racquetball pressurizers, any point?
Randy Johnson (ADM)
Rob Worman (worm...@osu.edu) wrote:
: Hello All-
: I'm wondering if there is any value to using those "ball savers" that I've
: seen recently. These are two-piece plastic racquetball canisters that
: screw together and are sealed by an O-ring such that air is evacuated with
: tightening.
I couldn't tell you anything about whether they acutally work or not, ha
ha ha, but they certainly *seem* to. Maybe it's just my imagination, but
balls from the pressure can seem to be livelier, hit lighter, and
generally more responsive than other balls. When I play with a ball that
has not been in the pressure thing, in fact, it seems as if I am hitting a
brick. But maybe it's just me.
Randy Johnson
rand...@dudley.lib.usf.edu _I_
University of South Florida _I)__)I_
Tampa, Florida, USA )_)__)__)
27* 56' N, 82* 27' W \)_)__)__) \
_\I\I\)I\)_--
Do one thing for me, Sredni Vashtar. |________/
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
Donovan Middle School
tar...@colorado.edu (Robert Tarrall) babbled:
> In article <worman.2-111...@ts9-6.homenet.ohio-state.edu>,
> worm...@osu.edu (Rob Worman) writes:
> > I'm wondering if there is any value to using those "ball savers" that I've
> > seen recently. These are two-piece plastic racquetball canisters that
>
> in the mid-70's I think. Now they're only useful if you want to create
> a ball that plays like a superball, as someone else pointed out. Either
> the damn things are still selling well or they've got a warehouse full
> of them that they've been trying to get rid of...
Wrong! The pressure inside is 14.7 psi, the same as the pressure
outside. But as the ball ages and after being hit multiple times, the
pressure drops. The cardboard containers were especially vulnerable to
pressure loss and the cans often went on sale after they sat on the
shelf for a while. Now they are sealed better and the sound you hear
when the can is opened is pressure (sounds like the vacuum when opening
a coffee can).
The ball savers do resupply pressure to old balls. Of course, they can
be used multiple times to increase it beyond the norm. You can do a
bounce test to check it (bounce to 0.7 times the drop height) or just
leave out any balls that play too lively for your taste. They will
slowly drop to where the pressure is the same inside as out. The 'ball
savers' actually do save balls because the deflated balls will collapse
more when hit and are more likely to break. Bob_B.
Ed Arias
Sorry...here's their site again
http://websites.earthlink.net/%7Etelesport/
--
Ed Arias - "Just Say Know"
UIC Dept of Physiology & Biophysics
Chicago, IL 60612-7342
WWW:http://www.uic.edu/~earias1/racquetball.htm
Ed Arias
Donovan Middle School wrote:
>
> Wrong! The pressure inside is 14.7 psi, the same as the pressure
> outside. But as the ball ages and after being hit multiple times, the
> pressure drops. The cardboard containers were especially vulnerable to
> pressure loss and the cans often went on sale after they sat on the
> shelf for a while. Now they are sealed better and the sound you hear
> when the can is opened is pressure (sounds like the vacuum when opening
> a coffee can).
According to the manufacturer they maintain 6 psi (the tennis ball
pressurizer does 14 psi)...by TeleSport RB Saver:
RACQUET BALL SAVER
by Gexco
This "ball saver" is the "little brother" to
the Tennis Ball Saver and functions in the
same way, storing in this case, 2 instead of
3 racquetballs. The act of closing achieves
a 6 pound per square inch pressure above
atmospheric.
Racquetballs are supposedly manufactured to
be pressureless. They do, however go dead
during play. Kept in the Racquet Ball Saver,
racquetballs not only play like new balls
but usually rebound at a faster speed than do
new balls. Ball speed can be adjusted by the
amount the top is screwed onto the container.
According to the manufacturer...the balls "rebound...faster...than new
balls" aka superballs. However, you can supposedly adjust this by the
"amount the top is screwed"
> The ball savers do resupply pressure to old balls. Of course, they can
> be used multiple times to increase it beyond the norm. You can do a
> bounce test to check it (bounce to 0.7 times the drop height) or just
> leave out any balls that play too lively for your taste. They will
> slowly drop to where the pressure is the same inside as out. The 'ball
> savers' actually do save balls because the deflated balls will collapse
> more when hit and are more likely to break. Bob_B.
