I have been a ball boy for the Wimbledon tennis championships for 2011, 12, 13 and going to be 14. I've pretty much ball boyed every top player in tennis it's been great. People always seem interested when I mention it in person and thought I would do a AMA.

Proof One:http://imgur.com/9srrqwC (Some kit for this year, my pass is visible on the right, and some old trainer boxes from them)

Proof Two:http://i.imgur.com/hwwvDWI.jpg (Picture of Federer with me in background)

Anymore questions people have, feel free to leave them I'll be sure to see them as I spend a bit of time on Reddit.

Comments: 216 • Responses: 83  • Date: 

MilkOfMagnificent91 karma

Do you hope to one day be a ball man?

MrKentman49 karma

Soon

dangerdann26 karma

How often do you get hit by a stray ball?

MrKentman31 karma

I've been hit three times in my previous three years. First clipped the inside of my leg narrowing missing my **** directly, second somehow hit my foot when Federer and someone was warming up (Picture in my proof)and the last was when I got hit in my **** a 135mph serve (not forgetting that one!) Once a year so I'm on track for this year.

dangerdann10 karma

I imagine that had to leave a huge welt or bruise.

MrKentman25 karma

Crowd just went "ohhhhh" and player didn't really care and went for the second serve

Mawax14 karma

Did your family see that live? I would have rofl'd :3

MrKentman31 karma

No my dad would of played it on repeat if it was

MrKentman4 karma

Something like that, but a serve!

THcB22 karma

We saw a lot of coverage of Djokovic's interaction with a ballboy during a rain delay a week or so back. Have you had extended conversations or interactions with some of the players?

MrKentman46 karma

Unfortunately not really, the only one I remember is when John McEnroe was playing a gentleman's invitation and got annoyed at a ball called in and asked me if it was in. We're not allowed to comment and I just stood there and said "I don't know"....it was in

Digitaldude55517 karma

Is there any chance you will be ball boy in the final?

And which player do you like best/worst?

MrKentman42 karma

I could as its my fourth year and I'm pretty good (they pick the more experienced ones for men's final) so fingers crossed! And probably Federer for my fav as I just love him and worst probably Sharapova, just cause of her grunt.

AlfredHawthorneHill32 karma

worst probably Sharapova, just cause of her grunt

A-fucking-men. Sharapova's grunts and Azarenka's bird-calls are intolerable. When Monica Seles introduced the excessively audible exclamation to women's tennis I was on her side but I have come to rue how commonly male and female tennis players accompany every shot with some grating outburst.

The only thing I find more annoying in tennis is the habit of some players - Nadal comes to mind - to take forever to serve. Bouncing the ball onto the court a few hundred times before serving in no way improves one's game, regardless of how many titles one has.

MrKentman6 karma

Yeah so true! You can hear her grunt from the outside courts when she play on centre!

BrQQQ14 karma

What are the rewards for doing this? Do you get a financial compensation?

MrKentman45 karma

Some money, Ralph Lauren, food, time off school and bragging rights.

bunnymeninc2 karma

Define some money? I'm in the same age group as you and make $6/h plus tips.

MrKentman5 karma

We get around £180 for the two weeks. And we arrive there around 10am each day (apart from middle Sunday) and can leave anywhere between 9pm and 10pm (depends if theres a match on Center court)

osprey811 karma

Because you're under 16 they need to give you more frequent breaks though, right? I'm just thinking of when I worked at Sainsburys, anyone who was under 16 was entitled to a break (by UK law) even if they were only working for 4 hours (everyone over 16 only got a break if they worked more than 4 hours). Coz some of those matches go on awfully long... do they rotate fresh ball-boys/girls in if the match goes on for longer than 4 hours?

MrKentman5 karma

We only work for an hour on court at a time. So we're on court for an hour, come off, and go back on. We don't necessarily go back to the same match though. We normally do like 4/5 shifts a day.

MrKentman8 karma

He seems better then me. Slightly awkward.

MrKentman3 karma

On par ;)

PushToEject3 karma

*than

MrKentman4 karma

My bad.

sirnoah2711 karma

when ppl ask what u do for a living do u respond "I handle famous athletes balls"?

MrKentman19 karma

Whenever I mention it they do :)

JustAYeah10 karma

What is the best part of being a ballboy? Do you have any weird or interesting stories?

MrKentman30 karma

The experience. It's so amazing being there and being around the greatest players. Also we got a lot of Ralph Lauren clothing, and I mean a lot!

mazariegoscimini9 karma

how does one become a ballboy?

