11 Best Tennis Ball Machines (2023 Guide)

So you’ve got your new tennis racket.

But what’s next?

It’s time to buy a tennis ball machine! Whether you’re a beginner or an advanced player, ball machines are a great way to improve your game without needing a coach or hitting partner.

However, if you’re new to the world of tennis you may not know what to look for in the best tennis ball machine. That is why I’ve created this article to help make buying a ball machine easy for you.

Below I have reviewed the 11 best tennis ball machines on the market to help you improve your tennis game today!

Quick Summary

Reviews of the Best Tennis Ball Machines in 2023

1. Spinshot Player

Price: $$$

The Spinshot Player is my pick for the best ball machine in 2023.

It can deliver balls at a speed of up to 110km/h and can hold over 120 balls. This makes it perfect for creating many different scenarios you may face in a tennis match. Also, it has vertical and horizontal oscillation settings that can be controlled via an app on your phone or even a smartwatch.

If that’s not enough for you, the Spinshot player comes with 12 pre-programmed drills to give you a variety of shot positions. Plus, each one of these drills can be customized to your liking. 

It’s like having a portable tennis coach!

Although the price may seem like a lot, I’d say this is the best overall tennis ball machine on the market.

Specs

2. Lobster Elite 2 Portable Ball Machine

Price: $$$

The Lobster Elite 2 Portable Ball Machine is a great tennis ball machine if you’re looking for something that packs a bit more of a punch.

It can send balls at speeds of up to 129km/h making it perfect for simulating what it’s like to receive shots from pro tennis players. Also, it can hold up to 150 balls and can feed with random oscillation, both vertically and horizontally, so you can fire tennis balls at random.

If you’re just a beginner, don’t worry! This ball machine can also deliver balls at speeds as low as 16km/h to help you learn and practice.

One thing I really like about the Lobster Elite 2 is how easy it is to transport around. This is ideal if you’re someone who travels a lot to tournaments and needs something that is easy to maneuver around a tennis club.

But the downside is that it’s quite expensive. That being said, I think it’s definitely worth the investment.

Specs

3. Slinger Bag Ball Machine

Price: $$

Launched in the Spring of 2020, the Slinger Bag Ball Machine took the tennis industry by storm with its unique design.

If you’re looking for a ball hopper that is easy to transport then this is the right one for you. The Slinger Bag comes in a duffel bag shape with wheels on the bottom so you can transport it with ease!

It comes packed with a bunch of features such as a remote control, USB charging cable, a bunch of different compartments, a phone/camera holder, and many more for an excellent price.

It also has a ball capacity of 144 which I found very surprising for its size. This meant that I could stay out training on the court for a long period of time without having to stop to pick up the balls.

The only downside is that the Slinger Bag can only send tennis balls at speeds between 16-73km/h. However, for beginner and intermediate players, that is more than enough. This is by far the best value-for-money ball machine you can buy.

Specs

4. Tennis Tutor Tennis Cube Ball Machine

Price: $$$

If you’re looking for something small and portable, then I’d recommend the Tennis Tutor Tennis Cube Ball Machine.

While it may not come packed with many features, the Tennis Tutor Tennis Cube Ball Machine can still do everything you would need. It can send balls at speeds of between 16-85km/h and can hold up to 70 balls. It also has an oscillation feature so you can practice both forehands and backhands.

Plus, the small, cube shape makes it very lightweight and easy to carry around.

But if you’re an advanced player that needs faster speeds and more features, then this may not be the ball launcher for you.

However, if you’re a beginner or intermediate tennis player I’d recommend checking this ball machine out.

Specs

5. Wilson Portable Tennis Ball Machine

Price: $$$

The Wilson Portable Tennis Ball Machine is a great ball machine built by the #1 brand in the tennis industry.

This tennis machine can send balls with many different spins so you can practice a variety of different match-like scenarios. It can oscillate to simulate being moved around by your opponent, making you hit the ball from different positions.

However, there is a major downside. I found that this ball machine was quite hard to transport as it had no wheels or handles. If you’re someone that travels around a lot, I wouldn’t recommend the Wilson Portable Tennis Ball Machine.

It can hold 110 balls and can send them at speeds up to 120km/h making it a good choice for intermediate/pro tennis players looking to simulate higher-speed shots.

Specs

6. Spinfire Pro 2 Ball Machine

Price: $$$

The Spinfire Pro 2 is a great all-around tennis ball machine that has a battery life of up to 8 hours and a 150 ball capacity so you can train for hours!

It comes in a sleek and stylish design with wheels that make it easy to maneuver and can send balls flying at speeds up to 130km/h.

But, once again, it is on the expensive side. If you’re a beginner who’s on a budget, you’d be better off checking out the Slinger Ball Machine instead.

Also, I can’t be the only one who loves the purple design, can I?

Specs

7. Tennis Tower Ball Machine

Price: $$$

The Tennis Tower Ball Machine is a great ball machine with an easy all-in-one control panel that gives you a variety of different settings to send the balls.

It can deliver tennis balls at speeds up to 137km/h and can hold 225 balls at a time so you don’t have to keep picking up the balls every 5 minutes, which we can all admit is the worst part.

But, while it does come with wheels, I still found this ball machine quite difficult to maneuver due to how big it is.

Specs

8. Lobster Elite Grand Four Ball Machine

Price: $$$

The Lobster Elite Grand Four Ball Machine is one of the newest models made by Lobster Sports. It has one of the best oscillation features on the market.

It comes equipped with 9 pre-programmed drills, with one of those drills called ‘lefty’ so you can simulate what it’s like to play against those annoying lefty tennis players.

(By the way, I’m one of those annoying lefty tennis players…)

It can deliver tennis balls at speeds up to 129km/h which is more than enough to practice against.