Again, the balls I use (Penn) last a long time just fine (as long as my
kids or dog get to them)...maybe a month...before they eventually
break. However, it may be that other rb ball brands lose their bounce
and this may be useful. Ed.
Robert Tarrall
In article <32B02F...@donovan.utica.k12.ny.us>,
Donovan Middle School <lib...@donovan.utica.k12.ny.us> writes:
>> They're relics from the days when racquetballs were pressurised - back
>> in the mid-70's I think. Now they're only useful if you want to create
>
> outside. But as the ball ages and after being hit multiple times, the
That's what most of us would call "pressureless". Not sure where you
get "wrong!" from...
> pressure drops. The cardboard containers were especially vulnerable to
> pressure loss and the cans often went on sale after they sat on the
> shelf for a while. Now they are sealed better and the sound you hear
> when the can is opened is pressure (sounds like the vacuum when opening
Check more carefully, Bob. There is little or no pressure difference
between the inside of the can and the outside - a little bit if you're at
altitude like I am, but none at sea level. The foil tops would bulge
like crazy if there were much pressure (>2psi over atmospheric pressure)
at all in those cans.
> leave out any balls that play too lively for your taste. They will
> slowly drop to where the pressure is the same inside as out. The 'ball
> savers' actually do save balls because the deflated balls will collapse
> more when hit and are more likely to break. Bob_B.
Have you considered the possibility that the rubber changes due to
exposure to outside air and repeated impact? Try cutting open two
balls - one broken while the label was still readable, and one which
is much older. There's a noticable difference in the rigidity of the
rubber which cannot be attributed to air pressure since the balls are
broken. If this is due to oxidation that ould explain the sealed cans -
balls may be packed in nitrogen.
The Ball Saver can make an old ball bouncy again for a while but it still
just doesn't play the same. Don't know if it's the way the ball gets
"polished" after a while or what but I don't like them.
-Robert.-
Robert Tarrall
In article <32B02F...@donovan.utica.k12.ny.us>,
Donovan Middle School <lib...@donovan.utica.k12.ny.us> writes:
> pressure drops. The cardboard containers were especially vulnerable to
> pressure loss and the cans often went on sale after they sat on the
> shelf for a while. Now they are sealed better and the sound you hear
> when the can is opened is pressure (sounds like the vacuum when opening
As a further followup to this, when I bought my latest stack of balls
yesterday I paid a bit more attention to the cans before opening them.
The "Sealed for freshness" foil on the can tops has tiny perforations
in a regular pattern, and squeezing the can gently showed that air will
pass through the perforations. Penn cans, at least here, are *not*
pressurised.
This might be a high-altitude adaptation for balls sold in Colorado -
maybe you could check a can of balls at sea level and see whether or not
they have the same perforations in the foil? These are Penn Blues, btw.
-R.-
Bill Burroughs
Rob Worman wrote:
>
> Hello All-
>
> I'm wondering if there is any value to using those "ball savers" that I've
> seen recently. These are two-piece plastic racquetball canisters that
> tightening.
>
> tennis balls, (they aren't sealed like tennis balls are, anyway) so I'm
> suspicious that this is just marketing.
>
> Can anyone offer any evidence to support/refute my suspicions?
>
> TIA
> rob
I've played with balls that came out of a pressurizer,and yes they do
create pressure inside the ball,it travels a lot quicker for awhile whe
you first start playing,i personally don't like using a pressurized
ball,it travels too fast and i ain't getting no younger..I'm 50 now and
i play at least once a week..i thoroughly enjoy racquetball and i even
like playing paddle ball,but not many players around here in southern
Mich...well enough breezing for now..ttyl..from White Pigeon,Mi
Browar
Ed Arias wrote:
>
> Donovan Middle School wrote:
> >
> > Wrong! The pressure inside is 14.7 psi, the same as the pressure
> > outside. But as the ball ages and after being hit multiple times, the
> According to the manufacturer they maintain 6 psi (the tennis ball
> pressurizer does 14 psi)...by TeleSport RB Saver:
[...]
> 3 racquetballs. The act of closing achieves
> a 6 pound per square inch pressure above
> atmospheric.
Atmospheric air is already at 14.7 psi. - we are at the bottom of the
'fish tank'. What they are saying is that the volume of the air is
reduced by about 40%. The pressure of the air around the balls inside
the can is increased by that amount. But it takes time for the air to
get through ball's surface to the inside where it will do some good. And
this in turn reduces the pressure surrounding the balls. So it would
take multiple attempts spaced several days apart to get the pressure
nearly that high.
