10 Best Tennis Ball Machines

What is the Best Tennis Ball Machine to Buy? Read on to discover the Best tennis ball machines.

Tennis is an enjoyable sport. For one to enjoy a tennis game, they need to have a combination of abundant skills failure to which would lead to great dissatisfaction.

For you to have these skills, you require a high-quality tennis ball machine. There are many advantages that come with owning a tennis ball machine. Also, there are so many tennis ball machines out there to choose from which would lead to confusion. If you are in such a state, worry no more.

Best Tennis Ball Machines-Our Top Picks

Factors to Consider when Choosing the Best Tennis Ball Machines

1. Power

It is important to keep in mind how the machine that you buy will be powered. The machine can either run off A/C power or have a battery. If you make a decision to buy a machine that runs off A/C power, you will need a power source to keep the machine running.

If you decide to take a machine that you can travel with to tennis courts, pick a machine that runs off a battery.

2. Oscillation of the machine

For a machine to oscillate, it means that it will rotate and shoot the balls from side to side. There are machines that can move up and down where they shoot the ball so you will have to move closer and further from the net.

If a machine has these features, it is the best way to train besides playing against human opponents.

3. Propulsion

There are two options where the balls are ejected by air pressure or spinning wheel. A machine that is a spinning wheel is the most common one today. The machine works in a way that two wheels shoot the tennis ball like a pitching machine would shoot a baseball.

How the speed of the wheels is adjusted determines how the ball will be served with a spin. It is easy to adjust the wheels on this machine.

An air pressure machine uses air pressure to shoot the tennis ball at the player. If you choose this type of machine, it is very unlikely you find one that runs off a battery since it requires a lot of power to shoot the ball.

If you want to be served balls with a spin, the machine requires an extra attachment. However, this air pressure machine is cheaper compared to spinning wheel machines.

4. Shooting speed of the machine

This really depends on what skills you have and how you intend to practice. If you are an experienced player, you would definitely want a fast machine. If you are a beginner, you would greatly benefit from a machine that shoots the balls slowly. It also depends on what skills you are trying to improve when you train. Speed in ball machines ranges from 10 to 95 miles per hour.

5. Budget

Buying a tennis ball machine is a decision that costs a lot, but pays for itself eventually. It is essential to consider how often you plan to use the machine, before doing the math on how long it will take you to break even. Also, you can put into consideration sharing the machine with your partners or another player from your local tennis court.

6. Control

How you control your machine is an important thing to consider. Most machines come with some sort of remote control feature while some even have a downloadable app for your phone. Others have a panel on the machine itself.

7. Ball capacity

This refers to the number of balls that the machine can hold at the same time. It is very useful in terms of convenience. The higher the ball capacity means the less time you will have to refill the machine, which is beneficial since you will have to reserve your energy for the training itself.

8. Weight

The weight of the tennis ball machine really makes a huge difference. It has to be both solid and stable when standing on the court. An ideal weight for the machine is 40 lbs. however, it is crucial to remember that the weight of the machine shouldn’t come at the cost of mobility.

9. Warranty

Most tennis balls have a warranty that lasts from one to three years. You definitely want to spend your money on a machine that is going to last.

Advantages

1. Fulfills the customized need

Since tennis ball machines are durable and come with innovative features, they are able to program the drill in a customized way. You can be able to set the speed, spinning rate and feeding rate of the ball so that it suits your own drilling requirement. There are options to select from multiple drill functions that are ideal to start practice for the gram tournament. These multiple preset drill functions usually cover most of the popular style of play.

2. Enhance fun with practice

Tennis ball machines normally give you the opportunity to spend memorable times with your friends and family members as you enjoy tennis workout sessions for every age group. The multiple functions allow you varieties so you can practice over and over thus improving the memory of your muscle to react automatically to play some of the common shots. Nonetheless, these machines enable you to play strokes from all around the court thus enabling you to develop great anticipation skills.

