The key to any type of success is through repetition and tennis drills are no different from those in other sports. You may not have the fortitude to practice for as long or as hard as the best players in the game, but there are many different mechanics you can work on with nothing more than an automated tennis ball machine and an open court. Athletes use simple tennis drills to improve their conditioning, as tennis is a sport that rewards muscular endurance over time. Many of the advantages of working with a ball machine are psychological as well as physical:

• It will increase your confidence
• It will make you focus on the placement of your feet and hands
• It will improve your ability to place the ball’s path before you even hit it

About the only downside, compared to practicing with another person, is that a ball machine is not capable of as much variety in speed or direction as you’ll get when you hit with another person. Although many of the best tennis ball machines are close to simulating a real opponent, firing shots close to the net, and then to the baseline, with varying speeds and spin levels, it’s still not quite the same as having a real live opponent on the other side of the net. However, rarely will you find someone willing to hit you hundreds of balls so that you can get the essential practice time in. That’s where the ball machine comes in. Tennis drills using a ball machine will greatly improve your game.

First Things First: Work On Your Forehand

The most powerful weapon in your arsenal of shots should also be the simplest one. Working on a forehand cross-court shot utilizes more muscular power than any other shot in the game and will baffle opponents expecting a soft volley. If you are a left-handed shot, put cones (or some other type of target) around the left side of the automated ball thrower, if you are a right handed shot place them on the opposite side.

• Work on hitting at the long angle of a cross-court shot for accuracy first, hitting with as much precision as possible and knocking down the cones.




• Once you are happy with your shot placements, begin working for power. It is difficult to measure your shot power without a speedometer, but you can indirectly tell by how far a ball bounces once it hits a cone or the court.




• If you have any energy left, hit for endurance. Think about your mid-game strategy, wearing your opponent down by picking the corners again and again.

On forehand shots, remember your footwork: always keep your feet moving. Once you have finished your cross-court shot, work on getting direct-line shots. Position yourself at the opposite side of the net that you hit from and run towards the center. Good direct-line tennis drills emphasize reaction time, anticipation, and foot speed. A final forehand drill can be hitting from side to side, in order to get the maximum rotation possible from your shot. Each time,

• Hit for accuracy
• Hit for power
• and finally, hit for endurance

Practice a forehand drill for at least half an hour to ensure your muscles begin anaerobic respiration.

Back to Basics With The Backhand

On backhand shots, the accuracy is much more difficult, and some tennis players prefer to spend more time mastering their ability to hit a certain point rather than deliver good power. There is no “right” way to deliver a backhand, but remember that in game situations your backhand will have less power than your dominant hand shot. With your backhand shot tennis drills, it is crucial to

• Keep your feet moving constantly
• Follow through with your shot
• Bring your arms back across your body to neutral position rapidly enough to receive the next volley.

Backhand shots, furthermore, are more difficult to hit, as you have slightly less coordination with your non-dominant hand (as an example, try tossing a tennis ball straight up with your non-dominant hand compared to your dominant hand). The non-dominant hand provides more power on backhand shots, so it is wise to work up your conditioning.

Alternate! Alternate! Alternate!

Of course, no game situation will have you repeatedly hitting forehands and backhands at a stationary spot. A sliding drill is a good way to keep your cardio level up and your reactions high. It is simple — just run back and forth to alternate forehand and backhand (some machines can do this manually, but you get a better workout if you adjust on the court).

Normally you would not run around your backhand or forehand shot. You see this with a lot of beginners who are not comfortable hitting a backhand shot so if there’s time they’ll quickly run past the direction of the ball to hit a forehand and avoid hitting a backhand. However for this type of endurance drill, running around shots that the tennis ball machine is firing to the middle will help improve your quickness and accuracy.

When you alternate your shots, the key is accuracy, rather than conditioning: you already get endurance workouts from the stationary drills, so focus on getting the ball to the exact spot you need each time rather than building up your shoulders and arms.

Volley Fire Keeps It Going

All tennis drills are conditioning drills if they are done long enough, but to truly simulate the rigors of back-and-forth combat you can use approach and volley drills to change up the routine. These types of drills involve hitting two or more shots. First run up to the first ball fired at you from the tennis ball machine and hit it with all your power, then take the second, as a volley (either on your forehand or backhand).

You can continue repeating the drill by dropping back to the baseline and running a two-ball drill again, or continue to take the incoming shots as volleys. While the first shot should always be maximum power, the next ones should focus on precision and accuracy to avoid tiring you out.

What Is A Complete Workout?

If you are just starting out or have little experience playing tennis, do not overload yourself: use two or three full hoppers of balls (most tennis ball machines hold about one hundred to one hundred fifty balls with some having capacity for 300) and call it quits for the day. Take breaks as you need to. Your cardio will improve the more you practice.

If you are a more seasoned veteran of the game, try to get one full machine of balls per drill without stopping. If you have a ball machine that holds 300 balls for example you can do 100 forehand ground shots, 100 backhand ground shots, and 100 alternate corner shots. The key areas to target during practice are deep in the corners, deep in the center, and near to the service box by the sidelines. You want to place all of your shots in one of these five locations to force your opponent to move as far as possible as fast as possible, and either tire him out or force him to miss a volley return.

It can take about ten minutes to empty a machine hopper, meaning that a full workout going over all these tennis drills may take anywhere between one to two hours, which includes ball pickup time. If you want to add a cool twist to boost your cardio, try to pick up the tennis balls as quickly as possible, running as needed.

Do these tennis drills a couple of times per week, or more if you have the time, and watch your game improve significantly.

I normally like to hit a two-handed backhand because I can generate a lot of power. I mean I just like crushing that ball back. Normally this works great if the ball is pretty close to me, like a couple of steps away. Then I can just turn, windup, and crank it. The problem I run into is with shots along the line where I really have to stretch out to hit it. Now you can use a two handed backhand in this situation, but it’s much harder to get any power and to keep control.

So what I really need to work on is my one-handed backhand slice, which is fairly easy to hit stretched out for the ball. Of course the best way to practice this shot is to hit it over and over again using a ball machine. The primary ball machine feature that lets me do this is a wide angle, two-line function that will send the ball from side to side and really make me stretch out for it. The Lobster Elite 3 offers this and much more.

The Lobster Elite 3 Will Have You Moving From Side to Side and Front to Back

The Elite 3 offers a two-line narrow and wide angle oscillation feature. What this means is that the Elite 3 throws balls to the corners of the court simulating real match play so that you can practice alternating forehands and backhands. You can also control the depth settings so that the machine will throw balls close to the net and further away near the baseline. The Lobster Elite 3 is the only ball machine on the market to offer a two-line feature with variable depth settings. As an individual player you can practice stretched out, side to side, crosscourt play at varying depths, and front court and back court drills that simulate a real opponent in the best way of any ball machine I’ve seen on the market in this price range.

The 2-line feature is also useful for two players or two lines of players to use when working on a drill. In my opinion, if you plan on having two people use the ball machine at once, the two-line feature is essential for running efficient and effective practice drills. You can also practice doubles play as the machine will fire balls into the doubles court area.