It also has a random oscillation feature where balls are tossed at random around the tennis court so you can practice with different ball speeds, trajectories, etc. This makes it one of the most realistic simulators you can buy.

If you’re willing to make the investment, the Lobster Elite Grand Four Ball Machine is a great option.

Specs

9. Spinshot Pro

Price: $$

The Spinshot Pro is the smaller and cheaper version of the Spinshot Player.

It comes in a small, compact design making it easy to maneuver around. Furthermore, it provides multi-function speed control, horizontal and vertical oscillation, top spin, and backspin.

It can deliver balls up to 110km/h and can be adjusted right down to 30km/h so you can mimic many different scenarios.

You can also purchase this ball machine with a remote watch that allows you to start and stop the ball feed.

Even though the smaller ball capacity is annoying, the Spinshot Pro is a great machine for tennis players who want a small ball launcher that still offers plenty of features.

Specs

10. Lobster Phenom 2 Ball Machine

Price: $$$$

The Lobster Phenom 2 Ball Machine is one of the most advanced tennis ball machines on the market.

It comes with an easy-to-use LCD touch control panel as well as a free remote control app so you can control the ball machine from your phone. It comes with 6 pre-programmed drills as well as many different oscillation settings so you can create many different court scenarios.

The Lobster Phenom 2 can hold 250 tennis balls that can be sent at speeds up to 129km/h.

As far as ball machines go, this is one of the most expensive machines on the market. However, if this is not an issue, this is one of the best tennis ball launchers you can get.

Specs

11. Match Mate Rookie Ball Machine

Price: $

If you’re looking for a user-friendly ball machine that isn’t going to leave a hole in your bank account, then I’d recommend checking out the Match Mate Rookie Ball Machine.

It has all the features you would need allowing you to change ball speeds up to 43km/h as well as different spin settings.

However, for intermediate and advanced players, you’ll want something that can fire tennis balls faster.

Specs

How to Choose the Best Tennis Ball Machine for You

Ball machines offer a new and fun way to practice playing tennis. But finding the best one for you isn’t easy as different tennis ball machines suit different people. Here are the most important factors to consider when looking for a new ball machine.

Skill Level

Your skill level will have a huge impact on what the best ball machine for you is.

• For a beginner player, a basic tennis ball machine with simple settings that allows them to hit forehands and backhands will do.

• For intermediate-level players, a machine with variable speed and spin options would be ideal so they can practice moving around the court.

• Advanced players may require a high-end machine with multiple programmable settings and a large ball capacity. This allows them to practice match scenarios and work on endurance.

Frequency of Use

A crucial factor you have to consider when choosing a tennis ball machine is how often you’ll use it.

If you are a player or coach who’s looking to use it often, investing in a high-quality machine that can withstand heavy use is important.

However, if you only play occasionally, a more affordable and lightweight option might suffice.

Portability

Portability is another important factor to consider when buying a tennis ball machine.

A tennis ball machine that is easy to transport allows you to take it from one location to another, whether it’s from your home to a court, or from your office to a nearby park. This makes it convenient for you to practice your game wherever and whenever you want.

When looking for a tennis ball machine, consider the weight and size of the machine, as well as whether it has wheels for easy transportation. Some machines also come with a carrying case or bag for even more portability.

Additionally, make sure the machine has a reliable battery life or the option to use a power source, so you don’t have to worry about it dying in the middle of your practice session.

Budget

When looking for a ball machine you need to consider your budget.

Ball machines range in price based on different features it has so you need to think about what features are important to you and how often you’ll use the machine.

If you’re a beginner who doesn’t play regularly, then I wouldn’t recommend spending over $1000.

However, if you’re an advanced player who’s looking for a machine that can simulate a real match, you may want to consider spending anywhere from $1000 to $3000.

But remember, if you’re serious about improving, tennis ball machines are a great investment so don’t cheap out. You’ll be able to save money on private lessons and hitting partners meaning they’ll quickly pay for themselves.

What to Look for in a Tennis Ball Machine

When it comes to tennis ball machines there are a number of features to look out for. Here are the most important ones to consider:

Speed and Spin

Most tennis ball machines will be able to shoot the ball at different speeds and spins. It is a vital feature to have as during a tennis match you will be receiving the tennis ball at many different speeds and spins so you must practice these different scenarios.

Feed Rate

The feed rate refers to the speed at which balls are fed to you. It is important when buying a tennis ball machine that they offer the option to adjust the feed rate as this also makes it more realistic for a tennis match.

Someone who is a pro-level tennis player may look to get a tennis ball machine that feeds the ball faster to get as close to the real thing as possible.

Oscillation

When looking at oscillation there are two types. The first type is horizontal oscillation, which most tennis ball machines have, and this is what enables the machine to shoot the ball side to side so the player can move from left to right to hit the tennis ball.

The second type is vertical oscillation which is where the machine will shoot the ball at different depths so the player has to move forward and back. The best tennis ball machines have both types of oscillation so you have more variety in what shots you have to hit.

Capacity

The capacity refers to how many tennis balls the tennis ball machine can hold. The higher the capacity, the more balls you can hit before it has to be refilled.

The bigger the machine, the greater the capacity but this also means that the machine will be heavier and harder to maneuver so you have to think about what is right for you.

Drills

Some of the high-end tennis ball machines will offer a drills function that allows the player to practice a varied sequence of shots. This is perfect if you’re looking to practice different point plays that you want to use.

Conclusion

Ball machines are a great investment for tennis players looking to improve their game.

Hopefully, you have found the best tennis ball machine for you so you can get practicing on the tennis court without needing a coach or even a partner to hit with! 

Featured Image: Brands&People