Abstract: A tennis practice device for propelling balls to a player. The player cocks a hammer and sets a time delay mechanism from his receiving position which is remote from the hammer. After a fixed period of time, during which the player positions himself, the delay mechanism releases the hammer to propel the ball toward the player. The time delay mechanism may comprise a tiltable normally inclined channel which guides a ball. When the delay mechanism is set, the channel tilts to a release position wherein the ball rolls down the channel and trips a latch to release the hammer.