> According to the manufacturer...the balls "rebound...faster...than new
> balls" aka superballs. However, you can supposedly adjust this by the
> "amount the top is screwed"
This takes experience to get the 'right amount', which is whatever you
and your friends are comfortable with. Most of us like the faster play
and apparent less resistance to racquet follow-through. It doesn't hurt
my tournament play with new balls (as long as they are Penns).
> Again, the balls I use (Penn) last a long time just fine (as long as my
> kids or dog get to them)...maybe a month...before they eventually
> break. However, it may be that other rb ball brands lose their bounce
> and this may be useful. Ed.
I too prefer Penn, but apparently my group hits the ball harder. Are
yours worn down to a smooth surface? If so, they are a bit lighter and
are more affected by spin. Bob_B.
P.S. The line widths on this make it much more readable than your
previous messages.
SEFSTRAT
I use a pressurizer. If I turn it all the way down--full pressure--the
damn things turn into superballs!
With two balls inside, twisting the container to about halfway down seems
to preserve the balls pretty much like new. I can use them until they get
too smooth or they break.
Penns take better to this than Ektelons.
Steve
SEFS...@AOL.com
Lowdown DirtyDogg
pardon me for not being a physic's major, however,, let's drop the
talk about pressurized balls,, they are not permitted in any tourny,,
as a matter of fact,, read the label on every, racquetball can,, it
will tell you they are not pressurized,, as far as I can remember,,
the only pressurized ball's were and may still be,, Wilson,,, the
bounce like a superball,, stop using them,, get used buying a couple
of new cans everyonce and awhile,,, hell in my area you can buy a can
for under 2 bucks,,, average players can get about three "good"
matches out of a ball,,then THROW them to the DOG'S to play with,,,
keep playing,, hard,,, fast,,, and low,,,,
Man, I love this sport,,, DirtyDogg
Browar
SEFSTRAT wrote:
> With two balls inside, twisting the container to about halfway down seems
> to preserve the balls pretty much like new.
Dirt...@msn.com (Lowdown DirtyDogg) wrote:
> let's drop the
> talk about pressurized balls,, they are not permitted in any tourny,,
Maybe they can help someone _preparing for_ a tournament. It's just as
valid a topic as lifting weights.
> keep playing,, hard,,, fast,,, and low,,,,
> Man, I love this sport,,, DirtyDogg
These balls can make you play harder and faster. Now, if you are
unfortunate to be playing on courts with the 'wallboard mounted on
studs', these may tend to be too bouncy already and probably would be
worse with a livelier ball. My home courts' walls are as solid as they
come. On them, a lively ball favors using a variety of shots, such as
passing shots and not just going for the 'low,,,' ones. Bob_B.
Ed Arias
M.Davern wrote:
>
> I have to agree with Lowdown on this one. If your a frequent player and
> putting some effort into the game, their is almost no excuse not to use new
> balls after a few games of hard use. I'll give an exception to those with
> money problems--go ahead and stretch any way you can. However, for most
> players not to invest a few bucks in new balls is foolish. Decent racquets
> nowadays are creaping in price above $100, most people are learning to
> restring their racquets a few times a year (for heavy use players) and all
> of us are looking for more power.
Really...if you can afford to play at some club that charges $35-50/month, you can
afford to buy a new can every week if need be (so thats usually another $10/month). I'm
playing 2-3 times a week now, with a couple tournaments under my belt...and I've got
more balls than I started with this month...and they're in fine condition (Penn). I
can't understand where all this talk about pressurizers started from...talk all the
physics you want, you shouldn't need to use them for racquet.balls (flame on...).
> New balls will help your game. Not only
> the for the dogs, kids love to play with used balls. If you don't have any
> adopt a few in the neighborhood or extended family. They'll get a kick out
> of the gift.
This is the worst...ever see a grown man (where?) lose it with his 2 year old daughter
cause she opened up a fresh can of balls and is playing a game with the dog with
them...want to adopt her...just for a few weeks? Pleeeeease.
Hey Mike, talked to a guy (Howie Spaeth,Jr.) at the Bloomingdale club recently...$5 will
not only get you some excellent competition but food too! What a deal...gonna try them
out this weekend. See ya, Ed.
