Tennis Ball Machines Review

Lobster Elite Grandslam IV Review

admin — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 02:53:20 +0000

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The Lobster Elite Grandslam IV tennis ball machine is the fourth in the Lobster tennis ball machines series. The first of the Grandslam series, this model uses the standard Lobster chassis but has an upgraded onboard computer to provide numerous different programming options. Whether you are looking to buy Lobster Grandslam IV or are just trying to compare the options to other machines, this Lobster Elite Grandslam IV review will give you a complete picture.

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Lobster Tennis Ball Machine Design

Like I mentioned above, the Lobster elite tennis ball machines all use the same basic design. The signature red base has a white hopper that is reversible to take up literally half as much space. This combined with the foldable handle and battery operation make it very portable. It has large oversized (but plastic) wheels for travelling over almost any surface. The battery, while being fairly heavy at about 40 pounds, should last you in the neighborhood of four hours of usable practice time. Other shared similarities are the 150 ball capacity and ball delivery capabilities (frequency every 2-10 seconds, ball speeds 10-70 mph, top and back ball spin).

The Grandslam IV also expands on the oscillations that the Lobster machines offer by providing a narrow medium and wide oscillation pattern to choose from. The narrow will keep it close and let you focus on form while the wide can be used for doubles or to really get your feet moving.

Lobster Elite Grandslam IV features

What sets the Lobster Grandslam IV apart is the increased AI (artificial intelligence). The upgraded system has more capability than just rotate and throw, it has fully random oscillation that varies the rhythm at which is throws. This is important because with some of the other models you can kind of guess at where it will throw next making it fairly predictable. Not only is the oscillation completely random so you could get any ball at any moment, but the spin varies as well which will really keep you on your toes.

The Grandslam IV also includes three pre-programmed drills so you can practice a series of hits equivalent to the different styles of play. Each series features 6 shots that would result from an opponent of the certain style: Grinder, Power Baseliner, or All Courter. So if you need to practice against a Grinder, the 6 shots are designed to wear you down and the series will repeat over and over again. The Power Baseliner will be a series of shots, all hard with little spin, across the baseline. Then there’s the All Courter that will put the ball expertly at each of the locations throughout the court.

The Grandslam series also has an improved user interface. The flush pushbuttons are distinct and easy to use and the digital LCD display makes scrolling through the menus simple. This coupled with the optional remote makes switching between the programs or oscillations very simple. The Grandslam IV does come with the standard issue 2 button remote that looks much like a key fob for your car. This controls simple on/off for the feed and sweep. There is the optional 15 button remote that you can have installed when ordered or sent back to the factory that has all of the controls that are on the machine itself. The only issue with using the remote is that you don’t have the display so you’ll have to guess at what function you are on while you are cycling through the options.

Comparing the Lobster Grandslam IV to the Lobster Elite 3

When most people are at the point of purchasing a tennis ball machine they can usually narrow it down to just a couple of machines, and the two that are the most often compared are the Grandslam IV and the Lobster Elite 3. There are only a few yet crucial differences that separate the machines but the pricing makes it an important decision.
Click Here to Compare Prices on the Lobster Elite 3 and the Lobster Elite Grandslam IV

The first difference is the enhanced horizontal oscillations settings. The Elite 3 has only the narrow and wide while the Grandslam IV adds a medium setting. For most people this is a non-issue and I would agree except that it’s critical when you factor in the next difference: fully random oscillation.

The next difference is the fully random oscillation. This may not sound like a big difference, but it’s hard to really impress upon you what that difference is. The Elite 3 has the two horizontal positions and one vertical and it will rotate back and forth doing a fairly good job painting the court. But the issue is that it does it both rhythmically so that you can somewhat predict what is coming as well as there are only so many places you know it will hit (and there’s no spin variation). But with the Grandslam IV you have another level of uncertainty with the medium setting and with the fully random oscillation it will put the ball literally anywhere on the court and will have spin making you focus on all of the things you have to focus on in a real match.

Finally, there are the three drills. Some players could take them or leave them. But if you do play tennis with any sincere competitiveness you will run up against these types of players and they will expose your weaknesses. The only way to get better is practice and this is the best way to get the practice. That being said it becomes predictable after a while but they can be used to help you get to the fully random mode.