Control Ball Spin and Speed for Advanced Workouts

Lobster Elite 3 Speed Control

With the Lobster Elite 3 you simply turn the dial to make top spin or under spin. Crank it up all the way to number four on the topspin and see if you can handle the bounce or turn it to under spin and try to control those cut shots that you’ll see from a lot of touch players.

You’ll also get a full range of ball speed options with the Elite 3. Again just turn the dial to fast or slow in a range of 20 to 80 miles per hour. This is a good range for a ball machine and gives you a lot of versatility. If you’re a beginner then you’ll like a slower speed, but as you get more advanced you’ll need faster ball speeds to challenge you. So as your game grows, the Elite 3 is right there with you.

The Lobster Elite 3 Is Built For Long Workouts

The Elite 3 is battery powered and you’ll get 4-8 hours out of a full charge which is good for a ball machine. You also have the option to purchase an external battery pack to give you even more time (4-8 hours more) on the court. Battery recharge time is typically about 9 hours, but you can buy a premium fast charger that will charge the machine 3 times faster (3 hours total charge time).

Everybody hates picking up balls so the more balls that a machine will hold the better. You’ll still have to pick them up, but just not as often. That means more time training with your ball machine. The Elite 3 Lobster ball machine holds 150 tennis balls, which will give you a pretty long workout before you run out of balls.

The Lobster Elite 3 Is Fantastic For Working On Your Net Game

You can set the feed rate (how quickly the balls are fired at you) to as fast as one ball fired every 2 seconds. This is super for working on volleys at the net. You can do all sorts of quickness and footwork drills to really improve this part of your game. You can also set the Elite 3 to fire a ball every 12 seconds and everywhere in between. The slower settings are excellent for beginners who need more time to set up shots as well as groups where students need to change positions.

You’ll also get elevation control with the Elite 3. Just use the control panel to set the range from 0 to 50 degrees using the up/down button. At 50 degrees you can practice your overheads. Personally, this is my favorite feature because I like smashing balls. I always try to see how many balls I can bounce over the fence during a training session. Of course it’s no fun having to go pick up those balls, but it sure is fun knocking them out of the park.

Overall, I strongly recommend the Elite 3 Lobster ball machine. There are only a few tennis ball machines that offer the variety of features in the price range of the Elite 3. It is the cheapest of all of the ball machines that offer the two-line narrow and wide function. When you look at all of the options and features with the Lobster Elite 3, it is truly a great buy.

The Lobster Elite 3 rates 4.5 out of 5 stars

Check For The Best Prices For The Lobster Elite 3 Tennis Ball Machine

The Good

Just flip over the Lobster Elite 3's bucket and you're on your way.

• Excellent player simulation – With all of the different settings in speed, spin, feed rate, and oscillation, you’ll feel just like you were actually hitting against a real person on the other side of the net.




• Easy to transport and move around – The Elite 3 only weighs 44lbs which makes it easy to pick up and put in your car. As for moving around on the ground, the Lobster Elite 3 has an extendable towing handle and heavy duty oversized transport wheels that help you pull it just like luggage. When you are transporting it, you can detach and flip over the Elite 3′s ball hopper and use it as a cover, which is pretty cool.




• Warranty – The Lobster ball machine Elite 3 Model comes with a two year warranty on parts and service. This is good and a testament to the quality of the Elite 3.

The Bad

• Doesn’t come with a remote – I think this should be included, but you have to pay extra to get the remote.

What’s Included

You can choose to get the Lobster Elite 3 ball machine by itself or you can upgrade with the following extras.

1. Storage cover – a heavy duty, lined vinyl cover
2. Fast charger – charges up the Lobster Elite 3 in 3 to 9 hours
3. Premium fast charger – charges in 1-3 hours
4. External battery pack – extends battery time an additional 4-8 hours and includes a large 18-amp sealed lead-acid battery, battery cord with connector, adaptor, 1-amp fast charger, and canvas carrying bag with shoulder strap
5. Two-function wireless remote – controls the feed rate and sweep/oscillation type

TennisBallMachineReviews.org Consumer Reviews Summary

Summary of the most helpful positive reviews:

Many reviewers talked about how easy to use and how durable the Elite 3 Lobster ball machine is. One reviewer talked about choosing the Elite 3 over the Elite 1 and 2 because of the two-line function for practicing forehands and backhands. Several owners recommended purchasing the fast charger – this runs about $99.

Summary of the most helpful negative reviews:

Several reviewers felt that the remote was irregular in its performance and didn’t work very well from a distance. One reviewer had a difficult time with the horizontal movement working on the machine and had to return it and get a replacement.

Where Can I Learn More About the Lobster Elite 3?

This video shows the Elite3 in action. It’s a little bit long. You just need to check out the first couple minutes or so to see how the machine works.

Where Can I Buy the Lobster Elite 3 Tennis Ball Machine?

I think the best, most trusted place to buy the Elite 3 is on Amazon.com. They sell everything there so you can pick up any accessories you may need as well, like tennis balls or hoppers. There are always some sales over there too so you should be able to snag the Elite 3 for a pretty good price. Search for the best price for the Lobster Elite 3 tennis ball machine.

More About Lobster Sports

Lobster Sports produces four Elite tennis ball machine models; the Elite Freedom economy model, and the Elite 1, 2, and 3. Lobster started manufacturing tennis ball machines in 1970 and has maintained a reputation for high quality and reliable ball machines. For more information on Lobster Sports you can read our Lobster ball machine page.

Let Us Know Your Opinion About the Lobster Elite 3

If you own or have used an Elite 3 in the past, tell us all about it in the comment section below. You can also give it a rating.

When I head out to the tennis court to practice, I always like playing with someone that’s better than me. A better opponent challenges me to pick up my game to their level. That’s really the only way you can get any better. Unfortunately, I can’t always find someone, not because I’m so good that nobody at my club is better than me. That’s far from the case. It’s usually because the guys I like to play with are busy or are already scheduled with someone else.

So, when I’ve got free time and no opponent, I usually pull out the ball machine. And one of the major factors that I look for in a tennis ball machine is the ability to simulate a real opponent. That means getting balls hit to me from side to side, front court and back court, and with topspin – the more difficult the shot, the better, because that is what helps me improve. Not many ball machines on the market offer this. The Tennis Tutor Plus Player Model is one that does.

The Tennis Tutor comes in a Standard, a Plus, and a Plus Player version. Each version offers additional features for a higher price. The Standard Tennis Tutor is about $1,000, the Plus is around $1,250, and the Plus Player is around $1,650. I recommend going right up to the Plus Player version because the extra features are definitely worth it. Here’s what you get at each level.

A Strong Battery Gives You Lots of Playing Time

All of the Tennis Tutor models come as battery powered machines with the option to order them with AC power if you want. The heavy duty battery gets about 4-6 hours of playing time and you can upgrade to an optional external battery pack if you want to get even more playing time. 4-6 hours of battery time is really good for a ball machine. The Tennis Tutor also has an indicator light that shows you how much battery charge is left and it will beep you when there’s only a half hour left on the charge. It usually takes about 12 hours to fully charge it up.

You Can Put In Plenty of Balls To Keep You Busy

Have a look inside.

All of the Tennis Tutor models hold 150 tennis balls. Economy tennis ball machines will hold 50 balls, whereas ball machines in high usage situations, such as clubs or tennis camps can hold up to 300 balls. 150 balls is about 2 full ball hoppers worth. Running through 150 balls will give you a pretty good workout before you need to start picking them up.

