Topic: Has anyone actually got a bowling machine in their garden? (Read 14847 times)

Akewstick · « **on:** May 17, 2016, 12:46:17 PM »

I've heard people saying "you could just put it in your garden." I haven't heard anyone say "I've got one in my garden". I don't see why it's not possible, but without a net, is my control good enough not to be hitting next door's windows and skying them up over the house and into the street? I've done plenty of hitting neighbours windows with tennis balls in my time, but not since I've been what is technically classed as an adult. I think if your new neighbour's kid hits your house with a tennis ball once a weekend you shout out the window, roll your eyes and move on, if the 28 year old bloke who's just bought the house next door is outside playing cricket against himself and smashing the odd one at your french windows, you phone the council.

I'm paying for coaching sessions when really, drilling with a bowling machine would accomplish 90% as much. Experiences?

kaartman · « **Reply #1 on:** May 17, 2016, 12:55:51 PM »

I don't but, my friend has one in his back yard with a half pitch (astro turf) and fully covered nets. He kind of stays little far from our club..couldn't make it to nets. So, got his own machine.

Akewstick · « **Reply #2 on:** May 17, 2016, 01:00:44 PM »

I think nets are probably a must aren't they? Might be something to dream about till I get a bigger garden.

GoodLeave · « **Reply #3 on:** May 17, 2016, 01:02:05 PM »

Fortunately I've got use of an industrial unit on evenings and weekends. Two upsides, 1. guaranteed weather/light 2. Nobody can see when you get cleaned up with the machine set to 60mph.

If you set it up in the corner of the room you've already got two sides to the enclosed space you need. Just cover off one side and the back.

I got a Paceman for the same reasons as you need one, drilling technique when clubbies can't guarantee line or length.

ppccopener · « **Reply #4 on:** May 17, 2016, 01:02:15 PM »

Hmmmm. I don't know anyone rich enough to have a bowling machine in their garden. In fact I don't know anyone with a garden. I was dragged up thru the Ghettos of London that make West Side Los Angeles look like a vicars parish in leafy Surrey.

But to answer your question seriously, which is I presume what you want

my personal experience is a bowling machine is the best practice of all combined with a bit of coaching.Small changes/improvements to technique can help as long as they don't throw out another part of your game-so basics only(in my experience I appreciate others my think differently)

if I could practice for an hour a week against a machine I would be 100 per cent happy going into a match..

jd163 · « **Reply #5 on:** May 17, 2016, 03:27:30 PM »

Once my backyard is fixed, i have plans to get a Paceman Pro and nets for backyard practice.

ProCricketer1982 · « **Reply #6 on:** May 17, 2016, 04:20:22 PM »

Millionaire at the club uses his tennis court as its concrete. Rolls a mat out, job done. He has fence around it but a couple of the sloggers still manage to hit his house etc.

I've got one in a barn, which is in the garden kinda area

I know another who simply uses a concrete 5-6m bit and no Mets and just does half volleys and length balls and grooves technique. Obviously you can't slog but who trains slogging anyway.

jd163 · « **Reply #7 on:** May 17, 2016, 06:53:47 PM »

Quote from: ProCricketer1982 on May 17, 2016, 04:20:22 PM

Millionaire at the club uses his tennis court as its concrete. Rolls a mat out, job done. He has fence around it but a couple of the sloggers still manage to hit his house etc.

I've got one in a barn, which is in the garden kinda area

I know another who simply uses a concrete 5-6m bit and no Mets and just does half volleys and length balls and grooves technique. Obviously you can't slog but who trains slogging anyway.

What kind/brand of bowling machine you got?

mattbatt · « **Reply #8 on:** May 17, 2016, 07:08:47 PM »

I've got a 10x2m concrete base covered with a proper artificial mat with built in shock pad. I made the net from 2 vertical scaffold tubes at the batting end and extensions to my gate posts at the bowling end. I use cables stretched around the top of the poles.

Cost was:

Concrete �600
Posts, nets, cables �300
2nd Hand matting �200
New Bola Machine + auto feeder �2500

I did most of the work myself and saved a fortune with a very lucky ebay purchase of the matting.

leatherseat · « **Reply #9 on:** May 18, 2016, 10:10:49 AM »

I have a Paceman machine I set up in the garden. 5 minute job, or less, to get the machine out and an extension cable unfurled.
I have a concrete area (perhaps 30 feet by 10 feet wide) which I bat on. As the max speed is only 60mph I tend to have the machine set around 15-18 yards away to increase the apparent speed a little. Because it is set up close, the balls are inevitably good length/ full. I use it as a way to get my stance right, get my feet moving and my eye in. I don't try to bat as I would in a match and smack a half volley; I just flow through the stroke. This is a fun way to spend 30-60 minutes or or so and get my eye in. I typically face around 60 ish balls in half an hour, using the auto feeder, then collecting the balls up to re-fill.
When my kids use it, they do tend to smack the ball, although I have it set up that it generally stays in the garden (ie close to a wall on the offside, more space on the legside)

I am planning to dig out a net (say 12 yards by 3) in part of my lawn, going down perhaps 3-4 inches, backfill it with mill waste, compact it then get a coir mat to roll out. I will then get a net that can stay there permanently. Unfortunately, I have too many other jobs on at the moment to get around to this. With a net in place, there will be more freedom of stroke.

