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.

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Tags: Tennis Ball Machine, Tennis Cube, Tennis Tutor