The Tennis Tutor Will Run You All Over The Court

All of the Tennis Tutor machines offer random and horizontal oscillation, which means the machine fires balls randomly back and forth at one depth setting, such as the baseline. To get random vertical oscillation, in which the machine fires balls short and long, you need to upgrade to the Plus model. You can of course adjust the Standard machine to fire only close or only far, just not alternating.

The Standard model also comes with a 2 line function that will fire balls at two court positions. You can practice alternating forehand and backhand shots using this feature. If you are a tennis coach giving a group lesson you can also set up two lines of students and have them practice shots using this feature. You can also set the two-line feature to fire balls narrow or wide. Those wide shots will really make you stretch.

Elevation control

You also get elevation control on the Tennis Tutor Plus. Using this feature you can practice overheads as well as scooping up those net skimmers that can be so hard to play. You get 10 different elevation settings to choose from by simply pushing the elevation setting button on the control panel. The Tennis Tutor Plus is the only ball machine on the market where you can adjust the elevation right from the control panel. With most machines you have to adjust the height manually using some type of prop, which can be kind of a pain. The Tennis Tutor Plus makes this a real snap.

The Tennis Tutor Will Fire Balls At You Depending On Your Ability Level

All models of the Tennis Tutor machine fire tennis balls between 10-85 mph (16-137 kph). This is a very good speed range and offers a lot of variety for all ability levels. Children and beginners can easily practice with balls coming at 10 mph, and more advanced players will definitely feel challenged by balls firing out at 85 mph.

The Tennis Tutor also offers the widest feed rate range out of all the ball machine I’ve looked at. The feed rate is how fast the machine will fire balls at you. You can set the Tennis Tutor to fire a ball every 1.5 to one ball every 10 seconds. Setting the machine to feed you a ball every 1.5 seconds is fantastic for practicing rapid fire volleys at the net. Scaling it back to fire a ball every 10 seconds is great for beginners who need time to set up or good for a group setting where people need to hit and then move to the back of the line. A slower feed rate is also good if you want to incorporate some sprinting or shuttle running between shots to help build up your quickness.

Tennis Tutor Plus Upgrades You To Spin Control

Spin control knob

You get all of the cool features of the Standard model plus ball spin with the Tennis Tutor Plus. Most ball machines only offer top spin. The Tennis Tutor Plus offers top spin and under spin. So you can practice not only the booming topspin forehands that you can expect from a really strong opponent, but also the slicing backhands and touch shots you’ll see from finesse players at the highest level.

To control the degree of topspin or under spin you just turn a little dial on the control panel of the Plus model. If you put the dial to the middle, the ball comes out flat. I have to say, turning the dial all the way up on the topspin side you’ll get a big kick on the ball. Man, those shots are tough! But great practice.

Tennis Tutor Plus Player Model Takes Simulation To A Whole New Level

As I mentioned, the best ball machines are the ones that best simulate a real opponent. The Tennis Tutor Player Model takes that to a whole new level. Tennis Tutor’s patented Player Mode technology is really amazing. If you didn’t see the suitcase sized machine on the other side of the court you’d swear that there really was another guy or gal over there hitting balls back to you.

To get this mode going, just select your ability level on the control panel. You can choose Beginner, Intermediate, or Advanced. If you’re a beginner, you need shots hit to you pretty easy, with very little spin on the ball. The Tennis Tutor does just that, with easy shots in the middle of the court so you can hit it back and get the basics of your ground strokes down.

As you move up to the Advanced Level, the shots become more difficult, moving from side to side, changing depth and spin levels. So as you get better you’ll still be challenged by the Tennis Tutor Plus Player model. The thing that makes this Player Mode feature so cool is that each level will simulate how someone of that ability level actually hits the ball. It is not just a random pattern, but actually uses a computer to simulate shot patterns.

You can also customize the standard settings by increasing or decreasing the spin, elevation, and speed levels, so you can never get bored hitting against the Tennis Tutor.

The Tennis Tutor Plus Player gets 5.0 out of 5 stars

Check For The Best Prices For The Tennis Tutor Plus Player Ball Machine

The Good

Ready to roll!

• Light weight and easy to move around – As you can see from the picture, the Tennis Tutor looks like a small suitcase, something you could even fit in the overhead compartment on an air flight. It’s got wheels and a nice handle to roll it around and it only weighs 46 pounds so you can easily pick it up and put it in the trunk of your car.




• 2 year warranty – Most machines only come with a one year warranty so it’s good to see 2 years from Tennis Tutor.




• Easy to use control panel – The control panel has very simple and clear buttons and knobs to control all of the settings. It’s very self explanatory and you won’t even need to look at the owner’s manual.




• Will improve your game – There were numerous owner reports talking about how the Tennis Tutor Plus Player model helped boost their games. With so many options, I don’t see how it couldn’t, especially if you get in a couple of hours of practice time with it each week.




• A ton of variety – With Player Mode and all of the customizable settings and shot options, you’ll never run out of drills to do with this machine. It’s really an outstanding machine for players of all ability levels.

The Bad

• Some feeder jamming reports – There were a couple of reports from owners of the balls getting jammed in the feeder. This tends to happen with any tennis ball machine, especially when you try to fill the bucket to capacity. The good thing is though that there don’t seem to be more reports with it happening with the Tennis Tutor than with any other brand. I’d recommend not putting the max 150 balls in container if you start having this problem.

What’s Included

You have a lot of options with the Tennis Tutor. You can get just the ball machine and nothing else or you can upgrade with the following options, all of which cost extra.

1. Storage cover – a heavy duty, lined vinyl cover
2. Smart battery charger – automatically shuts off when the battery is charged
3. Smart/Fast charger – charges up the battery 3 times faster
4. External AC power supply – plugs into an AC outlet to provide continuous operation for battery-powered Tennis Tutors
5. External battery pack – extends battery time an additional 4-6 hours
6. Two-function wireless remote – controls the feed rate and sweep/oscillation type
7. Multifunction wireless remote – matches the control panel exactly and gives you control over all of the features from across the net.

TennisBallMachineReviews.org Consumer Reviews Summary

Summary of the most helpful positive reviews:

Everyone seems to love how easy to use this machine is. They also like all of the different control options. Many customers like the different spin and oscillation settings and feel that their games have improved as a result of the variety. Everyone loves the Player Mode and say it’s great for all ability levels. The feedback is also good about the multifunction remote control. Customers that have purchased this option feel that it’s worth the investment as it makes practice time more efficient with less time spent running back and forth to change settings.

Summary of the most helpful negative reviews:

Taller players (6’2″ and above) may have to stoop down a bit when towing the Tennis Tutor machine as the tow handle may not be long enough, and the wheels are small and bumpy on sidewalks. Some reviewers mentioned the ball hopper flaps cracking if struck solidly by a tennis ball. Sports Tutor will replace these if the machine is under warranty. Some jamming may occur when packing a full 150 balls into the machine, even though Sports Tutor says the machine has an anti-jamming feature. One user said he found this to occur 1-2 times for every 100 balls.

Where Can I Learn More About the Tennis Tutor Plus?

