Silent Partner Scoop SMART User manual

Owner’s Manual
Silent Partner Scoop: SMART
www.sptennis.com
SAFETY FIRST
The Silent Partner ball machine is capable of throwing tennis balls at high speed. Take all
necessary precautions to prevent ejected balls from striking people.
Do not allow children to use the machine and keep them at a safe distance from it, and from ejected
balls, when on court.
Do not insert your hands or foreign objects into the openings of the machine while it is running. The
throwing wheels must never be touched when they are spinning.
Exercise caution when carrying the machine. Careless lifting can result in injury. The handle must
never be used alone to lift the machine, especially when going up or down stairs. See lifting
procedure on page 8.

POSITIONING ON COURT
THE HOPPER
To install the hopper for play, lift it up
from the body of the machine, remove
the pin from the post shown in the
photo, and lay the hopper right-side-up
on top of the machine.
It is essential that the pin be inserted in
the post as shown in the picture.
Without the pin, the hopper will lift from
the machine during play and will allow
balls to become jammed.
Note that the handle is lowered during
play. This protects the handle and
provides for a free flow of balls in the hopper.
ALIGNING THE OSCILLATOR
When using the oscillator, begin by aligning the machine with the court by ensuring that the lower platter
is “square” with the court. The lower
platter is the part to which the rubber
feet are attached. Its front edge must
be parallel to the baseline (check both
sides). This will ensure that the machine
will swing equally to the left and right.
Note that it is not the body of the
machine that needs to be aligned with
the court but the stationary platter that
sits on the ground. The alignment fins
that jut out from under the machine
provide an easy way of checking on
alignment.
Tiny changes in angle can have big effects on where the ball lands on the other side of the court. For
maximum accuracy, you may need to fine tune the orientation of the machine by watching where balls
land.

THE CONTROL PANEL OF THE QUEST
POWER BUTTON
Power is turned ON and OFF by pressing the button in the
upper right hand corner. The red light above the button stays
on as long as the machine is on. The height adjustment goes
through a calibration procedure every time the machine is
turned on. Wait a few seconds until the “height lights” stop
flashing before using the machine. In battery powered Scoops,
there is also a toggle switch on the left of the machine (as one
looks at the panel). The toggle switch disconnects the battery
completely from the circuitry of the machine and is normally
only used when storing the machine for a long time. If it is
necessary to "reboot" the processor in the machine, the toggle
switch must be placed in the OFF position for at least 30
minutes. In AC machines, this is done by disconnecting the
power cord from the outlet.
PAUSE
The pause button controls ball feed. When the machine is
turned on, the feed automatically goes into pause. This is
reflected by the slow flashing of the light located above the
button. To start feed, press the pause button once. If you wish
to delay the start of feed by 15 seconds, press the pause button
continuously for two seconds until it starts flashing rapidly. This
will allow you to get to the other side of the court. For safety, a
beep will sound periodically during the delay and will get faster
just before feed starts.
BATTERY LEVEL INDICATOR
Three lights indicate the level of charge of the battery. Three
lights indicate a full battery, while no light indicates that it is
time to stop playing. The machine must be turned OFF to
check the battery. For best accuracy, wait a few minutes
before taking the reading. In AC machines, the level indicator
will show one or two lights.

SWEEP
This button allows you to select three forms of oscillation:
1. Random, horizontal. This will allow you to practice your baseline game.
2. Adaptive All-Court. This advanced feature will feed balls randomly horizontally
and vertically, for all-court coverage. The vertical oscillation is ADAPTIVE –
the computer provides the right amount of vertical oscillation for the SPEED and
SPIN that you have selected. Adaptiveness works up to a speed setting of 75, with flat throws
and with top spin, but not with backspin. To set the all-court oscillator, begin with the calibration
procedure shown on Page 6 then turn the all-court oscillation on.
3. DR (Select-A-Drill). This setting allows the
user to enter a sequence of shots by using the
Location Selector. To enter Select-A- Drill, press
the center baseline ball continuously until the DR
light flashes above the SWEEP button, then
press balls in the Location Selector in the desired
drill sequence. As a ball is pressed for the first
time, the light above it will turn on. The second
and third time a ball is pressed, the light above it
will flash to indicate that its location has been
entered in the drill more than once. You can
enter a 3 second pause in the drill sequence by
pressing the pause button (at top of panel). Each
press of the pause button introduces an additional
3 seconds of pause in the sequence. As balls are
entered in the sequence, the FEED window will show how many balls have been entered.
When the full desired sequence has been entered, press the SWEEP button to enter it in
memory. To start the sequence, select DR on the SWEEP button. The sequenced drill will play
back. After the last ball of the sequence has been thrown, the sequence will start again. Note
that you can achieve a 2-Line ball delivery by selecting only two ball locations.
ANGLE OF SWEEP
The angle of sweep for the Random and Adaptive All-Court oscillation
can be set by pressing any two baseline balls on the Location
Selector at the same time. The angle will be defined by these two
balls, allowing you to select a total of 10 angles. By default, the
angle is set at its widest, with the lights above the 5 baseline
balls lighting up. As you select another angle of feed, only the lights
above the balls within the new angle will light up.
In all modes, the oscillator will self-park in the center position
when turned off.
HEIGHT CONTROL
Pressing UP results in the ball being ejected increasingly
high, while pressing DOWN lowers the trajectory. The
elevation control stops at each end of the travel. The seven lights
between the two buttons provide a reference for the height
adjustment. Lights flash during height calibration every time
the machine is turned on, and between points in Match Play.
SPEED CONTROL
Ball ejection speed can be adjusted from a soft toss to a
challenging drive. Press the UP ARROW to increase speed, and
the DOWN ARROW to reduce it. Speed is shown in the window
between the two buttons.

