Last Updated on March 3, 2020 by Jake
Tennis improvement is a journey, and it takes quite a bit of time and focus to truly make your game better. If you’re looking to improve your tennis game, you can’t always count on having a partner to volley with. A tennis ball machine can be the perfect piece of equipment for you to get consistent practice in.
Most tennis ball machines are a significant investment, so it’s important to do your research on which are the best tennis ball machines. In this post, we’ll do the best tennis ball machine reviews then at the end we’ll go over some tennis ball machine buying tips.
Table of Contents
In a Hurry? Here’s Our Top Picks:
| Image | Title | Buy |
|---|---|---|
 | Spinshot-Player Tennis Ball Machine (Best Seller Ball Machine in the World) | Check Price on Amazon |
 | Lobster Sports – Elite One Battery Tennis Ball Machine – Corner-to-Corner Sweep – Top & Backspin – 60° Lobs – 4 to 8 Hr Runtime – Charger Included – Easy to Use - 42 lb | Check Price on Amazon |
 | Wilson Portable Tennis Machine - Smallest & Lightest Topspin/Backspin Machine, Groundstrokes to Lobs, Random Oscillator, Smart Battery Charger | Check Price on Amazon |
 | Spinshot Lite Tennis Training Machine Basic Model (Best Model for Junior Player) | Check Price on Amazon |
Best Tennis Ball Machine Reviews
Spinshot-Player Tennis Ball Machine
Best Tennis Ball Machine to Improve Your Game
- Use Phone to Program each Shot for Speed, Spin, Height, Angle and Feed Rate.. No additional Cost for Phone Remote Upgrade.
- Any Type of Oscillation Can be Easily Made By the Player Model.
- Charger Provided. Battery Sold separately.
- You Can Program the Machine to Make your Own Drills.
- Only Ball Machine Machine not made of Plastic.
When it comes to the best tennis ball machine, you want something that will truly help you improve your game. The main downside of many tennis ball machines is that they only project a “regular” shot at the player. After a certain level of improvement, you’ll need something that can really help you go to the next level. The Spinshot Player machine has every angle and shot type covered for you to get practice in against any type of shot. The hopper can hold up to a 120 tennis ball capacity.
It comes with 12 drills pre loaded that you can use at the press of a button, but you’re also able to program your own custom drills as well. It’s possible to program a sequence of up to 6 sequential shots to give you a complete variety of volley rhythms, similar to what you might face in a match. This can be done through an integrated phone app or via a remote control.
For ultimate convenience, a watch style remote is sold separately with a single button that can change between drills or start and pause the machine.
From a design perspective, the Spinshot Player is extremely sturdy and durable – these machines are built to last. The downside of this is that it’s quite heavy, but built in wheels make it easy to transport to and from the court. There’s an option to either power the machine with a battery or via an AC plug, whichever is more convenient for you.
Things We Like:
- 12 pre loaded and 20 fully customizable drills
- Offers practice for a wide variety of shot types
- Heavy duty and durable construction
- Easy to use/manage with integrated phone app or remote control
- Flexible power options between battery and AC plugs
- Wheels help make transportation easier
Things We Don’t:
- The machine is about 50 pounds and can be cumbersome if you need to lift it
- While not expensive compared to some other top models, it’s a little pricey
Lobster Sports – Elite One Tennis Ball Machine
- ELITE ONE: The Elite One Tennis Ball Machine has full corner to corner shot randomization to challenge any tennis players. The Elite One features horizontal and vertical launcher randomization, adjustable top and backspin, and overhead lobs.
- SHOT VARIETY: You can set the horizontal and vertical position to work on one part of your game or set up random launching positions to get full-court practice. The adjustable ball thrower works at high speeds, up to 80 MPH, for high-intensity throwing
- THE BEST PORTABILITY: Our tennis throwing machines allow the hopper to fit perfectly over the body while the handle folds down to create a slim package that should fit in any trunk or back seat. The battery-powered design and automatic rechargeable capability mean it's always ready to go!
- PROFESSIONAL CAPABILITY: The Elite One features settable horizontal and vertical ball throwing, a launcher speed of 10-80mph, a 150 ball capacity, a battery for 4-6 hours of battery powered operation, 2-12 second ball feed, and overhead lobs up to 60°.
- LOBSTER SPORTS: Portable Tennis Ball Machines by the most trusted name in tennis practice and training gear! Lobster Sports offers the best in capability and services. Each of our automatic launchers is designed for heavy-duty reliability and lightweight portability. Play More. Win More.
Lobster Sports makes one of the best tennis ball machines on the market that is suitable for anybody looking to get some consistent reps in. Best of all, it’s incredibly easy to transport and store considering how high quality of a machine it is. 8 inch all terrain wheels make walking and moving over curbs a breeze. The hopper actually inverts when not in use too. Combined with a folding handle, Lobster’s tennis ball machine has a tiny footprint when it’s not in use.
As far as the actual tennis practice goes, the Elite One’s abilities do not disappoint. It features a mode where it will randomly launch a ball within the corners of the court to help you practice reflexes, movement, forehands, and backhands. You can practice against heavy topspin and shots up to 80 miles per hour to simulate a strong player’s shot.
One unique feature of the Elite One is the ability to practice overhands – many tennis ball machines do not have this feature. It will shoot lobs up to 60 degrees in the air, for you to get that overhand practice in.