Where Can I Buy the Tennis Tutor Plus Ball Machine?

I checked all over and the best place to buy the Tennis Tutor is on Amazon.com. They often run discount specials and many times will offer free shipping. You can also find some really good deals on other tennis accessories that you may need. Search for the best price for the Tennis Tutor Plus Player Model

More About Tennis Tutor

The Tennis Tutor tennis ball machine is produced by Sports Tutor which is one of the most popular and best selling tennis ball machine manufacturers in the world. They produce six tennis ball machine models, the Tennis Twist, the Tennis Tutor Prolite, the Tennis Tutor, the Wilson Portable, the Tennis Tower, and the Shotmaker. For more information on Sports Tutor tennis ball machines, see my Sports Tutor tennis ball machine page.

Rate the Tennis Tutor Plus Ball Machine Yourself

If you have tried out Tennis Tutor yourself, let us know. You can write a review in the comments section and give it a rating below.

I’ve spent a lot of time on the court over the years banging that little yellow ball around. Although I’m no Nadal, I can still hold my own with some really good players. I’ve also put in my share of time in front of a ball machine. When you can’t find an opponent they are the best thing going. Or if you just need to practice that backhand slice over and over again about a hundred times until you get it right, then nothing beats a ball machine.

When my wife became interested in the game I thought it would be a good idea to get her working on a nice new ball machine that could feed her a lot of the same shots with consistency. That way when I’m not able to hit with her, she can still improve when she has time during the week. And thus began my search for the best tennis ball machine.

I put a lot of time into my research because ball machines can be really expensive. So it’s important to understand all of the features and make sure you get something that matches your particular needs. I consider money spent on a ball machine an investment. It’s an investment in improving your game or if you are the pro or manager at a tennis club, it’s an investment in your business.

The machines on my list range in price from about $995 to $2,200, putting them solidly in the median range in terms of tennis ball machine cost. If you’re on a limited budget, then scroll down the page to check out the Best Tennis Ball Machines Under $1,000. Most of the machines on that list offer enough basic features to keep you challenged but not break the bank.

The tennis ball machines on both lists are ones that can be used by the full range of player abilities, from beginners to experts and can be used by individuals or small groups. I feel that these ball machines offer the widest range of options and the greatest flexibility thereby allowing all players to progressively improve their games. Also most of the machines on my list will provide enough practice challenges so that players will not outgrow the machine as they improve their skill levels.

Rank	#1	#2	#3	#4	#5
	Tennis Tutor Plus	Lobster Elite 3	SAM Model P4	Tennis Tower	Wilson Ball Machine
Editor’s Review
Best Price
Editor’s Rating
Power Type	Battery or AC	Battery	Battery or AC	100 Watts AC	Battery
Oscillation	Random, horizontal, vertical, 2 line narrow/wide, Player Mode	Random, horizontal, vertical, 2 line narrow/wide	Random, horizontal, vertical, 2 line	Random, horizontal, vertical	Random, horizontal, 2 line
Top & BackSpin
Elevation (degrees)	10 settings	0-50 Electronic
Weight (lbs)	46	44	48	60	38
Dimensions (L x W x H inches)	19.5 x 20 x 20	24 x 16 x 32	18 x 24 x 33 (In use) (22 stored)	23 x 22 x 44	22 x 14 x 20
Speed Range (mph)	10-85	20-80	10-75	10-85	10-75
Ball capacity	150	150	300	225	110
Feed Rate (seconds)	1.5-10	2-12	2-7	1.5-8	1.5-10
Battery Life (hours)	4-6	4-8	3-4	NA	3-4
Warranty (years)	2	2	1	1	1
Storage Cover	extra	extra	included	included	extra
Fast Charger	extra	extra	included	no	no
2-Function Wireless Remote	extra	extra	10 function included	Included w/Club model	extra

I used the following important criteria to rank these ball machines.

• Oscillation – This is a key feature when analyzing tennis ball machines and one of the major factors affecting the cost. I looked at which machines offer random, horizontal and vertical oscillation. The tennis ball machines that best simulate the all over the court shots that a real opponent would make receive the best scores in my rating system. You can read more about oscillation in my Tennis Ball Machine Buying Guide article.




• Spin Control – Can a particular tennis ball machine fire balls with top spin and under spin and can you control the degree of the spin? This is another factor that I consider essential in a tennis ball machine, again because it simulates a real opponent.




• Weight – Is the ball machine easy to move and carry? If it’s designed to be portable, can the average person pick it up by themselves and put it into the trunk of a car?




• Dimensions – I looked at the size measurements of each machine on the list. Is it easily storable in the trunk of your car? The more portable and compact a ball machine is, the more positive I weight that criteria.




• Speed Range – How fast and slow can the ball machine fire tennis balls? If the lower speed range is not low enough, beginners will have a hard time handling balls shooting out of the machine. If the upper speed limit is not high enough, advanced level players will get bored quickly as the speed of the balls coming out of the machine will present little challenge to them.




• Ball Capacity – How many balls can the machine hold? If the capacity is not high enough then you’ll spend most of your practice time picking up tennis balls, which is no fun at all.




• Feed Rate – How fast are the balls fired out of the machine? A very fast firing time lets you practice rapid fire volleys at the net and a slower firing time allows beginners time to prepare and set up for the next shot or other players to change position on the court.




• Warranty -The longer the warranty the better as tennis ball machines can be expensive to repair if you happen to get a lemon.




• Price – Of the roughly 40-50 ball machine brands and models for sale in the market today, prices range from $230 to over $7,000. There’s even a machine that is $28,500 which uses Terminator style robotics technology. It’s a pretty amazing piece of technology if you can afford it. Just put it in your garage next to your Lamborghini.




• Customer Reviews and Ratings – I looked at reviews posted on a number of retail websites, blogs, and forums, where reviewers have purchased and used these tennis ball machines. By cross-referencing multiple sources I’ve been able to get a very good picture of overall general consumer opinion about the machines on this list.




• Extras – Many tennis ball machines will offer remote controls, additional power options, special battery chargers and covers that you can pay extra for. Some of these can be very helpful and I’ve factored that into my ratings.

Tennis Tutor Plus – #1

My overall number one rated best tennis ball machine is the Tennis Tutor Plus Player Model. My rating criteria placed the Tennis Tutor Plus Player at number one because this fantastic ball machine offers a full array of rich features, and a top-notch customer rating, all for a very affordable price. Of all the ball machines I looked at, the Tennis Tutor Plus Player ball machine best mimics a real opponent’s shots, without the miss-hits of course, for a reasonable price. This type of drilling tennis ball machine is exactly what you need most to improve your game and not bust your bank account.

Sports Tutor manufactures three Tennis Tutor models, the standard Tennis Tutor, the Tennis Tutor Plus model, and the Tennis Tutor Plus Player model. In my detailed review of the Tennis Tutor Plus , I recommend moving up to the Tennis Tutor Plus Player Model because the additional features are a real bargain for the price.

The Tennis Tutor Plus Player Model has vertical, horizontal, and random oscillation, a multitude of spin control settings, compact size and weight, and the unique Player Mode Programming feature. The Player Mode feature is the ultimate in real life opponent simulation. You use a button on the Tennis Tutor to select beginner, intermediate or advanced levels. The Tennis Tutor then fires balls according to how that level of opponent would hit balls to you. For example, the beginner setting fires balls more towards the middle at a slower speed, whereas the advanced setting fires shots all over the court and at varying speeds, elevation, and spin.