Lobster Elite GrandSlam IV Review

If you are considering spending nearly two grand on a tennis ball machine, you are going to want perfection and this is about as close as you can come. Make no mistake that Lobster makes a great tennis ball machine but every one of them is designed for a different level of player. The Lobster Elite GrandSlam IV tennis ball machine is defined for the serious amateur to semi-pro who needs to get time on the court day after day. The features that the Grandslam IV provides are outstanding and the execution on it is spot on. There are only minor nuisances, most of which have to do with the entire tennis ball machine design; things like the handle that could use some improvements to secure it to the base better, the awkward position of the molded handles, the hopper grinding on the pivots. None of these affect the performance of the machine and I doubt would even affect the longevity of it either.

Tennis Tutor Plus

admin — Wed, 10 Nov 2010 21:01:05 +0000

The top model of the Tennis Tutor franchise is the Tennis Tutor Plus. Made by Sport Tutor, The Tennis Tutor tennis ball machine is one of the oldest and longest running models of tennis ball machines. Sports Tutor has been making these (with minor tweaks and modifications) for over 20 years which is a testament to their quality and reputation. If you’re looking for a quality portable tennis ball machine at an excellent value, you’ll want to check out this Tennis Tutor Plus review. Let’s take a look at some of the features.

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Tennis Tutor Plus Features

The Tennis Tutor Plus utilizes the patented box design that measures 20″H x 19.5″L x 20″W. This makes the machine very small and very portable. It easily fits into the trunk of any car and if necessary can sit on one of the car seats. The Tennis Tutor Plus weighs about 46 pounds of which about 12 pounds is due to the heavy duty battery. Speaking of which the heavy duty battery provides anywhere from four to six hours of playing time so there’s plenty of charge and can usually skip a round or two of charging. And when charging it takes about 12 hours to go from dead to full (just don’t let it overcharge!).

As far as performance features go, the Tennis Tutor Plus provides an electronic control panel that controls ball speed, the trajectory and the feed rate (or how often it throws a ball). The ball speeds range from 10 to 85 mph which covers everyone from little kids to professional athletes. The trajectory can be set to provide groundstrokes for some solid practice there or overhead lobs that are not only fun to smash but are embarrassing when you mess it up. The nice improvement on the Plus model has a 10 segment display that shows you how high your trajectory is set for so you can find your favorite setting easily. The feed rate ranges from a ball every 10 seconds so you can get some warm ups in or every second in a half to keep you on your toes. Another option that’s only available on the Tennis Tutor Plus model is a spin control knob that controls the degree of which topspin or backspin you want to practice.

The Tennis Tutor Plus can be set to one fixed position so that you get the continuous feed for practicing form or just warming up. Then it also has an oscillation function that will randomly distribute the ball anywhere on the court. And since the hopper can hold 150 balls, this can provide for some intense workouts. Some additional bells and whistles on the Plus include an anti-jamming mechanism that prevents jamming and the frustration of stopping in the middle of practice to fix it. This tennis machine also includes a 10 second delay that allows you to get setup on your side of the net before it begins firing balls.

Click Here to View the Complete Selection of Tennis Tutor Plus Tennis Ball Machines

Additional Tennis Tutor Plus Options

The basic Tennis Tutor Plus tennis ball machine is a great investment on its own. But if you want to spend the additional money for added convenience in features there are several additional options that can really make this a world class tennis ball machine. The first option is the installation of a 2 button remote ($200). While this may seem like a lot for just a remote, the cost quickly pays for itself. The 2 button remote controls the start and stop of a machine (handy for when you have to take a call) and the side to side sweeping motions.

The next feature offers a “player” function ($400). This function is basically a computer program that is set up to act like a real player and will throw balls that corresponds with how you should hit the previous ball. It comes with three different skill levels: beginner, intermediate and advanced. This is as close to a real match as you can get with one of these machines. Any serious tennis player is going to want this feature and will not regret spending the extra cash.

If you want both the 2 button remote and the player function it will cost an extra $600. Depends on what you want, but it might be worth it.

Finally, if you’re flush with cash, the grand-daddy option is to have the player function with a multi-button remote. This remote control is like having the control panel right in your hand. You can control start/stop, speed, elevation, spin and all of the player functions.