MrKentman13 karma

We have to be in year 9 or 10 at participating schools around the area. Our school selects people to try out and they decide if you carry on. We then go through a 6 month training schedule (doing training once a week after school) until the champs where we could be kicked out anytime! After our first year training decreases and we do less (I done like 1 re selection and training this year as its my 4th champs)

econkosaur8 karma

Can you expand on the training part? What do they look for in a great ballboy vs. a mediocre one?

MrKentman14 karma

A lot of feeding (throwing the ball properly),a lot of rolling tennis balls, a lot of fitness. We do a lot of practice games. And also have a few theoretical tests to test the rules and what to do in situations.

MrKentman12 karma

Oh and they look for speed, focus and accuracy. You'd be surprised the practice it takes to roll a ball flat, fast and straight.

GreenEggsAndHamX7 karma

How did you do on the "If you can catch a wrench, you can catch a tennis ball" exercise?

MrKentman12 karma

Let's just say A & E was quite busy that afternoon

eternityinspace8 karma

Best match you've ever ballboyed?

MrKentman20 karma

Nadal vs Rosol (2012) He got beat by the No.100, amazing atmosphere and pressure on centre court then.

atheistpaperboy8 karma

Are you Alex Rider?

MrKentman5 karma

I'm not the guy out of Stormbreaker if that's what you're asking ;)

Nothematic8 karma

How old are you?

MrKentman11 karma

17

AnnaSpink8 karma

Based on your time around him, what's your honest opinion of Andy Murray?

MrKentman15 karma

He's the one player I have never done! :'( I'll hopefully do him this year but others say he can be annoying and quite arrogant. But I can't say myself though :(

Rusty04127 karma

can you really tell differences between balls? Players look at balls, and reject one or two. I would expect these balls to have a uniform wear. Also, how often are balls changed?

MrKentman14 karma

Honestly I think they do it cause everyone else does it. The balls always look fine to me and chances are you're going to use it in the next couple of points. Balls are changed from the first seven games, then every nine (warm-up counts as two games)

JAXon_JAXoffs7 karma

Can you speak on Serena Williams' booty?

MrKentman42 karma

Big

EVER_DANCING_BABOON6 karma

How strong is the temptation to troll the players when you hand them balls ?

MrKentman25 karma

"You want ball? Go fetch then"

Infiniteuniverses6 karma

How did you become a ball boy? Also, do you ever think about the fact that you might be shown on television which hundreds of millions of people around the world, rich and poor, will be observing you?

MrKentman7 karma

Through my school. There part of the training program. It's truly amazing the thought. I'm in the position to the right of the umpires chair and across the court. That means i'm on the top left on screens during a rally so I always have to be still as it would get noticed on TV. My mum saw me on centre court once when she was watching.

Seraph_Grymm6 karma

Do the athletes treat you well, or do they typically ignore you? Which ones stand out as complete jerks?

MrKentman14 karma

Most of them do. Some players can be overly picky. One player, can't remember wanted the balls given to him slowly. I didn't know this, and was my first year so was pretty nervous on court, and he got frustrated as he couldn't speak English either.

Seraph_Grymm4 karma

and got frustrated as he couldn't speak English either.

I didn't even think of this, that has to be a pain in the ass

MrKentman8 karma

Some players literally can't speak any! It's frustrating when they ask for something and you have no idea what they mean.

PoopNoodle5 karma

Whose sweat smells the best?

Men:

Women:

MrKentman7 karma

Haha I have no idea lets just go with ladies

psychoticpinneaple5 karma

Do you get to keep the shirts? Also can you tell Ana Ivanovic that I love her?

MrKentman11 karma

Yeah we keep it all (comes to like £1000 per person). And will do ;)

brians77724 karma

Awesome AMA man! Who are you taking for Wimbledon 2014?

MrKentman11 karma

Wow tough. I would like Murray cause I'm British but would like Federer too, cause I love him (no homo) and he'd become the Wimbledon titles leader with 8 titles. So torn between them.

lmi64 karma

Do you get nervous being around the athletes? Also, how are the ball boys selected? Do the ones who have been to these championships for more years get picked to be around the top athletes? One more question: are you rooting for Nadal or Djokovic in the French Open final?

MrKentman7 karma

You don't really get nervous. I was at first but you just got to get on and do your job. More experienced ball boy/girls, get on better teams that are normally selected for better players. I love Djokovic but want Nadal to carry on being the King of Clay.

flyingcitrus4 karma

When you work a match, do you stay for the whole time, or do you rotate if it goes too long?