Speed control settings top out at a blistering 85 mph which will certainly challenge the most advanced players. As will the incredibly fast maximum feed rate setting of 1.5 balls fired every second.

The Tennis Tutor Plus ball machine has an overall customer satisfaction rating of 4.5 out of 5.0 with most reviewers saying that their tennis games have improved dramatically as a result of using this ball machine with all of its advanced features.

Check for the Best Prices for the Tennis Tutor Plus Player Ball Machine

Lobster Elite 3 Ball Machine – #2

My number two rated machine is the Lobster Elite tennis ball machine Model 3. The Lobster Elite 3 offers a full array of standard features such as horizontal, vertical, and random oscillation, and spin control, as well as an awesome two-line narrow and wide oscillation feature. The oscillation feature lets the Elite 3 throw alternating balls to both sides of the court using a built-in indicator. This feature is useful for two players or two lines of players to use when working on a drill or for the single player wanting to practice alternating forehands and backhands. You can also practice doubles play as the machine will fire balls into the doubles court area. The Lobster Elite 3 is the only ball machine on the market to offer a two-line feature with variable depth settings.

Lobster is also one of the few tennis ball machine manufacturers to offer a two year warranty on all of their ball machines. Also, they have been in business since 1970, about twice as long as most of their competitors.

The Elite 3 has an overall customer satisfaction rating of 4.0 out of 5.0 with most reviewers commenting on how easy the machine is to use.

For more detailed information about the Elite 3 Lobster Ball Machine, you can read my full review.

Check for the Best Prices for the Lobster Elite 3 Tennis Ball Machine

SAM Tennis Ball Machine Model P4 – #3

The Model P4 SAM ball machine comes in at number three on my best tennis ball machine list. The SAM (Sports Action Machine) was invented by a computer robotics whiz with the help of a former Grand Slam tennis champion and offers cutting edge tennis ball machine technology. SAM was formerly known as the Price ball machine brand until January 2006 when all of the Prince tennis ball machines switched over to the SAM brand. All features of the two machines remained identical, just the name changed.

In addition to a full set of features, the SAM Model P4 is the only machine under $2,000 that includes a 10 function wireless remote control, which you can use to control speed, sweep, elevation, spin, and to turn the machine on/off. It also has 2-line and fully random horizontal and vertical oscillation as well as a 300 capacity ball hopper. The 300 ball capacity is a huge benefit for a ball machine under $2,000. I typically only see this capacity in commercial or high usage tennis ball machines.

The SAM P4 has an overall customer satisfaction rating of 4.0 out of 5.0 with most reviewers saying how the machine can really fire out the balls fast with a lot of spin at the higher settings, which really challenged their games.

I also have a full review of the SAM Tennis Ball Machine Model P4 so you can read more about it.

Check for the Best Prices for the SAM P4

Tennis Tower Ball Machine – #4

Another ball machine from Sports Tutor (also the manufacturer of the Tennis Tutor) makes my top five best tennis ball machine list. The Tennis Tower ball machine is larger than most portable machines and geared more towards clubs, camps, and home court owners, however it’s so packed with features I had to include it on my list. The Competitor, Club, and Professional Player versions each offer all of the basic features I look for in tennis ball machines and each model steps up with additional features over the previous model.

In my analysis I found that if you are buying for a club or high usage situation, then the Club model and the Professional Player models are both excellent fits. If you are looking for a ball machine for individual or family use, then the Tennis Tower Ball Machine Competitor model is the way to go. If you have the money though move up to the Club model which includes a two-function remote as a nice bonus.

The Tennis Tower ball machine has an overall customer satisfaction rating of 5.0 out of 5.0 with most reviewers saying how easy the machine is to use.

My full review of the Tennis Tower ball machine discusses which model is right for your particular situation and which ball machine offers the best value based on your needs.

Wilson Portable Ball Machine – #5

The Wilson ball machine is also manufactured by Sports Tutor, which makes Tennis Tutor and the Tennis Tower models, two other machines on my Best List. The Wilson ball machine offers random horizontal/side to side oscillation. It does not offer vertical oscillation, which means the machine does not automatically fire balls at multiple depth settings, close to the net, and in the backcourt. You have to go over and manually adjust the machine to get different depths. My preference is for tennis ball machines that offer all types of oscillation automatically so that you can truly get the most shot variety from your ball machine. It is also the best way to simulate a real opponent.

The Wilson ball machine however does offer a two-line feature that fires from side to side. In my opinion, if you plan on having two people use the tennis ball machine at once you definitely should have the two-line feature, which makes the Wilson ball machine a very good option.

The Wilson tennis ball machine has an overall customer satisfaction rating of 4.5 out of 5.0. Many reviewers say how reliable the Wilson ball machine is and that they enjoy the various settings to control ball speed, and spin.

For more detailed information about the Wilson ball machine, you can read my full review.

Check for the Best Prices for the Wilson Portable Ball Machine

The machines on this list range in price from about $700 to $995. All of these tennis ball machines offer great value and a variety of features for a very affordable price. If you are on a tight budget or looking for an entry level ball machine then this is the list for you.

Rank	#1	#2	#3	#4	#5
	SAM P1	Tennis Tutor Standard	iSAM Model 1	Lobster Hybrid Model 301	Lobster Elite Freedom
Editor’s Review
Best Price
Editor’s Rating
Power Type	Battery or AC	Battery or AC extra	Battery or AC	120 Volts AC, 240 Optional	Battery
Oscillation	Random, horizontal	Random, horizontal	Random, horizontal	Random, horizontal	Random, horizontal
Top & BackSpin				extra for spin adapter
Elevation (degrees)	Manual		Manual	0-80 Manual	0-50 Manual
Weight (lbs)	48	42	25 (electric) 29 (battery)	31	35
Dimensions (L x W x H)	18 x 24 x 33 (In use) (22 stored)	19.5 x 20 x 12	19 x 21 x 26 (In use) (18 stored)		24 x 16 x 19
Speed Range (mph)	10-75	10-85	15-60	10-70	10-70
Ball capacity	300	150	250	150	150
Feed Rate (seconds)	2-7	1.5-12	2-7	3, 6, 12	2-10
Battery Life (hours)	3-4	4-6	2-3	NA	2-4
Warranty (years)	1	1	1	2	2
Storage Cover	no	no	included	extra	extra
Fast Charger	included		included
2-Function Wireless Remote	extra	extra	extra	extra

SAM Tennis Ball Machine Model P1 – #1

The number one ball machine on my list of the Top 5 Tennis Ball Machines Under $1,000 is the SAM Model P1. This feature packed rocket of a ball machine runs about $995 retail, coming in just under $1,000. It is the only machine on my list, and the only one under $1,000, that offers random and horizontal oscillation, spin control, and a whopping 300 hopper ball capacity. The Model P1 SAM ball machine is the type of drilling tennis ball machine you need most to improve your game and not bust your bank account.

