Homemade Tennis Ball Launcher

Pretend “war” games often require providing backup firepower for those advancing towards enemy lines. You can make a homemade tennis ball launcher to use as a “mortar” for firing at the enemy while your troops advance to win the day. You will need a few supplies that you can find in most households or hardware stores. Adult supervision when using the tennis ball launcher is a requirement if you are underage, since an ignitable propellant is used to shoot the tennis ball.

Things You'll Need

• Newspaper
• 4-inch diameter PVC pipe, 6 inches long
• 4-inch diameter PVC right angle pipe
• 4-inch diameter PVC cap
• Portable drill
• 1-inch drill bit
• Barbecue grill lighter
• Bonding glue
• Tennis ball

Instructions

1. Place a sheet of newspaper on a table to protect the surface. Stand the PVC pipe on the newspaper.

2. Apply bonding glue around the rim of the top end of the PVC pipe. Place one end of the PVC right angle pipe onto the end of the PVC pipe that has the bonding glue on it. Let the bonding glue set for five hours.

3. Place the PVC cap on the newspaper. Drill a hole through the center of the PVC cap with the portable drill.

4. Place bonding glue around the rim of the PVC cap. Place the PVC cap onto the free end of the PVC right-angle pipe. Let the bonding glue set for five hours.

5. Insert the tip of the barbecue grill lighter into the hole in the PVC cap. Apply bonding glue around the hole to cement the lighter to the sides of the PVC cap. Let the bonding glue set for five hours.

6. Go outside in your backyard. Place the end of the PVC pipe that has the PVC right-angle pipe onto the ground. Angle the other end of the PVC pipe towards the “enemy,” for example, a tree or bush.

7. Spray hair spray into the open end of the PVC pipe. Remove the hair spray can after 10 seconds of hair spray has been sprayed.

8. Drop the tennis ball “mortar” into the open end of the PVC pipe that is now your tennis ball launcher. Depress the fire button on the Barbecue grill lighter to fire the tennis ball “mortar” out towards the “enemy.”

Tips & Warnings

• Wear goggles and work gloves to protect yourself when using the tennis ball launcher you have made.

• Never fire your homemade tennis ball launcher at a person who is not engaged in a paintball game.

References

• Dangerously Fun: Ping-Pong Pistol

Resources

• Experience Festival: Mortar Weapon-History