There is hardly any better practice equipment than a ball machine to improve in tennis and other ball hitting sports. The more you hit a ball the better hand-eye coordination develops. And this is why Tennis ball machines are in high demand these days. But choosing or selecting the best tennis ball machine is a difficult task.
There are several features that you need to know and judge to get the best quality tennis ball machine from a wide range of products available in the marketplace. Our experts have done the hard work for you and picked the 10 best tennis ball machines for you that you can rely on. The review reports are explained below along with a guide to help you select the best match for you.
[extoc]
Tennis Ball Machine Reviews
There are hundreds of models and designs available in the marketplace. And it is hard to select one from them considering the features, price, performance, ratings, and many more.
1. Spinshot Plus-2 Tennis Ball Machine
Spinshot is the leader in the tennis ball machine industry and that has a certain reason. They have mastered the art and technology of producing the best quality ball machines. The model termed as Plus 2, we are reviewing here can be said the no 1 tennis ball machine foursome reason. The features, performance and sturdy build quality ensure that it is a value for money product even though it costs much higher than average ball machines.
This plus2 combines all the features that were available in the player model and plus model. Both the models are reviewed later as well in this article. You can store about 120 tennis balls in the machine and you will still be able to move the machine easily with the strong wheels at the bottom.
The Spinshot plus 2 can be operated using AC mains and battery as well. It has the mechanism to auto start the battery if it loses connection to the AC mains anyway. The battery is designed in a nice way that in case of replacing the battery you need not open up the machine totally. The other major features are as follows:
Features
- Full Drill Programmability,
- Quick Oscillation Setting,
- 120 Ball Capacity,
- Easy Transport,
- Multiple Ways to Control the Machine like smartwatch remote, phone remote
- Flexible Power Options,
- Patented De-BallJam Design,
- Stable WIFI connection.
What We Liked
- Can be controlled using a phone and smartwatch
- Easy Transfer and Store
- Flexible Power Connection Options
What Can Be Improved
- Expensive
Final Verdict
If you are serious about improving your gameplay by practicing with a tennis ball machine and has no issues with the budget then this ball machine is highly recommended for you. It has all the features you can look for to practice and develop your game.
2. Wilson Portable Tennis Ball Machine w/Remote
Wilson is known to most tennis players. They are popular for their quality sports equipment. The tennis ball machine we are reviewing here is manufactured by Sports Tutor in partnership with Wilson. The ball machine has quite-some amazing features like remote-controlled, speed adjustment, spin adjustment, rechargeable battery, and a lot more.
The Wilson ball machine can throw balls at a maximum speed of 75 mph. Besides that, the machine can hold about 110 balls and deliver them at a speed of a minimum of 1and a maximum of 10 seconds. Plus it has a built-in towing handle and wheels for easy rolling.
Ball trajectory can electronically be adjusted from groundstroke to lob. You can also adjust the topspin and underspin from light to high. And the built-in oscillator is capable of throwing balls randomly across the court.
Features
- Topspin/Underspin adjustable from light to heavy.
- Ball Speed – up to 75 MPH.
- Ball Feed – From one ball every 1-1/2 seconds to every 10 seconds.
- Electronic Elevation Control
- Ball Capacity – 110 Balls.
- Built-in Oscillator
- Portable
What We Liked
- Rechargeable battery and wireless remote-controlled
- Speed and Spin adjusting feature
- Built-in Oscillator
What Can Be Improved
- Expensive
Final Verdict
The price should not be a concern for this premium looking and well-built tennis ball machine. The features and performance are very satisfying. Highly recommended.
3. Tennis Tutor Plus Player Tennis Ball Machine
Tennis Tutor Plus from Sports Tutor is our next product in this top chart. Tennis Tutor plus machine has a unique feature of patented Real Player mode where the machine throws the ball at different speeds and spins to different positions so that it gets harder to guess the next ball. The difficulty level can be adjusted to beginner, intermediate and expert modes.
Apart from that unique feature, other regular features are available too. The machine can store almost 150 balls at a time. Which is a very good advantage to practice for a long time. It has an easy-to-use control panel with bar graph displays.