The SAM Model P1 was formerly known as the Prince Portable Model 1 until the brand name switched to SAM in January 2006. SAM stands for “Sports Action Machine” and is owned by Master Sports Inc, which produces seven other tennis ball machine models. The SAM P1 is battery powered and has an optional AC converter so that you can also use electric power. The P1′s firing speed range is between 10 and 75 mph which makes it perfect for beginners as well as advanced players.

The SAM P1 has an overall customer satisfaction rating of 4.1 out of 5.0. Many comments mention how durable and strong the SAM P1 is. A few players said that the P1 was great for intermediate and below level players but not powerful enough for expert level. So if you are an expert level player you may want to consider one of the machines on the list above. But if you’re an expert player on a budget, then for the price, the SAM P1 can still give you a good work-out, and is a great buy.

You can read even more information about the SAM tennis ball machine Model P1 in my full review.

Check for the Best Prices for the SAM P1 Tennis Ball Machine

Tennis Tutor – Standard Model – #2

Tennis Tutor Ball Machine Standard Model

My rating criteria placed the Tennis Tutor Standard at number two because this fantastic ball machine offers a full array of rich features, and a top-notch customer rating, all for a very affordable price.

Sports Tutor manufactures three Tennis Tutor models, the standard Tennis Tutor, the Tennis Tutor Plus model, and the Tennis Tutor Plus Player model. In my detailed review of the Tennis Tutor ball machine, I discuss all three of the models. In the review I recommend moving up to the Tennis Tutor Plus Player Model because the additional features are a real bargain for the price, however the price difference between the models is about $600. For the extra money you get spin control and elevation control on the Tennis Tutor Plus and a Player Mode simulation function on the Tennis Tutor Plus Player model. Generally I feel the extra expense is worth the price, however if you are looking for a high quality, feature-rich, economy model under $1,000, then the Standard model is what you want.

The Tennis Tutor Standard ball machine has an overall customer satisfaction rating of 4.5 out of 5.0 with most reviewers saying that their tennis games have improved dramatically as a result of using this ball machine with all of its advanced features.

Check for the Best Prices for the Tennis Tutor Standard Ball Machine

iSAM Model 1 Tennis Ball Machine – #3

The iSAM Model 1 is third on my list and the second SAM ball machine. The iSAM tennis ball machine is a reasonably priced, feature-rich entry level model geared for beginner to intermediate level players. It is also the cheapest tennis ball machine on my list, coming in at just under $700.

The primary differences between the iSAM and the SAM Model P1 ball machine (number 1 on this list) are that the iSAM does not offer spin control, its speed setting ranges from 15-60 mph versus 10-75 mph for the Model P1, and it has a 250 ball capacity versus 300 for the SAM Model P1. The price difference between the two models is about $300. I generally would say go on and pay the extra $300 to get the top spin and under spin settings offered with the P1, but if you are on a tight budget and at the intermediate level or below, then you can go with the iSAM. You won’t be disappointed.

The iSAM Model 1ball machine has an overall customer satisfaction rating of 4.2 out of 5.0 with most reviewers saying how much their games have improved using this machine. Almost everyone seemed very happy with their purchase.

If you’d like to learn more check my full review of the iSAM tennis ball machine Model 1.

Check for the Best Prices for the iSam Tennis Ball Machine Model 1

Hybrid Model 301 Lobster Tennis Ball Machine – #4

The Lobster Hybrid tennis ball machine uses pneumatic pressure.

The Lobster Hybrid 301 is the only pneumatic powered tennis ball machine to make my list. I include the Hybrid 301 Lobster here simply because it is a durable, dependable tennis ball machine that offers basic features for a reasonable price.

At one time in the past, all tennis ball machines looked like this; a cannon attached to a reverse vacuum cleaner, electric powered and using pneumatic pressure to fire tennis balls. Since then, there have been numerous advances in tennis ball machine technology that offer many options in spin and speed control. However, the older style models still exist and the Lobster Hybrid 301 is one of the best.

The Hybrid 301 is ideal for high usage situations such as camps, schools, and clubs, or for those individual players that are out on the court frequently for hours. The Lobster 301 was designed strong, and will not wear out easily. Plus, it’s really cheap, coming in under $800.

The Hybrid Model 301 Lobster tennis ball machine has an overall customer satisfaction rating of 4.6 out of 5.0. Most reviewers talk about how versatile the 301 is for a ball machine at such a low price. There were no negative comments, which is very rare for any tennis ball machine I’ve reviewed.

Check out my detailed review of the Hybrid Model 301 Lobster tennis ball machine to find out more.

Check for the Best Prices for the Lobster Hybrid Model 301 Tennis Ball Machine

Lobster Elite Freedom Tennis Ball Machine – #5

The last tennis ball machine to make my list of the Best Under $1,000 is the Lobster Elite Freedom Model. This is the second Lobster ball machine on my list, with the Hybrid Model 301 at number four. The Elite Freedom Lobster tennis ball machine is a great entry level ball machine for beginners and intermediates.

The Elite Freedom is battery powered and offers random horizontal oscillation, a 10-70 mph (16.10-112.65 kph) speed range, a 150 ball capacity, and a feed rate of 2-10 tennis balls fired per second. The Lobster Elite Freedom comes with a two year warranty.

The Elite Freedom has an overall customer satisfaction rating of 3.9 out of 5.0. Most reviewers talked about how reliable the machine is and how it gave them a great work out. There were a couple of negative comments about mechanical issues with the Freedom model, but these were a small percentage of the overall comments.

You can learn more in my Elite Freedom Lobster tennis ball machine review, and see what great features the Freedom has to offer.

Check for the Best Prices for the Lobster Elite Freedom Ball Machine

If you have spent a lot of time on the court practicing tennis, either with a ball machine, or working on your serve, then you know that you need a quality tennis ball hopper to hold all of your balls. The last thing any tennis player wants is to have to spend valuable practice time picking up tennis balls with a mediocre ball hopper. You want the most efficient hopper, one that is easy to carry and store, will pick up tennis balls with ease, is affordable, and will be durable enough to last for a long time.

There are four basic types of ball hoppers or ball baskets as they are sometimes called; the traditional metal cage type, ball tubes, ball rollers, and teaching carts. They range in price from around $20 USD to $300. We’ve put together our list of the best tennis ball hoppers in each of the categories. Of all of the brands out on the market Gamma clearly dominates. Other top ball hopper brands include Hoag, Unique, Ballport, and Wilson. We consider the following tennis ball hoppers to be the best, based on customer reviews, features, and price.
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Tennis Ball Hopper Basket

These are the traditional metal cage type models where you hold the handle at the top of the hopper and push it down over the ball to pick it up. The two handles on most ball hoppers are at least half the length of an average sized person. As you press down, the tennis ball squeezes through the gaps in the metal bars and into the cage – pretty simple. The balls won’t fall out of the bottom. You can then pull the tennis balls out using a gate at the top of the hopper.

If you’re practicing your serve, you can fold the handles on the hopper down so that the ball cage holding the tennis ball stands about waist level. That way you can grab the balls without having to bend over each time, which is really convenient. Also, if you’re using a tennis ball machine, you can just open the gate on the metal hopper and dump the balls into the ball machine hopper.

