Tennis: Holding court with a relentless partner

Richard Dunn

Heads turned and jaws dropped last weekend at the Palisades Tennis

Club, where a computerized ball machine, specifically designed for the

club’s practice court, held court.

The Playmate ball machine, reportedly one of only eight manufactured

in the world, can provide a tennis player with just about any shot

desired, at any pace and repeat it as often as you set the dial.

There is no sweeper or picking up balls with funnels and conveyor

belts working alongside the Playmate, which came with a $16,000 price

tag, but Palisades owner/operator Ken Stuart believes it’s money well

spent.

“It can do anything from hitting one regular shot back and forth, up

to, and including, seven different shots in one point,” said Stuart, who

added he was sold on the new machine because of its no-breakdown policy.

“You can orchestrate your own point,” said Stuart, referring to the

Playmate’s ability to spit out lobs, ground strokes, serves to either

forehand or backhand, and balls with the heaviest topspin or underspin

imaginably.

Stuart, whose club has always been on the cutting edge with

technology, plans to unveil the machine to his members next week. Members

will be charged $8 for 30 minutes of use. A platinum program was

established for 10 members at $600 for unlimited use for two years to

help underwrite the expense.

When the Palisades Club hosted the third annual Corona del Mar

National High School All-American Boys Tennis Team Invitational last

weekend, the players got a glimpse of the machine.

Members of St. Joseph’s College from Brisbane, Queensland, Australia,

were especially blown away by the machine’s ability to endlessly play

perfect tennis.

“Those Australian kids had never seen anything like it,” quipped

Palisades member Larry Collins, ranked No. 1 in the Southern California

men’s 55s division with Stuart.

The Newport Beach Tennis Club will host a day with the pros and

“membership special” on Saturday at 10 a.m.”(The event) is open to the

public,” said NBTC Director of Tennis Scott Davis, who will play a pro

exhibition with invited guests Brian MacPhie and Wayne Bryan, the father

of Mike and Bob, who will once again serve as master of ceremonies.

The event features instruction, matches, exhibitions, a fast-serve

contest with prizes and a special on membership sales. Kids are welcome.

Kevin Forbes, Alvin Gardiner, Dave Sherbeck, Leif Shiras, Ellen Bryant

and Debbie Graham join Davis on the list of pros scheduled to appear.

Details: (949) 644-0050.

Sherbeck will direct the 2002 Easter Week Junior Tennis Camp at

Newport Beach Tennis Club April 1-5 from 9 a.m. to noon each day.

The camp is open to any junior between ages 6 and 17 and will include

basic fundamentals, drills and court etiquette. A midmorning snack and

lunch will be provided. Prizes and T-shirts will be awarded on the final

day. The cost is $225 per player. Details: (949) 644-0050.

Rick Leach (Laguna Beach), a Palisades member, will be honored April 6

at the third annual Tennis Ball and Awards Celebration at Mission Viejo

Country Club hosted by the Orange County Community Tennis Association.

Leach, a longtime doubles standout and multiple Grand Slam winner,

will be inducted into the Orange County Tennis Hall of Fame that evening.

The OCTA is a volunteer-based nonprofit organization whose purpose is

to promote tennis through education, programs and events for the

enjoyment of all people in the community.

The event is a fund-raiser for OCTA. A live auction will include a

signed limited edition Jack Kramer Millennium racquet.

A special Facility of the Year Award will also be presented. Details:

(949) 709-4535.

The Pacific Southwest Senior Tennis Championship, played in September

at the Palisades Club, was named Tournament of the Year by the Southern

California Tennis Association, Stuart said.