David

Nothing2SeeHere · « **Reply #10 on:** May 18, 2016, 12:05:48 PM »

I did wonder whether setting one up in a garage would work?

My theory was: move car out, old dust sheets hanging next to the walls to dampen shots, 12 foot mat rolled along the floor, set the machine up outside the garage on the drive and setup golf driving net behind the bowling machine.
I wasn't sure about an auto feed existed on the cheaper machines like the paceman so didn't really look further.

GoodLeave · « **Reply #11 on:** May 18, 2016, 01:57:53 PM »

Quote from: Nothing2SeeHere on May 18, 2016, 12:05:48 PM

I did wonder whether setting one up in a garage would work?

My theory was: move car out, old dust sheets hanging next to the walls to dampen shots, 12 foot mat rolled along the floor, set the machine up outside the garage on the drive and setup golf driving net behind the bowling machine.
I wasn't sure about an auto feed existed on the cheaper machines like the paceman so didn't really look further.

Definitely a good idea. I'd hang the driving nets from the roof by the entrance like curtains, obviously with a gap in the middle for the ball to come through. Only time you'd be chasing balls would be if you hit a perfect straight drive back though the gap, in which case, you obviously don't need the practice anyway!

Regarding the auto feeder, even the cheapest paceman comes with a 12 ball feeder (extra balls sold separately, mind) but you can now also buy a 12 ball extention to bring capacity to 24. 24 deliveries take about 5 minutes to come through, and it saves you time collecting since it takes the same amount of time to collect regardless of how many you collect. The extension is about �35 inc 12 balls. Just remember to buy another 12 for the machine itself since it only comes with 1 ball!

Akewstick · « **Reply #12 on:** May 18, 2016, 02:33:47 PM »

Quote from: GoodLeave on May 18, 2016, 01:57:53 PM

Definitely a good idea. I'd hang the driving nets from the roof by the entrance like curtains, obviously with a gap in the middle for the ball to come through. Only time you'd be chasing balls would be if you hit a perfect straight drive back though the gap, in which case, you obviously don't need the practice anyway!

And smash your bowling machine to bits, presumably.

I love this garage idea. I don't have a garage at the moment but we're moving soon and this sounds very easily doable. You could have thick fabric sheets rolled up in the ceiling to drop down to cover the walls so you could still have some storage in there. This has got my cogs turning.

edit:

Construct the first home-fabricated bowling machine umbrella holder attachment, to stop the electrics getting wet, and you've got all weather at-home batting practice!

Jamesfield · « **Reply #13 on:** May 18, 2016, 02:40:33 PM »

ive got one in the garage (paceman 60mph things) and it works okay, got it about 14 yards away to make it feel quicker. Just got wooden boards around the outside of the playing area and sheets drapped from the ceiling to stop the balls flying everywhere. Works okay but its a small garage, good for practicing defensive shots (boring) and foot movement etc!

dcullen8 · « **Reply #14 on:** May 18, 2016, 02:45:47 PM »

The garage set up sounds quite tasty, until you get carried away and start top edging pulls straight into the lights- just like i know i would!

Author Topic: Has anyone actually got a bowling machine in their garden? (Read 14847 times)

Akewstick

Has anyone actually got a bowling machine in their garden?

kaartman

Re: Has anyone actually got a bowling machine in their garden?

Akewstick

Re: Has anyone actually got a bowling machine in their garden?

GoodLeave

Re: Has anyone actually got a bowling machine in their garden?

ppccopener

Re: Has anyone actually got a bowling machine in their garden?

jd163

Re: Has anyone actually got a bowling machine in their garden?

ProCricketer1982

Re: Has anyone actually got a bowling machine in their garden?

jd163

Re: Has anyone actually got a bowling machine in their garden?

mattbatt

Re: Has anyone actually got a bowling machine in their garden?

leatherseat

Re: Has anyone actually got a bowling machine in their garden?

Nothing2SeeHere

Re: Has anyone actually got a bowling machine in their garden?

GoodLeave

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Akewstick

Re: Has anyone actually got a bowling machine in their garden?

Jamesfield

Re: Has anyone actually got a bowling machine in their garden?

dcullen8

Re: Has anyone actually got a bowling machine in their garden?