Also, is Berdych a jerk? He seems like a jerk.

MrKentman11 karma

We work in hour shifts, hour on hour off. Kind of...maybe....yes

420Baz4 karma

How does it feel to not be able to look at the match very often?

MrKentman12 karma

Oh we do. We just move our eyes and not our heads. Ball boying just becomes second nature and you always know what to do before it even happens.

RoomShambles4 karma

Ever rubbed one out to Serena Williams?

420Baz25 karma

There's always that one guy who asks a question like this

MrKentman14 karma

Haha she came and stood next to me while waiting for the other player. No touching but quite intimidating!

gazzawhite3 karma

Do you ever worry about getting drilled in the head from a wayward shot?

MrKentman6 karma

More about the balls. Especially when their big servers as well.

onedayinmygarden3 karma

[deleted]

MrKentman21 karma

Not at Wimbledon, but after it's all over there's a gathering/party that happens and everyone comes and has fun. What happens, happens ;)

runandbecome3 karma

Get off my lawn (I live near the common) you pesky kids and your after party each year, grumble, grumble.

MrKentman1 karma

Sorry. I'm one of the ones that just talks (quite a quite person). I'll keep them in check this year ;)

P.S Come and join us this year ;)

runandbecome3 karma

Ha ha can't believe how crazy it get's, last year I went for a run at 5.30am on the Monday morning and there were still a few people on the common from the night before.

MrKentman3 karma

I normally leave like 11/12. Dang kids!

Mundilfaeri3 karma

[deleted]

MrKentman10 karma

I'm terrible at tennis! I love watching it though. I got into ball boying when it was offered at my school and all my friends tried out and I didn't want to be left out, so I tried and made it, while they all didn't.

Mundilfaeri2 karma

[deleted]

MrKentman5 karma

Cheers! Best seats in the house

D4rkd3str0yer3 karma

Do you ever get to meet the athletes? If so, who is the coolest one you've met so far?

MrKentman7 karma

Not really. I met Tim Henman when he came done and spoke to us. We don't really interact with the players.

KaiserJovan3 karma

Have you seen any ball boy efforts at Wimbledon that can rival the Aussies?

MrKentman4 karma

I remember seeing that before. I remember seeing a centre (person that runs across the net) jump up and narrowly miss a terribly aimed serve. It was at a decent speed as well.

walsm0023 karma

Load of mates ball boy for Wimbledon as well. Do you know Richard Barber? Done it last few years. My question is how do maintain neutral face when watching Nadal bs Rosol, isn't it hard not to smile cheer when a massive point happens?

MrKentman5 karma

I remember a guy called Richard who'd done it before. It isn't as hard, you just gotta focus and do it. Some points are tempting though especially the amazing shots.

walsm0025 karma

I'm having a hard time remembering who did it, Oscar King, Niall Johnson? Kids from sutton grammar, if you don't mind me asking what school do you go to?

MrKentman8 karma

I know Oscar and I go to Beacon

Saltypork3 karma

Are British balls fuzzier than American balls?

MrKentman7 karma

Can't believe I'm about to say this, our balls seem pretty smooth. Tennis balls!

Yonald3 karma

I have Centre court tickets this year, if I spot you I will give you a big HELLO my fellow Redditor!

I was also at the quarter finals last year for both Djokovic vs Del Potro & Murray vs Jerzy Janowicz. Where you participating in that one?

Have a wonderful summer :)

MrKentman3 karma

Haha great! I will be sure to stand there and take no notice (but secretly take more notice then I do to the players!) I actually did do a bit of the Del Potro vs Djokvic match last year! That's so cool thinking you were somewhere in the crowd! And thanks :)

Yonald2 karma

I was remarkably close to the front as well. I arrived around an hour prior to the match starting so that we could see the stadium completely empty. It really is a beautiful venue.

Both matches were incredible, it was one of the absolute best days of my life.

I am genuinely going to wolf-whistle and yell "somethingsomething Kentman". If I don't at least see a grin there is going to be trouble!

ninja edit for pic

MrKentman3 karma

Don't worry I will make sure to keep an hear out! In your picture I stand in the far right corner of the court. I remember in 2012 my team opened center for the first match of the year. It was one of the most memorable moments of my life as well. Crowd packed, sun beaming down and the crowd clapped us on. Amazing!

MrKentman2 karma

Oh I forgot, when we get marked by a supervisor they stand somewhere in that area. We always try to spot them and signal to each other that we're being assessed. So chances are I glanced over at you while trying to spot them!

hoodyuplod3 karma

do you receive good pay for been a ballboy ?