--
Ed Arias
University of Illinois at Chicago
Dept of Physiology & Biophysics
835 S. Wolcott Avenue
Chicago, IL 60612
Tel: 312.996.4161
Fax: 312.996.1414
e-mail: ear...@uic.edu
WWW: http://www.uic.edu/~earias1/racquetball.htm
M.Davern
Ed Arias <ear...@uic.edu> wrote in article <32B788...@uic.edu>...
> Hey Mike, talked to a guy (Howie Spaeth,Jr.) at the Bloomingdale club
recently...$5 will
> not only get you some excellent competition but food too! What a
deal...gonna try them
> out this weekend. See ya, Ed.
>
> --
> Ed Arias
>> e-mail: ear...@uic.edu
> WWW: http://www.uic.edu/~earias1/racquetball.htm
>
Ed it is an excellent deal. Anyone in the Chicago area on Sunday mornings
should check it out. There is an excellent group of old timers and young
studs that show up on most Sundays. (ED- stay away from Howie's kid Alex.
He's about 17yrs old and a killer on the court.) Also Gene from the Racquet
Connection shows up on most Sundays and he has lots of racquets to demo. I
just picked up a new Head pp175g for a buddy of mine and got it shipped for
a price of $160 plus $4.50 shipping. He sells the 190g for about $120.
However, I have to admit that Chicago seems to be a fairly strong Ektelon
city and Gene sells that brand as well. I have Gene's price list and I know
that his prices beat those of Courtesy Sports. If anyone is interested
Gene's number is 888-822-2501.
Ed since we are both 'net-heads and trying to hook up after Christmas in
Chicago should we put pressure on ourselves and have the loser post the
results and game analysis in the 'net?
Mike D.
Dayton.
Ed Arias
M.Davern wrote:
>
> Ed it is an excellent deal. Anyone in the Chicago area on Sunday mornings
> should check it out. There is an excellent group of old timers and young
> studs that show up on most Sundays. (ED- stay away from Howie's kid Alex.
> He's about 17yrs old and a killer on the court.)
I saw him playing in the doubles final at the last tourney at the Glass Court...he
really did look like an up and comer. BTW, he a his partner got beat (handily, I
believe) by John Negrete/Dale Johnson. Negrete beat Moskwa in the Open finals. These
names may or may not mean anything to you...but these are the names I used to play when
I was more active 6-8 years ago...it's nice to see they can still handle the young
comers like Spaeth. It seems experience won over youthful power, at least that weekend.
> Also Gene from the Racquet
> Connection shows up on most Sundays and he has lots of racquets to demo. I
> just picked up a new Head pp175g for a buddy of mine and got it shipped for
> a price of $160 plus $4.50 shipping. He sells the 190g for about $120.
> However, I have to admit that Chicago seems to be a fairly strong Ektelon
> city and Gene sells that brand as well. I have Gene's price list and I know
> that his prices beat those of Courtesy Sports. If anyone is interested
> Gene's number is 888-822-2501.
Sounds great, hope he shows up. I finally got my hands on a Mayhem to demo...trying it
out for the first time tomorrow.
> Ed since we are both 'net-heads and trying to hook up after Christmas in
> Chicago should we put pressure on ourselves and have the loser post the
> results and game analysis in the 'net?
That sounds real sporting...I'll definitely come to play. On second thought, the way
I've been pigging out this holiday season (too many lunches, dinners,
parties...scientists really know how to induldge), I'd better start working out harder.
Do you know if Gene has any ProKennex (Diamond series) to demo? That's the only one
that I haven't tried from my original list.
> Mike D.
> Dayton.
>
--
Ed Arias
University of Illinois at Chicago
Dept of Physiology & Biophysics
835 S. Wolcott Avenue
Chicago, IL 60612
Tel: 312.996.4161
Fax: 312.996.1414
Robert Tarrall
In article <garst-19129...@garst.chem.uga.edu>,
ga...@sunchem.chem.uga.edu (John Garst) writes:
> "Too bouncy" on less "solid" walls? This sounds backwards to me. I
> assume that both surfaces are hard. A "solid" wall gives less on impact
> with the ball. A less "solid" wall gives on impact and then rebounds.
> After the ball has left the less "solid" wall, the wall is left
> vibrating. You hear this as a sound that keeps echoing around the room
> for a while (on our courts, it is 5 seconds or more). To me, the clear
> implication is that the impact imparts energy to the wall. This energy is
> stolen from the ball. I think that this *must* result in a slower ball
> coming off the surface. That's certainly the way our (University of
I agree with the conclusions here but not the technique. :-)
Our concrete courts are noisy as hell, and have the most solid walls I've
ever played. I think the reason these courts are so noisy is that they
reflect sound well, without absorbing much of it's energy.