Tennis Tutor Plus Review

The Tennis Tutor Plus is one of the best tennis ball machines money can buy. It has just about all the options you can want in a tennis ball machine and the additional add-ons make it customizable for an incredible tennis experience. What’s great about the Tennis Tutor Plus is that it’s so easy to use. All of the controls are intuitive and the little things, like the 10 second delay and the elevation indicator make it so easy to set it down, set it up and start playing in just seconds. The model is a little heavy and would be difficult for children or the elderly to lift in and out of the car. However, it does have a handle for wheeling the unit around. That being said the handle is a little on the short side for those who are taller.

The biggest plus about the Tennis Tutor Plus is that it comes with the smart charging option standard. This is nice because when you’re paying over a thousand dollars for a piece of equipment you want it to have all of the conveniences possible. This feature is essential because when charging a lead acid battery without a smart charger, if you don’t keep an eye on it, you can easily overcharge the battery. Not only is this dangerous but it also tends to ruin the battery shortening its lifespan. Another nice feature is the built in battery indicator that beeps to let you know when you’ve only got a half hour left.

Tennis Tutor Tennis Cube

admin — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 02:19:08 +0000

The Sports Tutor company has been making their line of Tennis Tutor tennis ball machines for over 20 years and have received many accolades, one of the highest being the exclusive tennis ball machine of the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP). Their Tennis Tutor machines are known for their quality, durability and portability that make them an excellent value. The Tennis Cube is Tennis Tutor’s entry level* tennis ball machine. Comparable to the Lobster Elite Freedom, this machine is an excellent choice for beginners and early intermediate players. If you’re looking to save some money by buying a solid tennis ball machine that offers only the basics, the Tennis Cube might be for you.

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*Note that I’m not counting the Tennis Twist as it doesn’t have nearly the same features and therefore not in the same league

Tennis Tutor Tennis Cube Features

The Tennis Cube shares the same basic design as the other Tennis Tutor tennis ball machines. The Cube is just that, a cube that measures 15″H x 12″L x 13″W which is so small that it fits in the smallest of trunks and can even be stored in the back seat. Carrying the Tennis Tutor isn’t a problem as the unit only weighs 24 pounds. There are a couple of nice design features such as the fold up hopper that will enclose the top when it’s folded and when it comes time to use, just open up the four sides and the hopper can store a full basket of balls (approximately 70 balls). The Tennis Cube also comes with a battery that generally lasts about 1.5 to 2 hours under typical conditions. Where the Tennis Cube shines above other cheap tennis ball machines is that it incorporates a smart battery charger that will let you charge your Cube overnight without the fear of overcharging. Almost all of the other tennis ball machines you have to keep a close eye on the charging times or else you ruin the battery. So this feature is like gold if you tend to be forgetful.

Being an entry level model, the Tennis Cube does only the basic things – serve up tennis balls. It has two dial controls that control how fast the ball is delivered (the ball speed) and the frequency that the balls are thrown (1 ball every X seconds). These dials are on a 1-10 scale so it will take some getting used to to figure out what settings you like the best. There are two different models – the basic model which does nothing but serve balls, and the oscillating model that oscillates back and forth serving balls to different spots on the court so that you can get some practice (not to mention a workout). The difference will cost you about a hundred bucks (which makes the oscillating model worth it, in my opinion). Another nice design feature is that the Tennis Cube will give you 10 seconds or so before it starts to throw out balls, giving you time to set the speed and frequency and to get to the other side of the court.

The Tennis Cube comes with a 1 year warranty that covers both parts and labor. You know, for what that’s worth.

Tennis Tutor Tennis Cube Review

Overall, my impression is that the Tennis Cube is a basic model tennis ball machine. It’s good for practicing certain strokes over and over again. And if you get the oscillating model, it’s good for practicing how you approach (including your foot work, your mental game, etc.) and it will give you an excellent workout. And if this is all you want from a tennis ball machine then you can get one at a great price (see below). It also makes a good instructional aid for coaches and, well, tennis tutors. You can set the machine up and then provide instruction from nearby instead of having to serve balls and provide feedback.

