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hen Cliff Fiore started playing pickleball, it was
the mid-1980s and he was working as an engineer
for Boeing. While he loved the sport, his growing
family never afforded him the chance to play as much as he
wanted, so he did what engineers do best – he set out to solve
the problem.
“I needed to figure out a way to practice and play by
myself,” he said. “Something that could let me work through
different drills and allow me the flexibility to train whenever
I wanted. That’s when I developed the RTS Pickleball
Rebounder.”
Today, Fiore calls the RTS Rebounder “the first rebounder
on the market designed specifically for pickleball.” He
acknowledges that there are other products out there, but
maintains those are merely adaptations of rebounders
typically used for tennis.
“The unique feature of our rebounders is the ability to
adjust the panel angle. The steeper the angle, the higher
the loft of the ball rebound,” he said. “This allows players
to learn and practice a variety of different shots that other
products can’t offer. With our product, you can even position
the rebound panel at a negative angle to replicate playing at
the no-volley zone line—where balls tend to come back from
an opponent aimed at your feet—and also use it to practice
overhand smashes. Virtually any shot you experience during a
game can be replicated with the RTS Rebounder.”
Spending years in development, Fiore finally perfected his
designs and now the company, Racquet Training Specialists
(RTS), offers a complete line of six different rebounder
models–two small versions (Dink and Dink Plus), a medium
size model (The All-Court), and a large model (The Club). The
Pro model, designed for advanced players, features a small
rebound panel to simulate the “sweet-spot window” located
directly above the net line. There’s also a wall-mounted
version for people with
limited space. All of the
models offer players the
ability to return shots from
up to five different panel
angle positions.
Out of the box, you’re
getting a product made
with a steel frame that’s
available in three different
polymer-dipped, color
coatings that protect the
rebounder from weathering
and UV fading. Panels come
in green or modern tennis
court blue and are of a
62
Dink Plus:
The most compact RTS rebounder.
“Virtually any shot you experience
during a game can be replicated
with the RTS rebounder.”
solid-core, high-density material. The free-standing models
roll easily on industrial-grade casters that feature individual
locking mechanisms. The net is positioned at the legal net
height of 34 inches on center. The entire unit disassembles
into two easy-to-carry pieces that only take up 6 inches of
space against a wall when stored. To provide some variety
when practicing, RTS also offers circular target decals that
can be placed on the rebound panel so players can aim for
a specific target area, and line tape for creating zones for
precision shot-making. Turnaround time on orders is typically
just two days, unless you customize your order, which is also
welcomed by the company.
One area where business is booming, Fiore said, is with
clubs, where the RTS Rebounder is making significant
inroads as indispensable practice equipment for pickleball
players.“Clubs like it because it’s so easy to use and so easy
for players to start working with.”
Quite often, beginners who see our product are initially
intimidated and question if they could consistently hit the
rebound panel. We advise players to begin by standing
about 5 feet away and start hitting practice dinks. Within
2-3 minutes, they start to get comfortable and are then
able to move further and further back. Everyone develops
the rhythm,” he said. And shot-wise, using a rebounder is
an incredibly efficient training aid. You get more shots in a
matter of minutes using a rebounder than in a full hour of
real pickleball, so you’re getting a more focused practice
session and an even better workout.”
For more information on the RTS Pickleball Rebounder,
including a video clip demonstrating different ways the
product can be used, visit www.rtsrebounder.com.
TO SUBSCRIBE CALL 888.308.3720 OR GO TO THEPICKLEBALLMAG.COM