The USA made a ball machine that can be controlled using a remote controller. You can control the spin factor as well with the remote.
Features
- Patented Player Mode
- Topspin and Underspin.
- Speeds from 10- 85 MPH.
- Ball Feed Rate from every 1-1/2 seconds to every 10 seconds.
- 150 ball capacity.
- Easy-to-Use push-button control panel with bar graph displays – no programming required.
- Folding ball hopper plus swing-out towing handle and large towing wheels for easy transport.
What We Liked
- Patented Player Mode
- Smart Battery Charger
- Remote-controlled oscillator
What Can Be Improved
- No wheels to move it easily
Final Verdict
Sports Tutor has the largest portfolio of tennis ball machines in the world. They have adapted well to the technology to produce the best at affordable prices. The tennis tutor plus is a good example of that.
4. Spinshot Pro Tennis Ball Machine
Another quality construction from Spinshot. The Spinshot pro is designed for family use. It is very easy to operate that children over the age of 10 can use this ball machine along with adults. The Spinshot Pro is capable of throwing balls at a speed of 20 km/h to 110 km/h. The machine can be operated with a remote watch as well (only start and stop).
The wheels at the bottom make this machine a very portable one. And the flexible power connection feature helps to enrich its portability support. You can play about 2-3 hours with a fully charged battery. You don’t need to open up the machine while changing the battery, the smart cage design allows you to change batteries without opening it.
Features
- Horizontal Oscillation
- Ball Ejection Speed: 10kmph to 120kmph
- Ball Feeding Rate: 2second to 10 second
- Ball Spin: Adjustable Top and Back Spin
- Ball Trajectories: Adjustable from Ground Stroke to lob angel
- Weight: very portable of 20kg for battery model
- Ball Capacity: 120 balls
- Power: Battery powered with the charger sent with the machine. Optional AC modules can be ordered.
What We Liked
- Easy to set up and use, can be operated remotely
- Portable
- Random horizontal oscillation feature
What Can Be Improved
- Takes time to fully charged
Final Verdict
Quality oscillator for larger side to side transitions, which is good for practice. Besides, the portability features and performance is very satisfying. Overall, it is a value for money ball machine.
5. Tennis Tutor Prolite
USA manufacturer Sports Tutor has introduced this Tennis Tutor Prolite at a more affordable price than the Plus player model. The outlook is quite similar to the model earlier mentioned. Has some similar features as well like a rechargeable battery and random oscillator.
The Prolite model is easy to use with easy-to-use knob controls. It can store 125 balls at a time. You can adjust the ball feed rate to your preferences from 2-10 seconds with a speed range of 10-60 mph. The random oscillator helps you train better.
Features
- Speeds from 10-60 MPH.
- 125 ball capacity.
- Easy-to-use knob controls.
- Random oscillator
What We Liked
- Adjustable ball feed rate
- The oscillator can be controlled using remote
- Smart Battery Charger
What Can Be Improved
- No wheels to move it easily
Final Verdict
If you are planning to buy a ball machine just under $1000 or near to it, then this Tennis Tutor Prolite would be a good option to buy.
6. Spinshot Lite Tennis Training Machine (For Juniors)
The Spinshot Lite Tennis Ball Training machine is specially designed for the junior tennis players. Apart from the juniors, senior beginners or intermediate players can also use this machine. The outlook of this model is similar to the seniors’ models just a little thinner.
Being a lite version the features and performance are limited as well. The machine has a ball capacity of 50 only and the maximum speed it can generate is 60 kph. But the product is very light in weight which adds an advantage to its portability.
Features
- The maximum speed of 60 kph
- Easy control knobs
- 50 Ball Capacity,
- Extreme Portability,
- Embedded TopSpin Feature,
- Flexible Power Options,
- Smart Watch Remote Option,
- Horizontal Oscillation Option.
What We Liked
- Lightweight and easy to move with it.
- Proper ball speed for juniors
- Easy control
What Can Be Improved
- Overpriced for junior models
Final Verdict
For a beginner or junior, the price point spin shot is asking for this model seems a bit over to us. But the quality and features along with durability are very satisfying.