The Tennis Cube itself is very portable and easy to set up as it takes all of two minutes to open it up, load the balls and turn it on. It takes some getting used to what settings on the dial mean what and finding your sweet spot but once you do it’s not a big deal. At 70 balls, the hopper size is good but if you do end up getting into a groove you can get disappointed when it runs out. By far the best feature of the tennis ball machine is the built in smart charger. So many tennis ball machines don’t have this and you either undercharge out of paranoia or overcharge and ruin the battery (which are expensive and difficult to replace). This is about the only reason I can see purchasing the Tennis Cube over the Lobster Elite Freedom.

Click Here to Buy the Tennis Tutor Tennis Cube

Lobster Elite Freedom Tennis Ball Machine

admin — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 02:29:43 +0000

The Lobster Elite line of tennis ball machines is probably the most popular series of tennis ball machines on the market today. Their signature red body with the white hopper are easily identifiable and you see them everywhere; from high school tennis teams to clubs to even the professionals. The Lobster Elite Freedom is the introductory base model from Lobster and provides all the essentials of the best tennis ball machines at a reasonable cost. If you’re looking to get a solid tennis ball machine and want to save some money, the Lobster Elite Freedom might be for you.

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Lobster Elite Freedom Features

The Lobster Elite Freedom shares a lot of the same structural features as the other Lobster tennis ball machines in this series. Things such as the collapsible handles and reversible hopper make the tennis ball machine very compact. The hopper was designed to be flipped over and will actually fit over the base so when the unit is packaged up it takes up half the size. The Freedom has large wheels that help to maneuver it from gravel to grass to pavement. The unit itself weighs about 42 pounds with the majority of the weight being from the lead-acid battery. Being battery powered, there’s no need for an outlet or tripping hazard from the cord and you have approximately 2 to 4 hours of battery life which will exhaust just about any tennis player amateur or not.

The Lobster Elite Freedom has a 150 ball capacity and will deliver a ball ever 2 to 10 seconds. So even on its highest setting you’ll have a solid 5 minutes of practice before picking up all the balls. The ball speeds range from 10 to 70 miles per hour and the ball machine can put both a backspin and topspin on the ball. The Freedom ball machine has a horizontal oscillation feature that allows it to spit tennis balls from side to side and can provide a random assortment so that you get a real workout practicing both forehands and backhands. The machine also has the ability to be angled up to provide lobs to practice your overhand smash.

Cheap Lobster Tennis Ball Machine

As I mentioned above the Elite Freedom is the economy model, but that doesn’t mean that it’s inferior. The Lobster Elite Freedom has all the essential features that make up a tennis ball machine; things like putting spin on the ball to practice returns, oscillations to get some experience approaching the ball, and lobs for overhand smashes. While some of the features on the more expensive tennis ball machines are nice, they’re more or less icing on the cake for advanced players to tweak their game. If you want a solid tennis ball machine that is great for beginners to practice on but is also good for intermediate players to strengthen their game, a Lobster Elite Freedom is a great tennis ball machine at a great price.

Click Here to Buy Lobster Sports Elite Freedom Tennis Ball Machine

Save Money on Tennis Balls with Tennis Ball Saver

admin — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 13:45:46 +0000

If you play a lot of tennis then you use a lot of balls, simple as that. With typical tennis balls, you can crack a new bottle and the balls will stay fresh for a few days at best, and if you’re playing a few times a week you can be burning up 2-3 cans which can really ad up. Now I mentioned earlier that you can use pressureless tennis balls for things like practice and use in a tennis ball machine but they aren’t quite as good as new pressurized tennis balls. So you could just try and buy cheap tennis balls in bulk or wholesale but there’s one more thing you should really consider before you do that. The Tennis Ball Saver (it’s actual name) is a simple device that cost so little and lasts so long that it pays for itself in no time.

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The Tennis Ball Saver is just that. It’s a special device that you put your new tennis balls in after you’ve played a round and then screw down the top to preserve the pressurized tennis balls. It stores three tennis balls under 14 psi of internal pressure. This maintains the pressure of the tennis balls so that they keep their bounce and they’re good for several matches. Now you don’t have to throw away tennis balls because they’re dead and lack any bounce. The Tennis Ball Saver keeps the tennis balls good for several months and cuts way back on the money you’ll spend on tennis balls. The one thing that you need to keep in mind though is that they only work for fresh tennis balls that you opened recently and still have their internal pressure. They won’t work on used tennis balls that have lost their bounce; it’s too late, the pressure is already gone. The Tennis Ball Saver merely maintains the pressure so that it can’t leak out.

