This gives new meaning to the phrase portable tennis ball machine – after all, a lot of the weight and expense of most machines is the humungous battery that comes with it! This definitely gets an A+ for innovation; I’m just not so sure about the usability aspects. Nice work, guys!

Tennis Twist

Without doubt the smallest, lightest and cheapest tennis ball machine on the market, the Tennis Twist is intended for use by kids and/or beginners. It has virtually no features you’d typically expect to find on a ball machine – no oscillation, no control of pace or feed rate, certainly no spin. About the only variable setting it has is trajectory: you can control the depth of the ball in five increments between 12 and 20 feet. So it’s likely you will outgrow this machine pretty fast. But on the upside it’s very portable, you won’t have to remortgage your house to afford one, and it’s easy for kids to operate on their own. You can even use it to keep the dog amused! The Twist is available in AC or battery models – it takes six standard D size batteries, which provide five to ten hours playing time.

Tennis Tutor Prolite

If you’re looking for something with more features that’s capable of keeping up with you as you improve your game, the Prolite is a good option. At roughly three times the cost of the Tennis Twist, it’s still one of the most affordable tennis ball machines around. It comes in AC or battery models (built-in rechargeable battery), and has settings for varying ball speed, feed rate and trajectory, and also an optional oscillator which is well worth the extra cost. At only a foot high and weighing just 22 pounds (29 pounds for the battery model) it’s also one of the most portable solutions around.

Tennis Tutor

The Tennis Tutor comes with all the features of the Prolite as standard, but with a heavy-duty rechargeable battery and optional two-function wireless remote control for starting and stopping the machine and controlling the oscillation, and 2-line function for delivering the ball to two preset court positions.

Tennis Tutor Plus

The Plus model includes all the features of the standard Tennis Tutor, and includes spin functionality for imparting topspin or backspin to the ball, providing a more realistic playing experience. The Tennis Tutor Plus – Player model has some fairly sophisticated electronics that simulates playing against a real opponent. It has Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced modes so you can practice at the level that’s right for you.

Wilson Portable

Yes, as I mentioned in a previous article, despite the Wilson branding, this machine is manufactured under a contract with Sports Tutor. It is roughly equivalent to the Tennis Tutor Plus, although tends to be a little cheaper. You can read more about the Wilson Portable here.

So which one should you choose? It depends on how much you want to spend, how you intend to use the machine, and what features you require. You decide.

For more information about any of these machines, check out the manufacturer’s website.

Wilson Portable features

The Wilson Portable has a fairly standard set of features for the market segment it occupies, catering to the school/club and recreational market: speed control between 10 and 75 mph, interval control between 1.5 to 10 seconds, random oscillation, varying degrees of spin, and a range of trajectories from groundstroke to lob. Optionally, it also comes with remote control and two-line capability (at additional cost).

Portability…?

One of this machine’s major selling points is its portability. Admittedly at 38lbs including the battery, it’s a bit lighter than most other comparable machines, but you aren’t exactly going to ask your six year old to load it into the car for you, if you know what I mean! (When it comes to tennis ball machines, “portable” is really a euphemism for battery-operated – in other words you’re not dependent on your courts providing a mains electricity supply). While on the subject of power supply, additional power options which you may want to consider are a Fast Charger, or an external AC power adaptor which allows you to run the machine off mains power if it’s available – these do cost extra however.

The Wilson Portable has a built-in handle and wheels to make it easier to move, but a recurring gripe is that the handle doesn’t extend, so you typically have to walk hunched over when pulling it (it’s less than 2 feet high) – not the best way to loosen up those hamstrings before a workout! However, the upside to this is that it’ll fit comfortably into most cars, and also won’t take up too much room in the house, garage or clubhouse.

I’ve heard no major gripes about the machine’s performance, as you’d expect from a company who’s been in the business for as long as Sports Tutor has, and in the end this is the main factor for me. I can put up with a few rough edges as long as it does what it says on the tin – and this machine does.

You can find out more at the manufacturer’s website. Please feel free to share your experiences of the Wilson Portable in the comments section below.

Electric Lobster machines

Lobster sells three electric models: the Ball Bucket Model 201, Lobster Hybrid Model 301, and Tournament Model 401. These machines tend to be smaller and cheaper than the newer battery-powered Elite range, and while they don’t have some of the advanced features of the Elites, are still more than capable. They can toss the ball at speeds between 15 and 70 mph, can produce 80 degree lobs, and are capable of heavy topspin and backspin with the optional spin adaptor. Both the Ball Bucket and Lobster Hybrid provide random horizontal oscillation, and the Tournament Model adds vertical oscillation into the mix. Add to this the fact that electric machines are probably more durable, and you have a fairly compelling reason to seriously consider them. The one major downside is that not all courts provide access to mains power, so be sure to check this before buying!

Battery-powered Lobster machines

There are several battery-powered Lobster tennis machines to choose from: Elite Freedom, Elite 1, Elite 2, Elite 3, Elite Grandslam IV, and Elite Grandslam V. They all look very similar, but vary in features and associated price, from the entry-level Freedom, to the advanced Grandslam V. These tend to be a little more expensive and heavier than the electric machines, mostly due to the weight of the battery – they top out at about 44lbs. However, their big handles and wheels make them relatively easy to move around.

All these machines feature random horizontal oscillation, while the Elite 2 and upwards add vertical oscillation into the mix. The Elite 3 and above also have “2 line” settings to alternately hit two different spots on the court. All but the Elite Freedom feature topspin and backspin settings, and the Freedom also seems to have a shorter time between needing to charge the battery.

While battery powered models have the obvious advantage that you can use them on any court, bear in mind that the machine’s performance will degrade over the course of a session, and that this will happen quicker as the battery becomes older too.

Two year warranty

Lobster is very proud of their two year warranty, and I must say, it does give greater peace of mind knowing that there’s a safety net in case something goes wrong. I should point out though that the two year warranty does not extend to batteries – these are covered only for six months. So if you’re considering purchasing a battery machine, remember to factor in the price of a replacement battery.

For more information, please check out the manufacturer’s website.