[rick.oliver]

Our "ball magnet" was inspired by a video posted on CD. We prototyped and shipped with a driven roller wrapped with a high-friction material that contacted the ball above center when it was 3" inside the frame. We had an idler that contacted the ball in the middle to prevent incursion of the ball >3" beyond the frame.

At our first regional in Pittsburgh, we found that we did not have as good possession as we intended and desired. We modified the design to increase the top roller speed, while allowing it to slip on the drive pulley; then we stalled our center mounted roller and coated it with carpet tape.

It was an improvement; however, not as good as we would have liked.