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Tennis Tutor Tennis Ball Machine Review

28 October 2009 2,358 views 6 Comments




The Tennis Tutor tennis ball machine can simulate the strokes and spin of a beginner, intermediate, and advanced player. See your game improve dramatically. 

tennis-tutor-ball-machine-plusThe 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 our Sports Tutor tennis ball machine page. 

In this review, we look at the features offered by the Tennis Tutor machine and how it compares to other similar tennis ball machines, overall customer satisfaction, ratings, reviews, and pros and cons. We then offer our own rating and recommendation on whether to purchase the Tennis Tutor tennis ball machine. 

The Tennis Tutor ball machine offers a full range of features for an economical price. The Tennis Tutor tennis ball machine comes in a Standard, a Plus, and a Plus Player version. The Plus Player version costs about $600 more than the Standard version, which is a fairly large difference. The Standard Tennis Tutor ranges from $950 – $1,050, the Plus is around $1,250, and the Plus Player is around $1,650. 

Are the additional features you get as you move up in models worth the extra $600? We feel that they are. 

Without the additional features the Tennis Tutor Standard version really feels limited for more advanced players, and beginners and intermediates will feel like they outgrow the machine too quickly as they improve. Our advice is to get the machine with the most essential features provided it is reasonably priced. We feel that the Tennis Tutor Plus ball machine Player version is a very good buy. 

The Plus version offers the following features not offered in the Standard version. 

Spin control knob

Spin control knob

Spin control – the Tennis Tutor Plus ball machine has a dial in the control panel that lets you control the degree of top spin and under spin. 

Elevation control

Elevation control

Elevation control – you have ten settings to adjust for the angle that the ball is fired from the machine 

The Tennis Tutor Plus ball machine Player version then adds the following unique feature. 

 
Player Mode – this function simulates the shots that a real player would make. You simply hit a button and select beginner, intermediate or advanced options and then the ball machine 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.

The features offered in all versions of the Tennis Tutor machine including the Standard version are listed as follows. 

 

Tennis Tutor Machine Features Overview

Power Type – The Tennis Tutor tennis ball machine is battery powered, with a standard battery life of 2-3 hours and a heavy duty battery life of 4-6 hours. The heavy duty battery is $50 more and well worth it. In our opinion 2 hours with the standard is simply not enough. Recharge time is typically 12 hours. You can also get the Tennis Tutor with AC/electric power for an extra $50.

  

Oscillation – This is a key feature when analyzing tennis ball machines and one of the major factors affecting the cost. 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 vertical oscillation, in which the machine fires balls short and long, you need to upgrade to the Plus model. We feel vertical oscillation is essential for a quality ball machine, which is one of the reasons we are recommending the Tennis Tutor Plus ball machine Player model.
Ready to roll!

Ready to roll!

Weight– The Tennis Tutor machine weighs 42lbs (19.05kg) and the Plus model weighs 46lbs (20.87kg), which puts both in the midrange of ball machines in terms of weight. The ball machines we’ve reviewed on this site range in weight from 11 lbs (5kg) for a very, very basic ball machine to 90lbs (40.82kg) for a heavy duty commercial type model. 46lbs is not terribly difficult to pick up and put in your car however you may want to ask for help. As for moving around on the ground, the Tennis Tutor tennis ball machine has an extendable towing handle and wheels that help you pull it just like luggage. 

Dimensions – The Tennis Tutor Standard model measures a very compact (Length x Width x Height) 19.5 x 20 x 12 inches (.50 x .51 x .30m) and the Plus model is slightly larger at 19.5 x 20 x 20 inches (.50m x .51 x .51). 

Speed Range – All models of the Tennis Tutor machine fire tennis balls between 10-85 mph (16.10-136.79 kph). The ball machines we have reviewed range in speed from 10 mph to 95 mph (152.89 kph), so the Tennis Tutor falls within the optimal range for speed. Children and beginners can easily practice with balls at a speed of 10 mph, and advanced players will certainly feel challenged by balls coming at 85 mph. 

Ball Capacity – The Tennis Tutor 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. We feel that a 150 ball capacity is sufficient. 

Feed Rate – this is how fast the balls are fired out of the machine. The Tennis Tutor machine fires at a rate ranging from 1.5-12 balls per second. This is the fastest firing time we’ve seen in a tennis ball machine and the slowest, which makes the Tennis Tutor tennis ball machine the most versatile of all ball machines in terms of feed rate. Such range lets you work on rapid fire volleys coming at you every 1.5 seconds, and lets beginners, who may need the slower feed rate of 12 seconds, prepare and set up for the next shot. 

Have a look inside.

Have a look inside.

Warranty – Tennis Tutor ball machines come with a one year warranty on parts and service. Most tennis ball machine brands offer a 2 year warranty, which is a term we feel more comfortable with. Extended warranties are available. We have found only one deluxe model that offers a 3 year warranty, and that model is over $3,500. 

Extras – Optional extras for the Tennis Tutor machine include the following: 

  • Storage cover – a heavy duty, lined vinyl cover, $35
  • Smart battery charger – automatically shuts off when the battery is charged, $40
  • Smart/Fast charger – charges up the battery 3 times faster, $75
  • External AC power supply – plugs into an AC outlet to provide continuous operation for battery-powered Tennis Tutors, $125
  • External battery pack – extends battery time an additional 4-6 hours, $130
  • Two-function wireless remote – controls the feed rate and sweep/oscillation type, $200

Before purchasing, check to see which of these extras are included. 

Vinyl cover

Vinyl cover

  

Customer Ratings and Comments

Sites with Customer Reviews Posted (5)
Number of Reviews (12)
Average Score (4.3 out of 5)

Pros: Cons: Best Uses:
Easy to use (9) Ball feeder (1) Intermediate (10)
Improves performance (8) Balls jam or fail to drop (1) Casual athlete (9)
Helped me tremendously (1) Feeder gets stuck (1) Professional (4)
    Good for all levels (1)

  

Summary of Positive Comments: The feedback is good about the remote control. Customers that have purchased this option feel that it’s worth the investment as it makes practice time more efficient, i.e. less time back and forth to change settings. Many customers also like the different spin and oscillation settings and feel that their games have improved as a result of the variety. 

Summary of Negative Comments: Taller players (6’2”, 1.88m) 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. 

The Verdict

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

We strongly recommend the Tennis Tutor tennis ball machine Plus Player model. We feel that this machine’s advanced features in terms of spin, oscillation settings, and player type simulation make it a great purchase. The closer a tennis ball machine can mimic an actual opponent the better – an opponent that will consistently hit the ball in the court and to the spots where you need to practice your shots that is. We feel that the Tennis Tutor ball machine lives up to its promises and offers an excellent way to improve your game. 

Where to Buy the Tennis Tutor Plus Ball Machine

Amazon.com – $1,449.00
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. 

Mercantila.com- $1649.00
Mercantila offers an exclusive selection of specialty stores offering a wide array of different merchandise ranging from home and garden to fitness and sports.  They have in-depth product information, buying guides, and a broad selection of tennis ball machines at affordable prices. 

Rate the Tennis Tutor Plus 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 Tennis Tutor Machine 

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