Recently, some of our courts were paneled over. The people who installed
the panels blew it, in my opinion, as the panels are only supported in
three columns across the front wall. As a result, the front wall plays
and sounds different depending on where you hit it. However... the courts
with the panels are *much* quieter than the concrete courts. I think this
is because the panel walls absorb the sound energy better... they also
don't play as fast as the concrete walls.
Plus, they hung the panels over the existing concrete walls so now our
courts are the wrong size, but that's a different matter.
> Georgia) new courts play. I think they are defective, but the contractor
> claims to have had them tested by a pro who pronounced them "excellent".
What a crock. How about *you*, or someone else at UGA, hire a pro to come
out and play the courts and decide if they're good or not? How the heck
is anyone supposed to trust someone that the concractor is paying?
By the way, you can find the AARA specs on court design on their Web page.
They include requirements for maximum movement of glass and non-glass walls,
both for maximum displacement and for how long they're allowed to vibrate
after being hit.
-Robert.-
Browar
John Garst wrote:
> In article <32B4AA...@borg.com>, Browar <bro...@borg.com> wrote:
> >...Now, if you are
> > unfortunate to be playing on courts with the 'wallboard mounted on
> > studs'
> "Too bouncy" on less "solid" walls?
Yes! If you look closely, you can even tell if you hit a stud or not
from the bounce. Everyone here agrees that the newer courts keep the
ball in play more because the ball bounces back higher but a bit slower.
Makes it hard to get a 'passing shot'. That's what I meant by 'too
bouncy'.
John Garst wrote:
This sounds backwards to me. I
assume that both surfaces are hard. A "solid" wall gives less on
impact
with the ball. A less "solid" wall gives on impact and then rebounds.
This is similar to the 'loose strings give more power'. (It depends on
time of contact, coefficients of bounce.)
After the ball has left the less "solid" wall, the wall is left
vibrating. You hear this as a sound that keeps echoing around the
room
for a while (on our courts, it is 5 seconds or more). To me, the
clear
implication is that the impact imparts energy to the wall. This
energy is
stolen from the ball. I think that this *must* result in a slower
ball
coming off the surface. That's certainly the way our (University of
Georgia) new courts play. I think they are defective, but the
contractor
claims to have had them tested by a pro who pronounced them
"excellent".
Seems defective to me. As far as total energy, you need to consider the
ball heating up also. It gets crushed more on a solid wall. And the
sound of the ball hitting. (but the wall vibrating shouldn't happen). I
haven't done the calculations #|:-(> I hate playing on closed courts.
Luckily, some have a balcony at the top to let out the noise. Bob_B.
Fritz Owens
On Fri, 20 Dec 1996 Ed Arias <ear...@uic.edu> wrote:
EA>It seems experience won over youthful power, at least that
EA>weekend.
I'd much rather state that as "Old age and treachery can beat youth and
skill ANY day!" <G>
Fritz Owens
Director of Membership & Ranking
Louisiana Racquetball Association
4819 Walmsley Ave.
New Orleans, LA 70125
Phone: (504) 865-7027
Fax: (504) 865-9630
e-mail:
Internet: fo...@gnofn.org
fritz...@bigfoot.com -OR- fritz...@worldnet.att.net
Fidonet: (1:396/28)
Fritz Owens
Wallboards give, cement doesn't. Wallboards have more "grain" than
plaster covered cement. So Wallboards have an advantage that cement
doesn't have. They give more "spin" to the ball and as a consequence,
pinch, reverse pinch and splat shots work much better. Cement has the
advantage in speed which many prefer. The power man likes the fast courts
and the control man likes the slower ones (wallboards). If you play a lot
of tournaments, you have to get used to ALL of them, a very daunting task.