Buy Tennis Ball Saver from Amazon Here

The Tennis Ball Saver is extremely cheap and costs about three or four tubes of tennis balls. So if you play twice a week and figure that you use two packs of tennis balls a week then the Tennis Saver will have paid for itself in two weeks. As you can see it’s well worth the cost, and the rave reviews it has received on Amazon shows that it’s not a gimmick or hoax. IF you’re thinking of buying the Tennis Ball Saver from Amazon, they offer free shipping on orders over $25, so you may want to pick up two and maybe a pack of balls to save on shipping costs. Just something to consider.

Tennis Gifts

admin — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 19:45:20 +0000

Whether you’re looking for a birthday or Christmas gift for tennis player, or you just need a way to say thanks to a tennis friend, we’ve compiled a list of the best tennis gifts you could give someone. While it’s tempting to go out and get the latest tennis racket and you probably can’t afford to give someone a tennis ball machine, we’ve categorized these tennis gifts into several different price categories so that you can pick the right gift at the right price.

$30 and Under

If you’re looking for a cheap tennis gift or something small you don’t have to spend a fortune on you can try these gifts:

Tennis Apparel. Something that a tennis player could always use is a good set of sports clothes for tennis. With all of the new and novel materials and designs that are available, a tennis player could have an entire wardrobe of performance clothing dedicated just to playing tennis. Everything from shirts, shorts and skirts to moisture-wicking compression shorts and socks. Buying tennis apparel as a gift is an easy way to get something for a tennis player that you won’t have to worry about if they already have it or not.
Check out some Men’s Tennis Apparel and Women’s Tennis Apparel

Tennis Balls. An oldie but a goodie, one thing that Tennis player needs is tennis balls. Whether they have a tennis ball machine or not, there’s always a need for tennis balls. If your gift is for a casual tennis player or someone who practices with tennis ball machine, you probably want to go with pressureless tennis balls because they last longer and can take a beating. However, if they are a serious player and competitor, buying tennis balls in a can or by the case would be preferred as they offer the best performance.

Another great gift for tennis players who play frequently is grip tape and racquet string. The more tennis you play and in particular the harder you play, the more likely you are to wear out your racket. Regripping the racquet is one of those subtle things a tennis player can do to improve their game. And having a backup set of strings or two is a lifesaver when you have to restring your racket. Especially if they can do it themselves.

Tennis Bags. A good tennis bag is like icing on your tennis equipment cake. It sucks trying to carry around all your tennis gear without one and a good tennis bag is a pretty inexpensive gift (although some do break the $30 mark). Check out the selection of Tennis Bags

$100 range

If you’re looking to spend a little more on tennis gifts then you’ll likely appreciate these suggestions. Some gifts (like rackets and shoes) can be very individual and vary by preference. The good news is that if you use the following links you can get good customer service and return policy if necessary.

Tennis Shoes. Just like the tennis apparel, you can never have too many shoes. In fact, having a variety of tennis shoes will help to keep them from wearing out if you play tennis often. It takes roughly 24 hours for the cushioning in tennis shoes to recover so buying tennis shoes as a gift would be a good suggestion.
Check out the Men’s Tennis Shoe and Women’s Tennis Shoes

Tennis Rackets. These are by far the most sexy Tennis gift anyone can get as every tennis player loves a new racket. However finding the right tennis racket to give as a gift can be tricky. We’ve broken it down by skill level so you can browse to see which one suites your fancy.
Beginner’s Tennis Racket

Intermediate Tennis Rackets

Advanced Tennis Rackets

We hope that these suggestions have given you some ideas for some of the best tennis gifts around. If you’d like to learn more about any of the gifts, just click on the links associated with that section. Good luck and happy shopping!