Here are our Top 3 tennis ball baskets.
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#1 – Gamma Ballhopper Whopper 140

The Ballhopper Whopper 140 features heavy-duty wire construction which is reinforced with a strengthened weld design and Diamond Clad weather resistant coating. It also has unique wear bumpers for durability. Convenient handles let you easily pick-up and flip over this ball hopper. The attached lid prevents spilling.

Capacity: 140 Balls
Weight: 11.2 lbs
Color: Silver
Average Customer Rating: 4.5 out of 5.0
Best Price: $33.95

Editor’s comments: This hopper has the greatest ball capacity (140) of all of the hoppers of this type on the market. Most tennis ball machines have a capacity on average of 150 balls, so if you are going to be practicing on a tennis ball machine, it only makes sense to get a hopper with enough capacity to match the ball machine capacity. The Whopper 140 is only another $14 USD more than the number 2 Wilson hopper which has a capacity of 75. Why not just pay the little bit extra and get almost double the capacity?

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#2 – Wilson Ball Hopper Pickup 75

The Wilson ball hopper has a unique upright locking system, a no spill lid, and heavy duty plated steel. It easily breaks down for storage.

Capacity: 75 Balls
Weight: 6.4 lbs
Average Customer Rating: 4.0 out of 5.0
Best Price: $19.86

Editor’s comments: The low price does make the Wilson ball hopper appealing and the lower capacity may be an option for you if you just want something small, compact, and light.

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#3 – Gamma Hi-Rise 75 Tennis Ball Hopper

The Gamma professional grade Ballhopper Hi-Rise Gold offers a heavy gauge carbon steel wired hexagonal basket shape with reinforced side welds for additional strength and rigidity. The basket is also coated with a strong polyester, the handles are protected , and the wires at the ball openings will move to the side to help make ball entry and pick-up easier.

Capacity: 75 Balls
Weight: 15 lbs
Average Customer Rating: 4.25 out of 5.0
Best Price: $24.95
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Tennis Ball Collector Tube

A tennis ball tube is a long slender tube that can be used to both pick up tennis balls and store them. You push the tube over the ball and it moves into the chamber of the tube until it’s full. To get the balls out you just turn the tube upside down and let the balls fall out the other end. Most models hold 15 to 18 tennis balls.

The primary benefit of a ball tube is that it is very easy to carry, most come with a shoulder strap, and they are much more convenient than just having 5 or 6 cans of tennis balls rolling around in your bag.

Personally, I like to use both a ball hopper and a ball tube. If you’re going out to practice and bang around a lot of balls, then you’re going to want a ball hopper. Hitting 18 balls, which is the maximum capacity of most ball tubes, and then going and picking them up every few minutes with the tube is a real pain. However, if you’re going out with a friend and you’re going to be drilling some and playing, just having a can or two of balls to practice is not going to cut it. 18 balls though in an easy to carry tube lets you get some good practice in, without feeling short on tennis balls.

Here are our top two tennis ball collector tubes.
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#1 – Gamma Ball Hopper Ball Tube

The Ballhopper Ball Tube is a lightweight tube with special end caps that will pick up and hold 18 balls quickly and easily. You can use the shoulder strap to carry the Ball Tube on and off the court and it can be hooked onto the fence when you’re not using it.

Ball Capacity: 18 Tennis Balls
Weight: 2 lbs
Color(s): Red
Average Customer Rating: 4.25 out of 5.0
Best Price: $17.90

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#2 – Dunlop Sports Tennis Tube

The Dunlop Sports Tennis Tube offers a quick and easy way to pick up and practice with tennis balls. This flexible 4′ long tube is both lightweight and durable. It will hang on the fence using a fence clip attachment when not in use and fits easily in your car trunk or locker. It has durable rubber plugs on either end for convenient ball pickup.

Capacity : 15 Balls
Color : Clear
Average Customer Rating: 4.25 out of 5.0
Best Price: $19.99

Editor’s comments: Although the Dunlop tennis tube has a clear tube so you can see the number of tennis balls in there, which is pretty neat, I would go with the Gamma because it’s cheaper, has a greater ball capacity, and comes with a cool shoulder strap.
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Roller Tennis Ball Hopper

The roller ball hopper looks like an old style manual lawn mower. The roller ball hopper is supposed to work by rolling the machine over the balls, and picking up many at a time. If you’re into golf, you can see a similar type concept at the driving range, where a guy driving a “mower” will pick up the golf balls out on the range. However, based upon the reviews we read on several sites, the roller tennis ball hopper design still needs some perfecting. The average rating was 3.0 out of 5.0 for the Gamma Rollerhopper 150 Tennis Ball Hopper and a lot of people said it was heavy and just didn’t pick up the balls like they thought it would. Wilson also offers a model, the Wilson Easy 85 Ball Pick-up, which was unavailable at the time of this article, and no reviews were listed.

It’s likely that the force generated from just rolling the machine is not as great as when you push straight down on a traditional hopper to pick up a ball. Therefore the balls just don’t squeeze through as efficiently with the roller.
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Tennis Teaching Cart

Teaching carts look like big shopping carts full of tennis balls. If you teach tennis at a club or camp, then a teaching cart is the ideal option as they are very sturdy and can hold 200-300+ tennis balls. Teaching carts are easy to wheel around the tennis court, but transporting them by car can be difficult if you don’t have a truck or SUV. You don’t use a teaching cart to pick up balls; you’ll need a hopper for that. A cart is just used for storage and for keeping a lot of balls together on the court.

Here are our top two tennis teaching carts.
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#1 – Gamma Brute Teaching Cart

The Gamma® Brute™ Teaching Cart™ offers extremely durable construction consisting of a wire basket that is heavy duty reinforced.  The Brute also has chrome plated legs, a padded handle, and bolted wheels with ball bearing swivel.  It is ergonomically designed to fit smoothly through the doors and gates you will find at most tennis courts. The Gamma Brute also includes a convenient tray under the basket for storage.

Ball Capacity: 325
Weight: 40 lbs
Average Customer Rating: NA
Best Price: $159.95

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#2 – Coach’s Tennis Ball Teaching Cart

The Coach’s Cart is sturdy and versatile, with a powder coated frame and vinyl coated basket. It has top quality rubber 4 inch wheels with sealed bearings that let you roll the cart with ease and a lifetime guarantee on the wheels from ever popping off.

Ball Capacity: 250
Weight: 42 lbs
Average Customer Rating: NA
Best Price: $163.99

Editor comments: Although the Coach’s Tennis Ball teaching cart has less capacity, costs more, and weighs more than the Gamma Brute, it does have a pretty cool feature where you can hook a standard metal ball hopper to the front of it for easy carry and convenience. Please note though, the Coach’s Teaching cart does not come with the extra metal hopper, you have to buy that separate.

Lobster Sports Inc. began manufacturing tennis ball machines in 1970, which means they’ve been in business about twice as long as most of their competitors. Lobster currently produces six different ball machines including both battery powered and electric tennis ball machines. Their electric powered ball machine models include the Lobster Ball Bucket 201, the Lobster Hybrid Model 301, and the Tournament Model 401. You can read more about Lobster ball machines on our Lobster page.

The Hybrid 301 Lobster tennis ball machine uses pneumatic pressure.