7. Isam Extend Tennis Ball Machine
It may seem a lot flimsy-looking at the pictures of the product but in reality, it is pretty good. It weighs about 39 pounds with a generic dimension of 18 H x 17.5 W x 19 D. You can play around 5-7 hours. It has some regular features like ball speed adjusting, height adjustments, and random oscillation. Here is the summary of the features, pros, and cons.
Features
- Adjustable ball speed; delivery time and height adjustments
- Random Oscillation
What We Liked
- Random oscillation feature
- 2 wheel delivery system
- Elevation control levels
What Can Be Improved
- Flimsy outlook
- Overpriced
Final Verdict
The Isam extends the ball machine is a moderately satisfying ball machine. Considering the price point it is an overpriced, flimsy-looking ball machine. Not much recommended but if you’re short on budget then you can try this model.
8. Quickstart Tennis Ball Machine (For Beginners)
With a top speed of 30 mph, the Quickstart Tennis Ball Machine is designed for the beginners only. Because for professional players or experts you need more ball speed. The machine has a weight of 29 pounds, which should be easy to move in places. Not only that, but the dimension (28 H x 12.5 W x 12.5 D) also suggests that it won’t be hard to carry. It can throw all 3 stages of tennis balls.
Features
- Ability to throw all 3 stages of balls plus the standard regulation balls.
- The top speed is 30 mph.
- Overall Product Weight: -29 Pounds.
What We Liked
- Lightweight
- Minimal top speed for beginners
What Can Be Improved
- Flimsy
Final Verdict
This model of ball machine is suggested for beginners to start off their practice and within a small ground. Else it may not be able to serve your purpose.
9. Sports Tutor Tennis Cube w/oscillator
USA manufacturer Sports Tutor has introduced this Sports Tutor Cube model tennis ball machine at a more affordable price than other models. The black and red outlook stays the same as the model earlier mentioned. Has some similar features as well like a rechargeable battery and random oscillator.
The Cube model is easy to use with easy-to-use knob controls. It can store 70 balls at a time. You can adjust the ball feed rate to your preferences from 2-10 seconds with a speed range of 10-50 mph. The random oscillator helps you train better.
Features
- Speeds from 10-50 MPH.
- Ball Feed Rate adjustable from every 2 seconds to every 10 seconds.
- 70 ball capacity.
- Start-up time delay of 10 seconds to allow the player to get in position before balls are thrown.
What We Liked
- Adjustable ball feed rate
- The oscillator can be controlled using remote
- Smart Battery Charger
What Can Be Improved
- Ball gets stuck too often
Final Verdict
If you are planning to buy a ball machine just under $800 or near to it, then this Tennis Tutor Cube would be a good option to buy.
10. Match Mate Rookie Tennis Ball Machine (For Beginners Under $500)
The Match Mate Rookie is great for beginners and youth. The only wheel works well for the quickstart program and can generate a top speed of 30 mph. The ball machine is very lightweight, it weighs just 22 lbs, it is probably the lightest ball machine you can find.
The machine consists of a rechargeable battery that allows for up to five hours of continuous playtime. You needn’t worry about the durability of the machine as it is built with an aluminum outer shell and urethane pitching wheel. All internal components are made from high-grade aluminum or steel.
Features
- Ten-second ball feed delay on start-up ensures no wasted balls
- User-friendly controls
- A smart charger prevents overcharging of the internal battery
- Built-in transport handle
- Soft toss at low ball speed settings is suitable for small children
What We Liked
- Easy to use
- Very lightweight
- Aluminum construction
What Can Be Improved
- Good for beginners only
- Single wheel
Final Verdict
The Match Mate Rookie is great for beginners. Quality construction and latest features at the below $500 price point is certainly a good purchase.
Things To Consider Before Buying Tennis Ball Machine
Tennis ball machines should have some characteristics to be the best in the business. Though our experts have analyzed and reviewed the mentioned tennis ball machine and given their verdict on it, you can know the features to consider and evaluate them on your own.
