Patent ID: 8435141

Claim:
An apparatus comprising: a net; a set of lines associated with the net; a support system configured to be connected to posts on a tennis court, be connected to the set of lines, and change a tension in the set of lines, wherein the net is configured to catch a tennis ball striking a tennis net on the tennis court when a desired amount of tension in the set of lines is present, and wherein the net has a channel with a U-shape; the support system including a set of rods, wherein teach rod in the set of rods is configured to connect to a first side of the net and a second side of the net and maintain a desired amount of space between the first side of the net and the second side of the net when the desired amount of tension in the set of lines is present, and wherein a rod in the set of rods is connected to the first side by being movable attached to the first side; a connector system configured to connect the set of lines to the posts, the connector system comprising a set of cleats; and a ball channeling system configured to allow the tennis ball caught by the net to roll towards an end of the net including a first elongate member with a first channel in a surface of the first elongate member and a second elongate member with a second channel in a surface of the second elongated member, wherein the first elongate member is located on a first side of the tennis net, wherein the first elongate member extends from a first location from a center of the net towards a first end of the net and is configured to allow the tennis ball to roll towards the first end of the net, wherein the second elongate member is located on the first side of the tennis net, wherein the second elongate member extends from a second location from the center of the net towards a second end of the net and is configured to allow the tennis ball to roll towards the second end of the net.