Wireless Remote Control for Lobster Tennis Ball Machines

admin — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 17:26:06 +0000

Having a Lobster tennis ball machine is great because it gives you so many tools and options to practice your tennis game. With all of the functions available on the different models you can pretty much zero in on any one swing or get a full court workout making your practices that much more productive. There is only one real drawback with these ball machines and that is that you can’t change things on the fly. And by that I mean you have to set the unit up, start the balls flying, run over to the other side of the court, practice hitting shots, and then if you want to change what you’re working on (say going from warming up to some random oscillations) you have to run back over, stop the machine, change the setting, start the machine and then come back. While this may only be a minor inconvenience, it doesn’t have to be. And with a simple wireless remote, you can change all that.

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The wireless remote control from Lobster, allows you to get more control over your practices. What it is, is a simple remote control the size of a key fob (like for your car) that has the ability to start and stop the ball feed and can control the sweep as well. The remote has to be installed in order to work but according to the Lobster website:

This option may be installed by the owner after purchase. Or individuals may ship their machine to Lobster for a factory authorized upgrade

In fact, you can find instructions how to do so here. It’s a ten stop process that’s pretty easy. Or you can always send the ball machine back to Lobster to have them do it. In fact if you order a tennis ball machine and the remote at the same time, they may be able to do it free of charge.

While this is terrific for average everyday players and even the serious tennis athletes, this is practically indispensable for coaches. Using one of these remotes, the coach can be on the same side of the court barking instructions and also be available for hands on demonstrations without needing an assistant to turn the machine on and off or doing it himself. This makes practice time more efficient and effective.

Buy Wireless Remote Control For Lobster Tennis Ball Machine Here

Fast Charger for Lobster Tennis Ball Machines

admin — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 16:47:20 +0000

Lobster tennis ball machines are probably the greatest and most popular brand of tennis ball machines on the market. They’re reliability and versatility make them a best seller as so many different people can use them. One of their primary features is the large lead-acid battery that gives the Lobster tennis ball machines their portability. While these are great batteries and perform quite well for long periods of time, they suffer from some limitations; namely, they are very slow at charging. So if you’re like me and are quite forgetful at times, and you don’t remember to hook up your charger to the lobster ball machine the night before so it can charge overnight, you’re pretty much out of luck. That is, unless you have the Lobster fast charger.

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The Lobster fast charger is a simple 1 amp charger that allows for more juice to get to the battery faster. It comes in two models: a US model (to work with the US electric grid) and a premium Europe model (for the Euro grid). The fast charger is a simple accessory that, once installed, you can just plug it into the wall outlet and have a fully charged battery 2-3 hours later. So if you did forget to charge it overnight, you could plug it in in the morning, have breakfast and be ready to go by late morning or early afternoon.

In addition to the fast charging times, where this charger really pays for itself is the convenience of the trickle charger. What this function does is supplies a very small amount of power to the battery to make sure that it’s always topped off. With the regular charger, it’s possible to over-charge the battery (which ruins its lifespan) so you have to leave it plugged in for a limited amount of time and remember to take it off the charger. With the Lobster fast charger, you can always leave it plugged in and it will trickle charge the battery keeping it ready for play. The best thing to do is to find a spot in your house or garage where you can store it near an outlet and just plug it in as soon as you get home from the courts.

Now for the bad news. Unfortunately the fast charger needs to be factory installed, so you’re options are limited. If you have a Lobster tennis ball machine already, you can still purchase the charger and send both to the company. Or, if you’re thinking about buying a Lobster tennis ball machine, you can order the fast charger and they’ll install it before it’s shipped out.

Buy Fast Charger and Lobster Tennis Ball Machines Here

Where to Get the Lowest Price on Tennis Twist Ball Machine Online

admin — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 03:15:04 +0000

So the other day I was talking to my brother, and knowing that I was an avid tennis player, he was asking where he could find the lowest price on the Tennis Twist ball machine. I was telling him about the Tennis Twist review that I had done and that when I bought mine, I got it from Amazon. He thought I was nuts buying it from a general store like Amazon and swore that it would be cheaper from a store that specialized in selling tennis ball machines and other tennis equipment. I couldn’t remember all the websites that I looked at when I was looking for the cheapest Tennis Twist price, but I felt comfortable buying it from Amazon. My brother was unconvinced, so we went online to check on the prices. What we found was pretty amazing. Every single one of the sites was either $229 or $230 (as of July 14, 2010). Most places offered free shipping, some of them the free shipping was only on items over $250.