3. Suits any level of player

These awesome machines give the same advantage in the practice sessions, whether you are a professional player or an amateur. They have great features that allow any level of player to do the practice according to their level.

4. Enhances endurance and stamina

Tennis ball machines are programmed to conduct drilling for a long time duration. This challenges your endurance and stamina. This means that you can indulge yourself in the preparation of the toughest and tiresome practice sessions.

5. Allow practice at the user’s pace

Tennis balls allow you to slowly practice and correct a stroke, without the impatience of your hitting partner running out. If you desire to have a workout, the machine will have you gasping for air. The tennis ball machines not only throw balls hard and fast, but they can also be programmed to have you running around the court. Other machines even allow you to set up a shot sequence that you want to practice.

6. Work with your schedule

This basically means that you are non-reliant on anyone but the court time to determine when you can play. It also means that you are able to play for as long as you want without worrying about running out of lesson time.

7. Cheap

Compared to hiring a pro to feed you the tennis balls, having your own machine is way quality training session will take your game to the next level without spending too much money.

8. Full control

As long as you have a good tennis ball machine, you are able to adjust various settings to simulate a hitting environment. The machine also enables you to adjust the speed.

There are endless possibilities such as lowering the speed to practice approaching the net, playing a drop shot with backspin or playing against powerful hitting opponents.

When you have a good quality machine, you are able to adjust the height of the shots and also alternate between forehand and backward shots. Furthermore, you are able to set the machine to oscillate between high shots and low shots or from side to side.

Disadvantages

1. Picking up tons of balls in non-exciting

After the game, the aftermath is not very exciting. This is because you spend a good amount of time picking up the balls after hitting.

2. Expensive

This is probably the biggest reason why people do not own these machines. Nonetheless, new tennis balls need to be purchased on an ongoing basis. For some, this is unaffordable.

3. Heavy to transport

Weight normally varies from model to model. But generally, ball machines tend to be a bit heavy to lug around. Most of the advanced models hold large amounts of balls and thus weigh considerably more. They are also larger in size, making them impractical for transport.

FAQs about the Best Tennis Ball Machines

1. How do tennis ball machines create a spin on the ball?

Ball machines with counter-rotating wheels spin the ball by rotating one wheel faster than the other. This means that if the top wheel spins at a higher speed than the bottom, the machine imparts a topspin on the ball. If the bottom wheel spins faster, you get a slice

Pneumatic machines shoot the ball along a tube. The tube requires an adaptor in order to create spin. As the ball passes through the adaptor, one side of the ball grips on the rubber surface, making it slow down, while the other side continues at normal speed.

2. What is a random oscillation?

Random oscillation is where the tennis ball, machine replicates a match situation by shooting randomly around the court. This allows the player to focus on footwork, practice shots, and fitness in a more realistic environment.

Most machines with oscillation have the capability of fanning from side to side which works both forehand and backhand.

3. Why is top speed important?

The top speed of a tennis ball machine is very crucial if you want the machine to challenge you well. A fast top speed keeps you challenged for longer, and as you improve, it is more likely to simulate the speed of your opponents in a higher level of competition.

4. How does a tennis ball machine work?

The best way is through the use of rotating wheels. The wheels spin at high speed to propel the ball. The other way is pneumatic which uses a vacuum cleaner in reverse mode. The pressure build-up inside the chamber forces the ball out and projects it through a long tube.

5. What features should I look for in a tennis ball machine?

Firstly, it is important to determine if you are buying the machine purely for fitness and fun or if you want to improve and develop your game. If want the machine just for fitness and fun, consider buying a basic machine that will run you around the court. If you are really serious about your tennis, consider getting a machine to spin, oscillation, slice, a fast top speed, good battery life, and a reasonable ball capacity.

Conclusion

Having a good quality tennis ball machine is one of the best decisions that you could make. The best one is the one that will suit your needs. You can be sure that if you choose either of the tennis ball machines mentioned above, all your needs will be met. Thus, you will be able to improve your game fast and enjoy it as you do so. They never tire, are reliable and they never miss.