Variable/Random shot selection
In a game of tennis, you will not receive balls from one particular direction with the same speed and spin. So if you practice the same ball from a single direction and speed then your practice will not help much. It would be a better choice if you select a ball machine that is capable of throwing balls in various ways randomly. There are certain features that a quality ball machine should be able to provide. For example:
- Spin
- Height variation
- Speed variation
- Full court oscillation: spreading the balls all over the court
Ball capacity and feed rate
If you don’t like to be interrupted often due to refilling the tennis ball machine then go for a machine with a larger ball capacity. Having a larger ball capacity is an advantage to longer practice sessions.
The feed rate is the time gap duration of throwing each ball. On average most tennis ball machines have this feature to adjust the feed rate from 2-10 seconds. It is suggested to have a ball machine with a feed rate adjustability feature.
Construction quality/Durability
Find tennis ball machines that are made of high-quality raw materials like metal or high performing plastics. As you may need to use the machine both indoors and outdoors, consider such material that will not be affected by the weather conditions. Yes, there are hardly any tennis ball machines that are waterproof yet you need to be sure that it will have longer durability.
Price
Price plays the most influential role in purchase decisions for many of us. So, you shall consider your budget prior to buying a ball machine. There are ball machines that can be purchased for $200 and there are some ball machines that will cost you more than $2000. Varying in features, quality, brand value, and many more.
Portability and remote control capability
You need to move the machine almost every day to practice and play on the same ground. It is recommended that you buy a tennis ball machine that is easy to move. Sometimes larger batteries make the product quality better but hard to move. On the other hand, there might be a better portable tennis ball machine but they may cost much or lack any other major feature. You better make a balance and choose a ball machine that has all the required features.
Besides portability, it would be better for you if your ball machine can be controlled remotely. You know how hard and time-killing it could be running back and forth to change the settings in your practice time.
Drills
Ball machines with preloaded drills add an advantage in practice. There are few models that offer this feature and they are expensive as well. But the drills are very effective in having a good training session. You can design your drills in those machines as well.
Frequently Asked Questions
The following questions are often found asked on the internet regarding the tennis ball machine. Have a look at these. You may find your questions here as well. If it doesn’t satisfy you yet, then feel free to write back to us.
Are tennis ball machines worth it?
Yes, Tennis ball machines are worth it. If you want to improve your game skill, then you can own a tennis ball machine and practice using it. A tennis ball machine is a great source of practice as it can create new dimensions to your practice.
Does a tennis ball machine improve the game?
You can improve your game tremendously with a tennis ball machine. Practicing with a tennis ball machine improves your footwork and reaction time as well. Besides, you can world on different shots and practice on those shots that you are weak playing, with a tennis ball machine.
How to use a tennis ball machine?
We recommend the following video to learn using a tennis ball machine though most tennis ball machines come up with a user guide to let you know how to use it. The video explains why you need to change a few settings and how you can actually better utilize your tennis ball machine.
Can I use a tennis ball machine if I’m alone?
Of course, you can use a ball machine alone but with certain models of tennis ball machines. There are some tennis ball machines available that need someone to put the ball in the machine every time it throws one. But fortunately, there are several models of ball machines that have a place to store a few balls and it collects balls automatically from that place. With those types of machines, you can actually use them alone.
Do tennis pros use ball machines?
Yes, but less than 10% of tennis professionals use a tennis ball machine to practice. They practice with real players rather than machines. Besides they practice in the clubs and those clubs own tennis ball machines as a result, individual players don’t need separate ball machines to practice.
How does a tennis ball machine work?
The tennis ball machine works with a simple ball throwing mechanism. The mechanism behind a tennis ball machine is not that complex. The mechanism is mounted on a base plate that rotates back and forth through a 90-degree arc. Read the patented detailed mechanism (with images) or you can watch the following video for better understanding.
Conclusion
Tennis ball machines are very effective training equipment for tennis players, especially for beginners and advanced players who love to practice indoors or in the yards to develop faster. The machines reviewed in this article are a good value for money. They ensure durability and performance at the same time. Make sure you don’t overload them with balls and run them for a long time.