So basically what it came down to was what company are you going to trust to handle your order quickly and competently. Personally, I prefer Amazon because of their expertise at online shopping. My brother felt that way too.

Click Here to buy the Tennis Twist

An interesting side note: we found that everywhere we looked the battery powered Tennis Twist was the same as the AC powered Tennis Twist. I would have thought that the battery feature would cost more.

Lobster Elite 2 Tennis Ball Machine Review

admin — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 02:40:06 +0000

The Lobster Elite 2 tennis ball machine is the second in Lobster’s Elite product lineup. The Lobster Tennis Ball Machine company, who is known for their innovativeness and quality tennis ball machines, has differentiated the Elite lineup by providing numerous different features at different price points. Each machine is built to cater to a specific level of player and is tailored to provide an affordable tennis ball machine no matter what skill level.

If you’re thinking of buying the Lobster Elite 2 tennis ball machine, use the link to the right to check out our low prices. We’ve searched all over the internet and think we’ve got the lowest price on Lobster tennis ball machines. Check it out.

Lobster Elite 2 Description

The Lobster Elite 2 tennis ball machine has the signature Lobster body style with the white hopper that can be reversed to fit snuggly over the red base. The hopper holds 150 tennis balls (we suggest using pressureless tennis balls) which at its peak can provide 5 minutes of intense play. The Lobster Elite 2 weighs only 50 pounds and coupled with the oversized wheels, makes it extremely portable. The Lobster 2 is quite portable; however, it helps to have a vehicle that you can easily lift and situate the machine (it’s not very easy to put into the back seat of a car). The removable handle and wheels are easy enough to use to maintain the portability, but it would be nicer if the handle telescoped instead of coming off. The Lobster Elite 2 comes with a battery which provides anywhere from 4-8 hours depending on a number of factors (length of time it’s on, oscillation, etc.).

Lobster Elite 2 Features

The Lobster Elite 2 provides a number of features of which includes:

150 ball capacity

Adjustable delivery anywhere from every 2 to every 10 seconds

Adjustable ball speed from 10 to 80 mph

Horizontal oscillation

Vertical oscillation

Topspin and Backspin settings

Overhand lobs

4-8 hour battery life

What’s the difference between the Lobster Elite 2 and Lobster Elite 3 tennis ball machines?

There are a lot similarities between many of the Lobster ball machines, to begin with is the shape of the machine. As I mentioned above, the Lobster Tennis Ball Machine Company has designed each machine in their lineup based off of one platform. So they all feature the reversible 150 ball hopper, the same battery and speed controls. The biggest difference between the Lobster Elite 2 and Lobster Elite 3 tennis ball machines is that the Elite 3 offers an advanced horizontal oscillation so that the ball can be thrown wide and narrow, mixing up the play a little more. See our Lobster Elite 3 review for more about that machine.

Lobster Elite 2 Pros

The Lobster Elite 2 offers a wide variety of options for a pretty reasonable price. Using the Elite 2 you can practice a consistent shot (such as the forehand or backhand) and you can use its random oscillation feature to place the ball just about anywhere on the court providing you a very healthy workout. It’s fairly light and portable and while there are certain features that would make it better (telescoping handle), the unit does a pretty good job of getting around. The battery life on the Lobster Elite 2 is excellent, lasting for many hours (much longer than I had expected). Overall, the Lobster Elite 2 tennis ball machine is well suited for the beginner through amateur to even serious competitor. If you can live without the enhanced horizontal oscillation feature, you can save yourself a couple of extra bucks. Go buy some tennis balls with the money saved.

Lobster Elite 2 Cons

While the Lobster Elite 2 ball machine is a well crafted tennis ball machine, there are a couple of things that could use improvement. The biggest out of all of these is an automatic shut off on the charger. The way that the unit is setup, you have to plug it in to charge it and come back when it’s full and unplug it. If you leave it on the charger it could damage the battery or worse. On a machine of this expense, you would think that they would provide some sort of shutoff feature. They do offer a charging module that will do this, but it’s sold separately.

Another thing that would make the Lobster Elite 2 better is that the dials are somewhat inconsistent. You have to spend a little while figuring out just exactly where the limits are so you aren’t playing in someone else’s court. And if you have a setting you really like, you can’t necessarily count on it being the same next time you play, even if it’s the same court.