Power wise, the Lobster Elite One comes with the option for battery or AC plug power. The battery life is quite good at 4 to 8 hours depending on the conditions the machine operates under.
Things We Like:
- 150 tennis ball hopper capacity
- Random corner to corner oscillation practice mode
- Shoots up to 60 degree lobs for overhand practice
- Flexible power options between battery and AC plugs
- Folding handle, inverted hopper, and 8 inch wheels make transportation/storage easy
Things We Don’t:
- Many of the features you want cost extra (remote control, fast charger, external battery pack).
- Price adds up after buying accessories
Wilson Portable Tennis Ball Machine Standard
- WILSON SPORTS, the #1 name in tennis, in partnership with Sports Tutor, the #1 tennis machine manufacturer in the U.S. and Worldwide, bring you the quality and performance you expect from Wilson.
- 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 trajectory is electronically adjustable from groundstroke to lob. Ball Capacity - 110 Balls. Built-in Oscillator – Delivers shots randomly across the court for hitting on the run. Ball hopper folds down when not in use. Includes built-in towing handle and large towing wheels for easy rolling.
- RECHARGEABLE BATTERY – Built-in battery provides up to four hours of playing time per charge. Includes Smart Battery Charger that fully charges the battery overnight and shuts off automatically to prevent overcharging.
- OPTIONS (not included): Wireless Remote Control - Starts and stops ball delivery, and controls oscillator. 2-LINE Oscillator - Allows you to practice alternating forehand and backhand shots, or lets two people practice at a time. SEE CHART BELOW FOR MORE MODELS.
- THREE YEAR WARRANTY. Made in U.S.A. by Sports Tutor.
Wilson is a trusted brand when it comes to tennis, and they also make one of the best tennis ball machine options on the market. Everything on their machine is customizable. You can face shots up to 75 MPH. The ball feed can go from one ball every 1.5 seconds to one ball every 10 seconds. You can set it to heavy topspin shots or heavy backspin.
Similar to the Lobster Elite One, it’s possible to practice lobs and overhands as well. A built in oscillator helps randomize incoming shots to help simulate what a real life match would be like. The Wilson Tennis Ball Machine has a hopper capacity of 110 balls.
A built in battery provides up to 4 hours of charge, which can be fully charged overnight. At only 38 pounds (including battery), it’s lighter and more compact than any other tennis ball machine on the market with similar features.
Things We Like:
- Very lightweight and portable considering how many features it has
- Random corner to corner oscillation practice mode
- Ultimate shot variety
- Flexible power options between battery and AC plugs
Things We Don’t:
- Only a 110 ball hopper
- Battery only has a 4 hour capacity, so you might need to charge often
Spinshot Lite Tennis Training Machine Basic Model
Best Tennis Ball Machine for Juniors or Beginners
- Most Portable Ball Machine for Intermediate Tennis Player
It could be possible that your needs for a tennis ball machine are a little more basic. For juniors and beginners, you won’t get quite as much use out of the fancy features included with some of these machines. That’s where the Spinshot Lite can be a perfect option.
It comes with basic customization options, like speed, ball height, and shot interval. Beyond that though, you do not have the ability to customize spin or program sequences.
True to its namesake, the Lite is incredibly easy to transport and store. It has a slim profile and weighs only 28 pounds, making it possible for kids to roll the machine around on its wheels.
Things We Like:
- Lightweight, slim, and sleek. You could store it in your car if you wanted to
- Basic customization is possible
- Flexible power options between battery and AC plugs
- Great price point relative to more advanced models
Things We Don’t:
- Only a 50 ball capacity
- Max ball speed of 40 mph
- Lacks the ability for advanced practice
Tennis Ball Machine Buying Tips
As you can see from this list, the best tennis ball machines are quite the investment. The last thing you want to do is spend a bunch of money on something that isn’t a perfect fit for your needs. Here are a few things to consider when you’re doing your research:
Shot Types
Are you a total beginner looking to make fundamental strides in your game? Or are you an advanced player looking to improve specific weaknesses in your game. For beginners, a basic tennis ball machine will do just fine. Often times, just simply getting reps with proper technique will instill muscle memory into your body. There’s no need at the very beginning to get overly worried about different types of spin or shots.
On the other hand, an intermediate to advanced player may be looking for just that. A machine that can blast a topspin shot at them like they might see in a real match.
Mobility
The venue for your practice matters. If you get your practice in at a local park and constantly need to lug your machine into and out of the trunk of your car, it might make sense to get something that is space conscious and/or lightweight.
Conversely if you are a tennis instructor at a country club, mobility might be less of a concern. You can afford to buy a heavy machine that doesn’t really need to be moved around.
Battery Life
For most public tennis courts, finding an AC outlet might be challenging. We always recommend tennis ball machines that at least have the option to be powered by a battery. You’ll want a battery with a minimum of 4 hours of life. Even though it’s rare to ever practice that much in one outing, you don’t want to have a machine that needs to be charged basically every single time after use.
Wrap Up
I hope this post on the best tennis ball machine reviews has been beneficial to you! If you feel like we missed a tennis ball machine that should be on our list, please let us know in the comments section below.
Looking for more ideas? Check out our other posts on outdoor games next or our post on the best outdoor games ideas!
Last update on 2022-06-14 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API