In this review we take a look at the Hybrid Model 301 Lobster tennis ball machine and see how it rates based on overall customer satisfaction, consumer reviews, and positive and negative consumer comments. We also look at all of the features offered by the Hybrid Model 301 Lobster tennis ball machine and how it compares to other similar tennis ball machines. We then offer our own rating and recommendation on whether to purchase the Hybrid Model 301 Lobster ball machine.

The Hybrid Model 301 Lobster ball machine is a pneumatic firing tennis ball machine, which is ideal for high usage situations such as clubs, schools, and camps, or for a home court user. Tennis ball machines are currently manufactured with two ball firing propulsion options, pneumatic and counter rotating wheels. The majority of the tennis ball machines reviewed on our site are powered with counter rotating wheels, which is the latest in propulsion technology. Machines that fire balls in this manner generally offer more spin and speed options, however they are more expensive. Pneumatic tennis ball machines offer durability, basic features, and a very low cost relative to counter rotating wheel machines. You can read more about tennis ball machine firing options in our “Tennis Ball Machine Buying Guide.”

All of the electric powered Lobster ball machines are pneumatic. The primary differences between the models, in terms of features, lies in ball capacity and spin. The Ball Bucket 201 is the entry level machine, starting at $640.00 USD and offers a ball capacity of 50 and random and horizontal oscillation. The Lobster Hybrid Model 301 ($794.00) moves up to a 150 ball capacity and has random and horizontal oscillation. The Tournament Model 401 costs $896.00 and has a 150 ball capacity with random, horizontal and vertical oscillation. All of the other features for each machine are basically the same.

Three times the ball capacity with 150 versus 50 is well worth the extra $150 when moving up from the Ball Bucket 201 to the Hybrid 301. With a 50 ball capacity you’ll spend most of your time picking up tennis balls and filling up the machine, and not hitting balls.

We typically would recommend moving up to the Tournament 410 to get vertical oscillation for another $100 over the Hybrid 301. However after reading the customer reviews and ratings for both machines we decided to place our endorsement on the 301. The Model 301 had many positive reviews and rated 4.6 out of 5.0, whereas the Model 401 had some negative feedback and rated 3.4 out of 5.0. We’re not really sure why this is, but perhaps because the Lobster Hybrid Model 301 was first manufactured in 1990 whereas the Tournament 401 was first manufactured in 1985. Perhaps with 5 years of additional engineering experience Lobster was able to build a better machine.

Here is a list of all of the features you’ll find in the Hybrid Model 301 Lobster tennis ball machine.

Hybrid Model 301 Lobster Tennis Ball Machine Features Overview

Power Type – The Hybrid Model 301 Lobster tennis ball machine is electric powered running off 120 volts or optionally 240 volts. It can also be run off a 1200-1400 watt generator.

Oscillation – This is a key feature when analyzing tennis ball machines and one of the major factors affecting the cost. The Hybrid Model 301 Lobster tennis ball machine offers random and horizontal oscillation, which means the machine fires balls randomly back and forth. You can manually change depth settings by going over and moving the firing tube up or down.

Spin control – the Hybrid Model 301 Lobster tennis ball machine offers spin control with the purchase of an additional attachment which costs about $50. Many counter rotating wheel firing tennis ball machines offer spin control settings where you can control the degree of under spin or topspin. However that degree of control is not possible with this attachment. We still highly recommend it though; it’s fairly inexpensive and certainly can add variety to your workout.

Weight – The Hybrid Model 301 Lobster tennis ball machine weighs just 31 lbs (14.06kg). The ball machines we’ve reviewed on this site range in weight from 11 lbs (5kg) for a very, very basic ball machine (no spin, no oscillation) to 90lbs (40.82kg) for a heavy duty commercial type model. 31lbs should be very easy for almost everyone to pick up and put in your car and roll around the court and parking lot.

Dimensions – The Hybrid Model 301 Lobster tennis ball machine measures a very compact (Length x Width x Height) 39 x 24 x 13 inches (.99 x .61 x .33m). The Hybrid 301 has two oversize 6 inch wheels that make it easy to roll around the court and parking lot.

Speed Range – The Hybrid Model 301 Lobster tennis ball machine fires tennis balls between 15-70 mph (24.14-112.65 kph). The ball machines we have reviewed range in speed from 10 mph to 95 mph (16.10-152.89 kph). The 301 offers a great speed range for an entry level tennis ball machine. Even advanced players will feel challenged with balls fired at up to 70 mph, and beginners can certainly handle the slower speed range.

Ball Capacity – The Hybrid Model 301 Lobster tennis ball machine holds 150 tennis balls. Economy tennis ball machines will hold 50 balls, whereas ball machines in high usage situations, such as clubs or tennis camps can hold up to 300 balls. A 150 ball capacity for a tennis ball machine at this price level is good.

Feed Rate – this is how fast the balls are fired out of the machine. The Hybrid Model 301 Lobster tennis ball machine fires at three different rates, 3, 6, and 12 seconds. Most tennis ball machines we’ve reviewed offer a range from 2-10 balls per second. The fastest firing time we’ve seen in a tennis ball machine is one ball every 1.5 seconds and the slowest is one ball every 12 seconds. So, 3, 6, and 12, although not ideal, should provide most players with enough variety to satisfy.

Warranty – the Hybrid Model 301 Lobster tennis ball machine comes with a two year warranty on parts and labor. Most tennis ball machine brands offer a 2 year warranty although some offer only a one year. We have found that only deluxe models over $3,500 offer a 3 year warranty.

Extras – The Hybrid Model 301 Lobster tennis ball machine offers a heavy duty vinyl cover for $50.

Customer Ratings and Comments

Sites with Customer Reviews Posted (5)
Number of Reviews (5)
Average Score (4.6 out of 5)

Summary of Positive Comments: Many reviewers like how easy the Hybrid Model 301 Lobster tennis ball machine is to use and the degree of versatility it offers at such a low price. Everyone saw improvements in their games.

Summary of Negative Comments: There weren’t any, surprisingly.

The Verdict

Don’t recommend — Recommend with reservations — Recommend — Strongly Recommend

If you need a workhorse tennis ball machine in a high usage situation such as a camp, school, or club, or if you are an individual who just wants to put in a lot of hours on the court, then the Hybrid Model 301 Lobster tennis ball machine is perfect for you. Pneumatic tennis ball machines are very durable and rugged in general and less likely to wear out.

There have been newer more advanced ball machines developed in the last few years however the “old school” pneumatic Hybrid Model 301 Lobster tennis ball machine still holds its own against many of these models when you take into account price. Sure you can get more features for double the cost, but it’s very hard to find a durable, dependable tennis ball machine for under $800 that offers the basics in spin control, random oscillation, a wide speed range, and large ball capacity.

Best Places to Buy the Hybrid Model 301 Lobster Tennis Ball Machine

Amazon.com- $793.96
Amazon sells everything, including tennis ball machines. You can find some really great deals here on other tennis accessories as well. If you’ve ever bought anything on Amazon you also see suggestions based on your previous purchases, as well as numerous consumer product reviews. Amazon is a great resource for shopping for just about anything.

Lobster Spin Adaptor - $50.00

Rate the Pneumatic 301 Lobster Tennis Ball Machine Yourself

If you have tried out this tennis ball machine for yourself, let us know. You can write a review in the comments section and give it a rating below.

More About the Lobster Ball Machine

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