Video - PVC Tennis Practice Thing!

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 I want to show you another video I made last year with my dad! 

 




 

I love playing tennis and when I started, I used to practice hitting a tennis ball on a string while my dad played tennis.

Now, I want to make the same thing for my baby sister to learn tennis. I hope she likes it, too!

First, you'll need the following supplies (we got them at Lowe's for about 30 bucks!):

  • 4 - 1" x 5ft PVC pipe
  • 2 - 90-degree PVC slip elbows
  • 2 - 1" PVC caps
  • 1 - 90 degree dual-side outlet PVC elbow
  • 1 - JB Clearweld Epoxy
  • 0.5 cu ft - Pea gravel
  • 10 ft. - 1/4" braided nylon rope

Tools:

  • Saw for cutting PVC to the proper length
  • Drill

WARNING! Make sure an adult can help you with the sharp tools, power tools and epoxy (which can stick your body parts together forever!)

Please see the following picture to get an idea of what we're going to do.

 


 

  1. Identify which PVC pieces will be the legs and cap them with epoxy and PVC caps (we need caps so we can fill them up with pea gravel - they will be heavier and more stable).
  2. Next, we'll want to connect each leg to the side-exit 90 degree elbow (again, with epoxy) so we can put the vertical piece on top. Again, fill it up with pea gravel so it will be nice and stable.
  3. Put the last elbow on top of the vertical pole and drill a hole so you can thread the rope through it. We'll want to be able to adjust the rope so we can make the ball higher/lower depending on who is practicing.
  4. Put the last horizontal piece into the top elbow and add another elbow so the rope can exit smoothly while hanging down.
  5. To attach a tennis ball to the rope, the best way is to use a knife (let an adult help!) to make a 1/2" slit into a tennis ball. Tie a washer (less than 1/2") to the end of the rope and push it through the slit you just made in the tennis ball. It should hold pretty securely - we haven't had any issues with it!