If your PadelShooter occasionally struggles to feed balls or stops feeding altogether, the shooting wheels may be to blame. This is a known issue that can occur on certain court surfaces — here is what causes it and how to fix it.
What Causes Ball Blockage?
Some padel courts are made from a type of synthetic plastic material. Tiny fragments of this plastic work their way into the felt of the balls during play. When those balls pass through the shooting wheels, the friction generates heat — enough to melt the plastic fragments and leave a smooth, hard coating on the wheel surface.
Once the wheels become smooth, they lose grip on the balls. The machine can no longer “catch” and fire them properly, which eventually leads to a full ball blockage.
Sure there are other reasons for a ball block, like:
- a ball was almost through the hole and balances just above the hole. If the shooting wheels are not turning and the ball falls down, you have a ball block. Never start the machine with a ball in the machine before the shooting wheels, the ball will be a brake for the upper wheel to start turning. Always turn off the machine as soon as possible (risk for part damage on electronic board) and remove the ball (machine off!) by hand.
- when transporting the Padelshooter with balls inside the ball hopper, a ball might fall down. The shooting wheels are not turning and so the ball blocks the upper wheel and should be removed first.
We discuss now what to do with court material sticking around the shooting wheels.
What to Do Immediately
If a blockage occurs, turn the machine off immediately. Do not try to force more balls through. Remove any balls that are stuck in the feeding mechanism before attempting to use the machine again. To check if still a ball is inside, you can turn the upper wheel by hand and feel if a ball blocks the wheel.
Temporary Fix: Roughen the Wheel Surface
To restore grip, roughen the surface of the shooting wheels using a file or an electric file. This removes the smooth plastic layer and gives the wheels texture again.
This is a quick fix but not a permanent one — if the court surface is the cause, the problem is likely to return after continued use.
Permanent Fix: Add a Profile to the Wheels
The long-term solution is to add a tread pattern to the shooting wheels — similar to the grooves on a car tyre. This gives the wheels consistent grip regardless of any smooth buildup on the surface.
Once a proper profile is added, the blockage problem is resolved permanently.
Important: Cleaning the wheels with water does not work. The plastic layer hardens on the wheel surface and cannot be removed with water alone.
Watch: How to Add a Profile to the Shooting Wheels
The video below shows exactly how to add a tread profile to the shooting wheels of your PadelShooter:
Is This a PadelShooter-Specific Problem?
No. This issue can occur with any ball machine. The root cause is the court surface material, not the machine itself. If you play on synthetic plastic courts, it is worth checking your shooting wheels periodically and roughening them if you notice any loss of grip.