Fritz Owens
Director of Membership & Ranking
Louisiana Racquetball Association
4819 Walmsley Ave.
New Orleans, LA 70125
Phone: (504) 865-7027
Fax: (504) 865-9630
e-mail:
Internet: fo...@gnofn.org
fritz...@bigfoot.com -OR- fritz...@worldnet.att.net
Fidonet: (1:396/28)
-------------------------original message below-------------
On Thu, 19 Dec 1996, John Garst wrote:
> In article <32B4AA...@borg.com>, Browar <bro...@borg.com> wrote:
>
> >...Now, if you are
> > unfortunate to be playing on courts with the 'wallboard mounted on
> > studs', these may tend to be too bouncy already and probably would be
> > worse with a livelier ball. My home courts' walls are as solid as > > come. On them, a lively ball favors using a variety of shots, such as
> > passing shots and not just going for the 'low,,,' ones.
>
> "Too bouncy" on less "solid" walls? This sounds backwards to me. I
> assume that both surfaces are hard. A "solid" wall gives less on impact
> with the ball. A less "solid" wall gives on impact and then rebounds.
> After the ball has left the less "solid" wall, the wall is left
> vibrating. You hear this as a sound that keeps echoing around the room
> for a while (on our courts, it is 5 seconds or more). To me, the clear
> implication is that the impact imparts energy to the wall. This energy is
> stolen from the ball. I think that this *must* result in a slower ball
> coming off the surface. That's certainly the way our (University of
> Georgia) new courts play. I think they are defective, but the contractor
> claims to have had them tested by a pro who pronounced them "excellent".
>
> I still think, however, that in this aspect they are lousy.
>
> John Garst ga...@sunchem.chem.uga.edu
>
>
Ed Arias
Hey Fritz...tone the treachery down a bit or the youngsters are gonna catch on. I just
went to a challenge court thing today and ran into an old friend named Erhart...he's
gotta be into his late 50's (at least) but he was taking on everyone...I'm only glad I
didn't have to play him. I did play him about 5 years ago (I was 35 then and still
pretty powerful and quick) and he gave me what called "tour de courte" (pardon my
french)...but after watching him play today...you're right it's all treachery. Happy
Holidays, Ed.
Fritz Owens wrote:
> I'd much rather state that as "Old age and treachery can beat youth and
> skill ANY day!" <G>
>
> Fritz Owens
>
> Director of Membership & Ranking
> Louisiana Racquetball Association
>
> 4819 Walmsley Ave.
> New Orleans, LA 70125
> Phone: (504) 865-7027
> Fax: (504) 865-9630
> e-mail:
> Internet: fo...@gnofn.org
> fritz...@bigfoot.com -OR- fritz...@worldnet.att.net
> Fidonet: (1:396/28)
--
zak64
I belong to Worldgate (Herndon VA)
It has 4 R-ball courts and 4 squash courts.
They charge $4 prime time court fee. they also have the highest monthy
dues for any heathclub in the area. And they dont have a pro.
What I want to know is> Are court fees a thing of the past??
Alex
Bill Hood
I pay $25.00 / month, can play all I want -no extra court fees -
zak64 <za...@erols.com> wrote in article <32C472...@erols.com>...
Gary L. Smith
zak64 <za...@erols.com> wrote:
>I belong to Worldgate (Herndon VA)
>It has 4 R-ball courts and 4 squash courts.
>They charge $4 prime time court fee. they also have the highest monthy
>dues for any heathclub in the area. And they dont have a pro.
>What I want to know is> Are court fees a thing of the past??
I live in the Montgomery, AL area, and have visited/been a member of
all the local clubs with courts. None charge their members for court
time, although reservations are of course recommended if you want to
be sure of getting your game in.
I have also visited some other courts in Alabama (I'm one of those
traveling salesman types), and never found a separate court fee,
except for one club in Huntsville which seemed to be rather the
struggling sort. I noticed *no one* was in their courts when I was
there (myself included - I was there on a free pass from the motel
where I was staying, but the pass didn't include court priviledges). I
think the sign I saw indicated that members of some sort of "gold
club" got free court time, whereas the more proletariat types had to
fork over extra.
I think that this sort of fee system is dead, along with the whole
1970's concept of health club as a wine-n-cheese sort of establishment
like a wanna-be country club. While Gold's Gyms rarely have
racquetball courts, I think the influence of national chains like
Bally's, Gold's and World have made the clubs with racquetball courts
eager to offer those and other amenities as bargaining chips rather
than profit centers.
For that matter, it occurs to me that most of the good racquetball
courts in the area are in YMCAs. I think they, being a non-profit,
look on them as something that's enjoyed by a reasonable proportion of
the members (ours stay pretty full in the evenings), as opposed to
pencil-whipping the square footage and determining that an @re()%ics
room would provide more revenue per cubic inch.