FEED RATE
The interval at which balls are ejected can be adjusted from a full stop to a rapid fire rate. Pressing the
upper key increases the feed rate while pressing the lower key reduces it. The Feed rate is shown in the
window between the two buttons on a scale of 0 (full stop) to 10 (maximum).
SPIN CONTROL
Spin is generated by the relative speed of the two propulsion wheels. The seven lights between the two
buttons light up in sequence to show how much TOP spin or BACK spin is placed on the ball. The middle
light indicates that the ball is thrown “flat”. Press the TOP or BACK buttons to obtain the desired amount
of spin.
MEMORY
You can place the current HEIGHT, SPEED, FEED RATE
and SPIN settings in memory and retrieve them at a later time.
Press the MEMORY button repeatedly until the light
indicating the number of the desired memory lights up. Now
press the button continuously for 2 seconds to enter the
settings in memory. To retrieve the settings, select the
corresponding memory location.
MATCH PLAY
Match Play simulates points that you would play during a match. In all cases, the machine starts a
sequence of shots with a short ball in the deuce or ad side, followed by a series of shots that replicate
real match rallies. The difference between the three presets is in the length of the rally (5 shots for Preset
1, 8 for Preset 2, and 10 for Preset 3), the "rest" interval between rallies (8 sec for Preset 1, 12 sec for
Preset 2 and 18 sec for Preset 3), and the amount of topspin (low for Preset 1, moderate for Preset 2 and
high for Preset 3). The default values for Speed and Feed rate are the same for the three Presets (50
and 3 respectively) but you can enter your preferred values for SPEED, FEED and SPIN in each preset
by pressing the PRESET button repeatedly until the light indicating the number of the desired preset
lights up, then pressing the button continuously for 2 seconds to enter the settings in memory. Hum,
short points with relatively flat ball delivery, could you be playing on grass at Wimbledon? That's the idea
for Preset 1. More spin and longer rallies? Could that be the hard court of the US Open? Go ahead, the
Smart encourages you to dream. Long grueling rallies loaded with topspin? Voilà Paris! To use Match
Play, begin with the calibration procedure shown on page 6 then select the Match Play Preset.

SETTING UP FOR OSCILLATION

BALL PLACEMENT

THROWING HIGH LOBS
Very high lobs can be achieved by pressing the “UP” elevation button until the motor stops AND by
inclining the machine towards the rear.
The inclination of the machine is
achieved by flipping down the
metal foot shown in the picture.
Small changes in speed and spin
can have a big impact on the
trajectory of the ball when throwing
lobs, so experiment carefully with
your settings.
The oscillator can be turned on when the machine is throwing lobs.
This is a good time to take note of the small chain located in proximity to the metal foot. This is a ground
chain that protects against the accumulation of static electricity in the machine. The chain must hang
down (it will touch the court, or the metal foot, providing a ground connection in either case).
CARING FOR YOUR MACHINE
The Silent Partner requires very little maintenance. The bearings on all motors are lubricated for life and
no electronic adjustment is required. Maintenance consists primarily of the following preventative
measures:
1. Remove dirt from inside the machine by reaching inside through the ejection hole and wiping the
base with a damp cloth. The machine must be OFF!
2. The propulsion wheels are covered with a rubber dressing that does not require maintenance.
Grime from the balls will get deposited on the surface of the wheels, but it is not necessary to
remove it. If you wish to clean the surface of the wheels, you can scrub them with the scrubber
side of a kitchen sponge, using soap and water or, for a stronger action, using nail polish remover
(acetone).
3. When properly cared for, the internal battery that powers the machine has a life span of 2 to 4
years, after which it needs to be replaced. Care for your battery by stopping play when speed drops,
recharging the battery as soon as practical, and keeping it topped up. AC-powered machines do not
have an internal battery.
4. The remote’s battery needs to be replaced periodically. You may be able to obtain these batteries
from specialized battery suppliers, or you can purchase them from the factory (call 1-800-662-
1809 or order online).

