Tennis Ball Machines

Tennis ball machines are not the only way to improve your game, but with the easy of portability and new user-friendly programming features, ball machines have quickly become the favorite method of teaching pros around the world.

What to look for

When purchasing a tennis ball machine, there are a few features to keep in mind: including, but not limited to brand, ball capacity and player level accommodation.

As we know, brand reliability plays a major role in all product preference. Looking onto how long the brand has been making tennis ball machines, may surprise you. While big brand names have the monetary backing to research high quality machines and produce reliably, some brands have time and experience on their side, having come to their design through decades of customer feedback. A little research into each company could help decide which brand meets your personal values. Do It Tennis carries three brands of ball machines that have great customer service departments and whose machines are protected by manufacturer’s warrantees: Lobster, Playmate and Sports Tutor.

Tennis ball capacity varies and, more often than not, determines the size of the tennis ball machine you may need. Ball capacity varies from 18 balls, in child friendly models, to over 300 balls with three line feeds. A home court owner who practices alone may not need as large of a machine as a teaching pro with a whole team lined up. Selecting a machine with too little ball capacity could interrupt an intense practice session and too large of a ball capacity could result in wasted space or tennis balls that sit too long in the machine. Tennis ball capacity is listed on all product description pages for easy identification. Player level is perhaps the most important factor in selecting a tennis ball machine. Most machines have speed and interval variations, but not all and some do not goes as high as an advanced player may need, or as low as a beginner may need. Selecting a machine too advanced may frustrate new players, resulting in a loss of interest in the game, and selecting too basic of a machine for a skilled player can unfortunately have the same result. Many manufacturers now offer upgrades so that the machine may grow with the player, looking for this kind of feature can increase the value of your investment.

Playmate tennis ball machines

Playmate tennis ball machines are known by retailers as the Mercedes-Benz of ball machines. They have been making ball machines since 1973 and have consistently continued to upgrade and improve upon their design since then. They are best known for their Playmate Genie, which has a control panel that is interchangeable with the rest of the line, optimizing the upgradability feature. Playmate Serve-Lift, which is compatible with most Playmate tennis ball machines, lifts the machine to serve at a level that a live opponent would, providing a more natural interaction with your machine. The aircraft aluminum outer shell of Playmate machines makes them durable for transport.

Sports Tutor tennis ball machines

Tennis Tutor tennis ball machines, manufactured by Sports Tutor, are known as the best selling tennis ball machines in the world. They are used by the teaching pros at the ATP training center in Florida. Their portable machine line hosts the number one seller in the country, the Tennis Tutor. Sports Tutor also designs a line of tennis ball machines made specifically for the home court owner, with all the features of their pro models, but designed for the comfort and ease of usability a home court setting requires. The Playmate Twist is an 18-ball capacity machine with an easy control panel that children can operate, with adult supervision.

Lobster tennis ball machines

Lobster has been in the tennis ball machine business since 1970 and Lobster tennis ball machines are well known for their advanced programming options and LED screens. Lobster has the Elite Freedom, economy model, for beginners and a progression of machines leading up to their Elite Grandslam V Limited edition, which is a powerhouse of a machine full of shot locations and preprogrammed drills.

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