?

MM: I first picked up a racquet when I was five years old.

FK: I started playing tennis when I was 10 years old.

Q: How has tennis played a role in your life - in juniors and as an adult?

MM: Many of the lessons I learned on the tennis court growing up translate into positive life values that have made me the person I am today - overcoming adversity, working hard, being a good teammate, being a strong leader, and so much more.

FK: Tennis has had a major impact on my life. As a junior, it gave me so much confidence on and off the court. Plus, I got to travel all over and compete against some of the best players in the world by playing for Azerbaijan in the Junior Olympics and as a DI tennis player here in the U.S. Now, I get to use my own experience to help kids and adults fall in love with the sport.

Q: How long have you been coaching?

MM: I’ve been coaching for 14 years, seven of which have been with Court 16. I love helping students of all ages develop a lifelong love for the game.

FK: I’ve been coaching since I was a teenager and havebeen with Court 16 since we opened the FiDi club.

Q: What’s your favorite piece of advice for adult beginners?

MM: Believe in the swing, and have fun!

Q: What’s your favorite piece of advice for kids?

FK: I tell my young students to stay patient and persistent. Tennis isn’t easy to learn, so I try to encourage them to keep practicing, remain positive, and celebrate the small victories along the way.

Q: What do you do outside of tennis?

MM: In addition to tennis, I’m a freelance graphic designer and video editor. I also love anything to do with music, working out, and spending as much time as possible in the sun.

FK: I love spending time with family and friends, whether it’s dining out, going to events around the city, or just hanging out.

Q: Court 16 FiDi offers something totally differentfrom any other tennis club: high-intensity ball machine classes. Can you speak a little bit about what these are?

MM: Our ball machine classes are designed to hit both the tactical and physical components of the game. By hitting a ton of balls, players focus on the correct swing mechanics and footwork while enjoying a very cardio-heavy class that gets their heart rate going. You will be sweating by the end of these classes, I can promise you.

FK: In addition to these high-intensity classes, we offer private lessons as well as solo time on the ball machines at our FiDi and Downtown Brooklyn locations. During private classes, a coach can focus solely on you, observing and improving your strokes and footwork from just feet away. And because you don’t have to waste time picking up balls (the machine does it for you), you can hit up to 500 balls in one hour. You’ll feel instant improvement with that level of repetition in just one hour.

Q: How did you all approach developing these classes?

MM: We’ve built each class to focus on specific components of the game that many recreational players are looking to improve – from topspin and aiming to footwork and net play. Once we hone the specific drills, we as coaches test out the classes to get to correct flow and pacing that our intermediate and advanced players will enjoy.

Q: What level of tennis player do you recommend taking these classes?

FK: I would definitely recommend intermediate or advanced players to take these classes. They’ll see a huge improvement in their game.

Q: Which Court 16 clubs offer these state-of-the-art ball machines?

MM: Court 16 FiDi has five ball machine courts, offering high-intensity classes, private lessons, and solo time all week long. Our Downtown Brooklyn location also has one ball machine court with a huge window behind that lets in just the right amount of natural light. Currently, Brooklyn offers private ball machine lessons to help players of all levels improve.

Q: What would you tell a tennis player who is skeptical about taking a group ball machine class?

MM: Try it! Tennis is all about consistency and reps, but finding court time in New York City is tough. Our ball machine classes are a really fun way to work up a sweat while practicing your game. It’s a win-win.

FK: I agree! Our ball machine classes genuinely help you become a better player. It’s helped me more consistently meet the ball out in front, hit the ball cleaner, and get my feet moving.

Q: What’s your favorite coaching advice during these classes?

MM: These classes are a workout, no doubt about it. I tell my students to dig deep and stay focused when the fatigue starts setting in. If you can stay in the zone and hit the ball consistently during one of my one-hour classes, match play becomes a breeze.

FK: I encourage my students to stay positive and concentrate on their breathing. It’s really cool to watch players realize what they can do when they have control over their bodies and minds.

Q: What has been some of your favorite feedback from players taking these classes?

FK: I love when players can see and feel the difference in their game – their stamina increases dramatically and they can control their power.

MM: After a hard, high-intensity class, I love hearing players say, “We definitely got our money’s worth today!”