MrKentman2 karma

We only get like £180 for the two weeks. But we get a ton of Ralph Lauren and when you're around 15 years old and still in school, its pretty nice.

imjack3 karma

Sounds cool! I go to Glenthorne High School, near Wimbledon, but I know a few people from Rutlish who were selected, do you know Josh Richards?

MrKentman2 karma

Lots of people do it and there's a few Josh's I know. But I know you're school does it!

econkosaur3 karma

What would you say the ratio of ball boys to ball girls is? Do you and your fellow ball boys/girls form a pretty tight knit group or is it a sort of competitive environment?

MrKentman6 karma

Its pretty even. It's definitely a great group and we're pretty much a little family. Not many can say what we do. And there's always a little competition on who will get on the best team and best players,

duttong3 karma

Are you taught how to run and how to pick a ball up? Is it a community feeling around the other ball boys and girls?

MrKentman11 karma

We're taught rules of tennis (I didn't know any), how to roll and give the player a tennis ball and what to do on court. It's a great community we have

TeamBAWS2 karma

  1. Is there a pecking order in the jobs? It seems like the younger folk are running the nets.

  2. What is the most desirable job on the day? (responsibility rather than match or court)

  3. How many ballboys/girls are there in total for the Championships?

  4. Do you actually play tennis?

MrKentman6 karma

  1. Taller people tend to be bases (stand at the back) while smaller people run the nets. More experienced people tend to get better courts/players.

  2. Not really any 'desirable jobs' apart from being on court. There's a job called ref's duty where you have to sit outside the referees office and get told to deliver stuff to certain courts. It can be boring but when you get asked to deliver stuff to centre courts it cool!

  3. There's about 250 ball boys/girls

  4. I would love too but I'm terrible!

TeamBAWS1 karma

Thanks! I can sympathise at being terrible, since at 6'4" I regularly lose 6-1 or 6-0 to my 5'2" girlfriend. Boo.

MrKentman5 karma

For me its getting a ball over the net lol

jjrude032 karma

how did you get this awesome gig?!?!

MrKentman3 karma

I go to a school that was selected to send kids to try and out and I made it through their tough selection and training

doctorwhodds2 karma

How hot does it get out there? Can you drink water during the breaks?

MrKentman3 karma

Depends you know. Can get pretty hot. We have a bottle of water that we bring on and are allowed to drink a bit when the players are sitting down.

kuyakew2 karma

Best player you've interacted with? Worst?

MrKentman6 karma

One of the best was Nadal. I love him and when I ball boyed him and I had to do his towel (I don't normally do a players towel). He spoke to me and said "only two balls". Worst was probably an awkward situation with John McEnroe in a gentlemen's invitation match. He asked me to comment on a line call, and we're not allowed. Just stood there and said "Don't know". Awkward cos he was wrong.

ozzander2 karma

[deleted]

MrKentman4 karma

Through my school

edfitz832 karma

What do they do with the balls after matches?

MrKentman4 karma

We have to take them to a place called 'ball store' where all the balls are kept. We then get new balls to bring back to the court. They then just sell them I think I dunno.

entirely122 karma

[deleted]

MrKentman5 karma

We come from like 50 or so secondary schools

smitd242 karma

As a 19 year old, 6'1" male, what are my chances of making it as a ball boy for the US Open?

alex74658 karma

The US open holds open tryouts every year, there is no age limit... I remember there being a news story of a 50 yr old ball boy a couple years ago. Wimbledon's rules for ball people are totally different...

MrKentman6 karma

Ah fair enough sorry I don't know about the US

MrKentman5 karma

We can do it up to year 13 (aged 18) so I'm sorry but unlikely :(

JonasBrosSuck1 karma

why is there age restriction?

MrKentman1 karma

I don't know, I guess its to allow new kids to try out and get in. Each year it gets harder for old ones to get in though so this is my fourth so pretty high standards for us. I guess its also because we come from surrounding schools and 18 is the oldest age you get in sixth form and colleges, before uni.

Mus7ache2 karma

I'm a bit late here, but there's something I always wondered:

Do you have a set position that you occupy every match? For example, is your default position in the top-left corner every time?

MrKentman3 karma

Nah its cool don't worry. Yeah we do. When it starts we get put into teams. So we are normally with the same people throughout and in the same positions, unless anything happens. So I've always been in the top left corner.

Strakallion2 karma

Ah a fellow ball boy. I was a ball boy for last year's U.S. Open.

What was your best match?

