"They're not your big, strapping, 6-foot-5 machines that head the ball and run all day, " Monk said.

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Lesser ones have pure tackling machines who run around incessantly, recover the ball and lay it off to more skillful teammates.

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Most existing pinball machines use mechanical microswitches to keep track of where the ball is.

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"Overall a person can get the same results that these machines or gadgets could produce, just by doing some exercises using maybe some weights, a ball and a mat, " Hirsh said.

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