ROLLING AND LIFTING THE MACHINE
RELEASING THE HANDLE
To release the handle from its
locked collapsed position, place the
palm of your hand in the lifting hole
and push the handle upward while
pressing the release button with
your thumb.
LIFTING THE SCOOP (BACK)
Note that the hand in this picture is
shown in the lifting point in the back
of the machine. By placing one
hand in the hole under the locked
handle, and the other hand in the
lifting hole in the front of the
machine, lifting can be done
efficiently.
LIFTING THE SCOOP (FRONT)
This picture shows the front lifting hole high up on
the machine. To lift the machine, grip the front of
the machine with one hand, and the back of the
machine under the locked handle with the other
hand as shown in the picture above (do not unlock
the handle). Because the two lifting points are
located high on the machine, it is possible to lift the
Silent Partner Scoop without needing to “bear hug”
the machine from underneath.
READY TO ROLL
The machine is shown here ready to be rolled. Note
that the hopper is placed securely on top of the body
of the machine and the handle is fully extended.
To roll the machine, tilt the handle towards the back
until the rolling wheels are securely in contact with
the ground. You can now maneuver the machine
effectively over a variety of terrains. For maximum
durability, it is best to lift the machine when the path
is very rough, such as over gravel or potholes.
The handle is not designed to carry the entire weight of the machine. The machine should not be lifted
only from the handle, especially when going up or down stairs.

BATTERY CHARGER JACK
Battery-powered Scoops are delivered with a smart battery
charger that mounts in ordinary wall outlets. It takes about 10
hours to charge the battery. The charger can stay connected to
the machine for long periods of time but must be disconnected
during play.
REMOTE STORAGE POCKET
A pocket molded into the base of the panel allows you to keep
the remote safely in the machine when not in use. Get in the
habit of always storing the remote in the pocket.
RESET BUTTON
If the reset button pops during play, check for obstructions
of the propulsion wheels. Never use wet balls and make sure
that the chute that leads balls to the propulsion wheels is always clear of balls.
REMOTE CONTROL
The 22-button remote of the STAR can control all functions on the
machine except for checking the level of the battery and setting ball
locations.
1. For safety, you need to press the POWER button for two
seconds to start the machine.
2. The machine goes in sleep mode after four hours of inactivity.
When in sleep mode, the machine can only be turned on from the
panel.
3. The Memory function offers a STOP button (square icon) that
allows coming out of all memories without toggling. The Preset
and Sweep functions have similar buttons.
The remaining functions on the remote behave in the same way as they
do on the panel.
For best results when far from the machine, raise the remote above your
shoulder when sending a command. This also signals to others on
court that a change is about to occur.
Note: This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to part 15 of the FCC Rules.
These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates,
uses and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to
radio communications. However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause
harmful interference to radio or television reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try
to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures: Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna; Increase the separation between
the equipment and receiver; Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is connected. Consult
factory for help.

TROUBLESHOOTING SIMPLE PROBLEMS
(Check www.sptennis.com/service for service procedures)
THROW CONSISTENCY: The main reason for inconsistency in ball throws is that dead balls are not
thrown as fast as new balls. Avoid mixing balls of different firmness.
SHORT BATTERY LIFE Battery life drops dramatically at lower temperatures. If battery life is abnormally
short even in warm weather, you may need to replace the battery.
MACHINE DOES NOT RUN Begin by checking if the reset button has popped. If so, push it down after
investigating the cause of the problem (most likely balls preventing the propulsion wheels from turning).
CAROUSEL DOES NOT TURN Check that the feed rate is not set at 00 and that the machine is not on
pause. You can try to turn the carousel by hand (gently). If the carousel turns without engaging the
motor, call the factory (1-800-662-1809).
REMOTE CONTROL DOES NOT WORK The remote control consists of a transmitter (small hand held
device) and a receiver (installed in the machine). Problems of reception are usually caused by a weak
battery in the transmitter (see last entry on previous page).
Silent Partner offers complete service on its tennis ball machines. Because the work is performed
at the factory, you can be assured of the skill of our technicians and the quality of the parts used
in servicing your machine. Call 1-800-662-1809.
WARRANTY
(Valid only for machines in the United States and Canada)
Deuce Industries warrants Silent Partner ball machines for a period of one year from the date of original
purchase. The warranty covers defects in the material and workmanship. Deuce Industries' obligation
under this warranty is limited to the original purchaser and applies to the cost of labor and materials to
repair a warrantable defect (please note that the battery in the machine and in the remote are not
covered by the warranty).
To obtain warranty service, call or write Deuce Industries Ltd. to obtain instructions on how to proceed.
No returns will be accepted without prior authorization. Shipping to Deuce Industries must be prepaid.
After completing warranted repairs, Deuce Industries will pay for return shipment to you.
This warranty does not cover units damaged by neglect, accident, abuse, or unauthorized repair or
modification or if subjected to damage by failure to follow instructions contained in this manual.
DEUCE INDUSTRIES LTD
Phone: [phone] Fax: [phone] Email: spt[email protected]
Head Office: (not for shipping) Warehouse in USA:
500 Coronation Drive Unit 10 2221 Kenmore Ave. Unit 106
Toronto, Ontario Buffalo, NY 14207
Canada M1E 4V7 USA