How do you like rolling the balls instead of throwing them?

What was the worst thing a player has done to you?

MrKentman3 karma

1.My best match was probably Nadal vs Rosol (He was No. 100 at the time) in 2012. It was the start were the top players become 'touchable' and could be beaten. Atmosphere was insane!

  1. What so you guys throw balls between each other? Sounds sick! Rolling balls I guess seems more neat and that's just the way we're told to do it.

  2. No player has really done anything terrible to me but one player decided to never take a ball from me the entire time I was there. She took balls from all the other bases, but never me. She got me to roll them to the other ball boy on my side to give to her. Guess I just wasn't her type?

Strakallion1 karma

Yep! The U.S. Open prides us as the only grand slam ball boys to throw instead of roll. Although more efficient, it is more likely to mess up or even lose balls. By the way, your uniform looks sweet this year!

MrKentman1 karma

Yeah it definitely seems faster but I guess ours is more efficient as you said. And it does doesn't it!

Captain__Caveman1 karma

How much do u get payed ?

MrKentman8 karma

Only like £180 for the 2 weeks. But we get feed: breakfast, lunch, dinner and late tea (as we're up there from 10am-9pm), transported and given loads of Ralph Lauren kit.

hihello951 karma

Is it hard being a ball boy? What's the most difficult part and what's the easiest part?

MrKentman2 karma

Difficult part is the training for your first year. It takes around 6/7 months and is tough. But each year training gets smaller, I'm a 4th year so very little. When you get there you know what to do and is just easy. One of the easiest parts is when the player is serving down the other end of the court, so all you have to do is get the ball if it hits the back near you.

hihello951 karma

Thank you for the response. Have you ever made a mistake?

MrKentman2 karma

A few like we sometimes mess up on a roll that we think is so obvious but i reality no one really notices. I remember once we were watching a match on the TV and saw a ball roll on court! (Big no no if you're on center court!)

hihello951 karma

What would be the repercussions of rolling it on center court?

MrKentman1 karma

Everyone ball boy will know you as the 'one' that rolled a ball onto center . We get continuously marked on our performance and your team would get servery marked down and probably not allowed on center again for the rest of the tournament!

srkrnprsd1 karma

What memoirs can you keep after a wimbledon match?

MrKentman1 karma

We don't really keep anything after every match. Some people can get lucky and get a towel. I've seen a guy get a racket before! We get a tin of used balls after the championship is over, plus we keep all the kit.

aHuynher1 karma

Do you get to choose which match you get to participate in?

MrKentman2 karma

Nah we just get told what ones we are on 10 mins before

SteddiEddie1 karma

If you were to roll a ball and it bounced all over the place would you get told off after the match?

MrKentman2 karma

Probably not told off, just looked down on and feel extremely embarrassed

paulopolo1 karma

What was the most memorable point you've watched as a ballboy?

MrKentman3 karma

Tough question, but one springs to mind. Can't remember the players, but a guy was 2-1 up in sets and serving for the match. Had a match point. Other guy made an amazing return and was called out. He challenged and turns out it was in every so slightly. We came off court and later on heard he came back and won.

powerbaseballfan1 karma

Do you guys ever toss the balls in the crowd like the baseball ball boys?

MrKentman1 karma

We don't but players do sometimes.

Sil3691 karma

do you think joaquin phoenix could play Federer in a movie?

MrKentman1 karma

I think he looks the part whether or not he could. But I dunno

MeloRondoLove1 karma

Ever get any good TIPS from the pros? Money and/or Life Skills?

MrKentman2 karma

Not really. They normally are focused on the match and that's understandable.

unithuan1 karma

i sometimes watch tennis games with my parents on tv and catch glimpses of ballboys doing hand signals whilst holding the balls in the background, what do those mean? also do you wear any kind of protection against the balls or do you just have to be great at dodging?

MrKentman3 karma

No protection just reactions. Sometimes a line judge will stand in front of me and make it very hard. I got hit in the balls once as I couldn't react faster enough cause of a line judge lol. We sometimes signal to each other how many balls we have so we can distribute them evenly between the two at the serving end.

cynicocrat0 karma

Have you ever heard stories of ball boys being abused?

MrKentman3 karma

By players or in general?

cynicocrat2 karma

well, in general, but preferably by the players. like maybe federer put his balls on your chin? all that smooth, lithe, young flesh. who could resist it?

MrKentman2 karma

Generally no. But some players can abuse their position sometimes. One year I believe Ferrer spat in his towel and threw it a ball boy. Not nice!