Gary
randy wheeler
zak64 <za...@erols.com> wrote in article <32C472...@erols.com>...
> I belong to Worldgate (Herndon VA)
> It has 4 R-ball courts and 4 squash courts.
> They charge $4 prime time court fee. they also have the highest monthy
> dues for any heathclub in the area. And they dont have a pro.
> What I want to know is> Are court fees a thing of the past??
> Alex
>
At this point in time I wouldn't mind paying court fees. My club just
closed down, the only one in town. I now have to drive about 50 to 60
miles to the next town. It was hard enough to try to stay competitive
before this happened. If anyone is interested in buying a small health and
racquet club, let me know. Randy Happy new year!
CS
I live in Portland, OR, and all the clubs that I have visited have
required no court fee. I have never even heard of a court fee. You just
pay your monthly dues and you're good to go.
One bad note, most clubs that offer wieght training and racquetball offer
memberships for racquetball and weights, or just weights (not JUST
racquetball), so you may be paying for alot of equipment you don't use.
Geoff
Gary L. Smith <gary...@mindspring.com> wrote in article
<5a7d53$d...@camel1.mindspring.com>...
> zak64 <za...@erols.com> wrote:
>
> >I belong to Worldgate (Herndon VA)
> >It has 4 R-ball courts and 4 squash courts.
> >They charge $4 prime time court fee. they also have the highest monthy
> >dues for any heathclub in the area. And they dont have a pro.
> >What I want to know is> Are court fees a thing of the past??
>
> I live in the Montgomery, AL area, and have visited/been a member o
<huge snip>
Bruce Dillingham
In article <01bbf673$5c19fea0$55acf4c7@stevens1>, "CS" <CS@CS> wrote:
<snip>
> One bad note, most clubs that offer wieght training and racquetball offer
> memberships for racquetball and weights, or just weights (not JUST
> racquetball), so you may be paying for alot of equipment you don't use.
>
> Geoff
>
> Gary L. Smith <gary...@mindspring.com> wrote in article
> <5a7d53$d...@camel1.mindspring.com>...
> > zak64 <za...@erols.com> wrote:
> >
> > >I belong to Worldgate (Herndon VA)
> > >It has 4 R-ball courts and 4 squash courts.
> > >They charge $4 prime time court fee. they also have the highest monthy
> > >dues for any heathclub in the area. And they dont have a pro.
> > >What I want to know is> Are court fees a thing of the past??
> >
> > I live in the Montgomery, AL area, and have visited/been a member o
>
> <huge snip>
Like those mentioned in several notes, our club has different membership
levels. A r'ball membership is a "full" membership, weights and exercise
only cost less. But, they have to pay court fees if they play r'ball. With
a "full" membership everything is included (except for the towel fee, the
locker fee, the tanning fee, etc etc).
Bruce
scott
> Like those mentioned in several notes, our club has different membership
>levels. A r'ball membership is a "full" membership, weights and exercise
>only cost less. But, they have to pay court fees if they play r'ball. With
>a "full" membership everything is included (except for the towel fee, the
>locker fee, the tanning fee, etc etc).
I cant believe there are clubs that still charge for court time...and
you wonder why racquetball loses a lot of people.....our club used to
charge I think it was $8 an hour..PLUS the member ship fee...no one
would play cause if you played 2 or 3 times a week, it would cost a
fortune...took me 3 years to finally convince them, to change it./.of
course the sports director took the credit for the idea then they
did......jerk!
scott
Pat Dreiding
The town recreation center I play at has a yearly fee of just $30.
7 Racquetball court and 1 converted squash court. You can reserve
a court no longer than 48 hours in advance for $2. Otherwise it's
a first come first serve.
Of the 7 courts, 2 are strictly challenge courts and cannot be reserved.
You'll find me there 2-3 times a week. After working hours :(
Initially (about 6 year ago) when the rec-center first opened they
charged $2 (yes, two dollars) for a 2 years membership. Those were the
days. :)
I hate New Years. For the next 4-6 weeks we get those born again racquet
ball players working on their new years resolution. The rec-center become
very crowded. Luckly it generally is over by mid February.
If you are one of those - my adivce is NOT to stop. Get back to playing
on a regular basis. It's no fun always "getting backing into shape".
Just Do It - For Many Years to Come!
Regards,
Pat
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Pat Dreiding e-mail: pat-dr...@ti.com
Plano Texas
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