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Q: Who is Master Sports,
LLC?
A: Master
Sports, LLC, (Master Sports) is a manufacturer and distributor of
premium quality sporting goods equipment. For over ten years Master
Sports manufactured the Prince®
tennis ball machines under a license agreement. In January 2006 Master
Sports changed the brand to SAM®.
Q: How do the SAM® ball
machines and Prince® ball machines compare?
A: Other than the different brand names,
the machines are identical in performance. The SAM® ball
machines are made on the same production line with the same rigorous
standards as the Prince® ball machines that had been made by
Master Sports, LLC, for the last ten years.
|
Prince® Brand Models |
SAM® Brand Models |
| Little Prince®
- Model 1 |
iSAM®
|
| Little Prince®
- Model 2 |
iSAM®
Plus |
| Prince®
Portable Model 1 |
SAM®
SP-1 |
| Prince®
Portable Model 2 |
SAM®
SP-2 |
| Prince®
Portable Model 3 |
SAM®
SP-3 |
| Prince®
Portable Model 4 |
SAM®
SP-4 |
| Prince®
Surefire |
SAM®
Sport |
| Prince®
Hotshot |
SAM®
Coach |
Q: What is SAM®?
A: SAM®
is the registered brand name used and owned by Master Sports, LLC. It
was developed as the acronym for "Sports
Action
Machines"
and was first used in conjunction with the big SAM®
Robot in the mid-1990's.
Q: What is the difference
between a "standard" charger and a "smart" charger?
A: A
standard charger applies a specific set voltage that charges your
battery. Once the battery is fully charged, a standard charger must be
removed from the battery. If the charger is not disconnected from the
battery, the battery may overcharge which will cause it to overheat and
could damage the battery which will reduce battery life and its ability
to retain a charge. Conversely, if the charger is disconnected from the
battery before the battery is fully charged, the battery is not at a
fully charged state and over time will lose its capacity to hold a
charge (thereby shortening battery life.)
A smart
charger has a "smart" chip in the charging circuit that monitors the
voltage. The smart chip allows you to safely fast charge your battery
without worrying about overcharging it. Smart chargers will charge your
battery more consistently because it can sense when your battery has
reached a full charge by measuring the voltage rise and change. It will
then switch to a trickle charge which will keep the battery fully
charged until use. The smart chip also protects your battery from
overcharge and overheating which will further extend the life of your
battery.
All of our battery operated machines come
with smart chargers.
Q: Is Smart Charging
important?
A: With a
smart charger you can leave your ball machine plugged in all winter and
your battery will be topped off and ready to go in the spring. With a
standard charger you will need to disconnect the ball machine after it
is fully charged and then reconnect it every two weeks for an hour or
two to top off the battery. Which scenario sounds more convenient to
you? (Unlike our competitors, we don't charge extra for smart
chargers--they come as a part of your ball machine purchase.)
Q: What type of tennis
balls should be used in a ball machine?
A: All
standard size tennis balls (both pressurized and pressure-less) will
work in our machines. Although the oversized "rally" balls will fit in
our machines, we do not recommend using them as they can cause ball
jams.
Q: What is the difference
between iSAM® and SAM®?
A: The iSAM®
Portable machines throw a flat tennis ball without imparting any spin on
the ball. The SAM® machines, both Professional Portable and
Commercial machines, have the ability to impart varying degrees of top
and back spin on the tennis balls, as well as no-spin balls.
(The iSAM®
Portable machines were designed with the individual player in mind.)
Q: Will iSAM®
or SAM® portable machines fit in the trunk of my car?
A: Yes,
both the iSAM® and SAM® portable machines will fit
into the trunk of most cars. The iSAM® Portable machine
base unit is less than 16 inches (~40 cm) tall. The SAM®
portable machine is less than 20 inches (~50cm) tall.
Q:
How is the iSAM®
Portable transported?
A: The iSAM® Portable machine
has two reinforced web straps that are mounted to the front and back
base of the machine, allowing the machine to be carried like a duffle
bag.
Q:
How is the SAM®
Professional Portable transported?
A: The SAM® Professional
Portable machines have two transport wheels on one end of the machine
and a retractable handle on the other end of the machine. (See picture
below.)
Q:
How do the iSAM® and SAM® battery operated
machines get recharged?
A: Every iSAM® and SAM®
battery operated machine includes a smart charge battery charging
system. The charger is plugged into the AC outlet and the other end of
the charger is plugged into the charging connector on the machine.
Q:
What is included in the purchase of a machine?
A: All of our portable, battery operated
machines include a battery, a smart charger, and oscillation.
Q:
Is the charger included with the battery operated machine?
A: Yes, a smart charger is included with
the battery operated machine.
Q:
What kind of charger is included with a battery operated machine?
A: A smart charger is included with the
battery operated machine.
Q:
Can the machine run off of the charger if the battery is dead?
A: No, a battery charger is designed to
only charge the battery. To run a machine requires more current than
the battery charger is capable of providing.
Q:
What kind of batteries are used in the battery operated ball machines?
A: Our battery operated ball machines
typically have one or two, 12 volt sealed lead acid 7.5 ampere hour
batteries.
Q:
Does it cost extra for a battery operated ball machine?
A: Our battery operated machines are the
same price as our electric-only operated machines. The only time we
charge more is when someone wants both capabilities.
Q:
Does it cost extra for a electric-only operated ball machine?
A: Our electric-only operated machines
are the same price as our battery operated machines. The only time we
charge more is when someone wants both capabilities.
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