Tennis ball machines provide one of the best ways to practice your game whether you play for fun or are even a budding professional that wants to improve their skills and gain more experience playing.
These machines will do just what you want them to do, which can be very useful when trying to improve specific aspects of your game, and unlike when practicing with a human, they will never get tired and you can hence play for as long as you want.
However, to get good service from these machines, you need to choose the best ones. And whether you are buying your first one or want to replace an old model, our top 5 tennis ball machines below will give you some fantastic quality recommendations.
List of The Best Tennis Ball Machines in 2022
1. Spinshot-Player Tennis Ball Machine
If you love playing tennis often in a court or even in your backyard, you can be sure that you will love this tennis ball machine as it has everything required to give you an unforgettable playing experience and help sharpen your skills fast.
It has a front control panel that will ensure you have an easy time setting it up for play and you can easily view your selected settings from far. And besides the controls on the machine, it also has a one-button remote control that will be very handy and a free phone app to give you one more option for controlling the machine.
The extendable hopper accommodates more balls than most others on our list, and the design also makes it easy to store when not in use. Also, to make it a more flexible machine, it will provide more power options.
And you can be confident that this tennis machine has been made to last as it has an all-metal construction that will withstand abuse on the court.
Key Features
- Front panel control
- One button remote control
- Free smartphone app
- Extendable hopper
- Sturdy metal design
- Flexible power connection
Pros
- Durable all-metal construction
- Comes with remote control for easy operation
- Smooth-rolling wheels for easy mobility
- More compact and lightweight
- Allows for different power connections
Cons
- A little expensive
2. Spinshot Lite Tennis Machine
For those that do not want to spend a lot of cash on their tennis ball machine or are comfortable with a more basic model that still gets the job done, this Spinshot model will be a fantastic choice.
Despite being a basic model, it will still provide a maximum ball speed of up to 60 kph, which for most players is fast enough to ensure an engaging play session. Also, its 50-ball hopper capacity should be enough for its size, and you can play more without refilling the hopper.
The tennis ball machine also offers a topspin function and horizontal oscillation both of which are meant to make the play more interesting for you. And it will also allow you to choose from different power options for increased flexibility and also comes with an optional smartwatch remote control for increased flexibility.
Key Features
- Up to 60 kph ball speed
- 50 ball capacity
- TopSpin feature
- Flexible power options
- Smartwatch remote
- Horizontal oscillation
Pros
- More budget-friendly
- Sturdy and durable metal build
- Highly portable tennis ball machine
- Allows for more power options
- Easy to use design
- Great for kids
Cons
- More basic model without many features
- Shorter playtime
3. Lobster Sports Elite One Battery Tennis Ball Machine
It is hard to get a better tennis ball machine at the price of this one by Lobster Sports, and so by choosing this model, you can be confident that you will get excellent value for your cash.
This tennis machine has been built to be super powerful and to deliver exceptional speeds to ensure that the balls will give you the challenge you need to take your game a notch higher. And it will give you a runtime of 4 to 8 hours, which is long enough and also allows you to use AC power where possible for continuous nonstop operation.
The tennis machine also offers a full random oscillation and up to 60-degree lobs to further ensure you get the most engaging balls. Also, it will be easy to move around with the 8-inch all-terrain wheels and should be easier to control with the elite remote control.
Key Features
- 4 to 8 hours runtime
- Up to 60-degree lobs
- Full random horizontal oscillation
- 8-inch all-terrain wheels
- Elite remote control
Pros
- Relatively longer runtime
- More affordable price tag
- Easy to use design
- Includes wheels for easy mobility
- More efficient ball use
- Exceptional speed and power
Cons
- Handle feels a little flimsy
- Smaller wheels
4. Match Mate Tennis PRN 051 Tennis Ball Machine
This Match Mate Tennis machine takes simplicity to a whole new level, and despite being a simple and easy-to-use machine, it still gives users an engaging playtime.
The tennis ball machine provides a court time of up to 7 hours, which is longer than what you get from most others the same size. And you will also get random oscillations and choose from 5 different elevation levels.
This machine is also made to allow users to select their shots from the high lobs down to the ground strikes, and you can do this with conveniently located controls. Also, the speed is adjustable between 15 and 70 MPH and the small size makes this a portable and easy to store machine
Key Features
- 5 to 7 hours of court time
- Delivers random oscillations
- Allows for shot selection
- 15 to 70 MPH ball speed
- 5 elevation levels
Pros
- Longer battery life
- Quick and simple selection of shot
- Ball speed is easily adjustable
- Small, lightweight and portable
- Simple and conveniently located controls
Cons
- Does not have wheels for mobility
5. Wilson Portable Tennis Ball Machine
Wilson is a highly reputable sports equipment manufacturer, and its products will hardly ever disappoint. And while the reputation of the manufacturer is enough reason to try out this tennis ball machine, its performance also does not disappoint.
It delivers ball speeds of between 10 and 75 miles per hour to ensure it can work for all kinds of players and also allows users to control the spin from heavy topspin to heavy underspin. And you will not have to keep collecting the balls as it has a 110-ball capacity hopper.
The machine uses a built-in battery that will deliver up to 4 hours of court time and with an optional smart charger that can charge it in 6 hours and prevents over-charging. Also, there is a built-in oscillator, and you can easily control the machine with a simple electronic control panel.
Key Features
- 10 to 75 MPH ball speed
- Precise spin control
- 110-ball capacity
- Smart battery charger
- Built-in oscillator
- Electronic elevation control
Pros
- Small and lightweight
- Longer battery life and fast charging
- Higher ball capacity given its size
- Allows the user to control the spin
- Easy to use and conveniently located controls
- Towing wheels and handle included
Cons
- Pricier for its size
How to Choose the Best Tennis Ball Machine
Although there are all kinds of tennis ball machines out there from different brands, choosing the best one for your or even your team does not have to be a complicated affair as you will only need to watch out for the following important things.
1. Ball Capacity
You do not want to have to keep reloading the hopper on your tennis ball machine after every few shots because, besides being boring, this can also be tiring, and you might end up spending more time loading up the hopper instead of playing.
These machines will come with different hopper capacities as some will hold as little as 50 balls, and others can accommodate upwards of 150 balls, which means less reloading frequency.
But while the higher ball capacity machines are often more favorable, they are also more expensive and so sticking with those that have around 50-ball capacity is often a great idea as you get a decent capacity and do not have to spend a lot of cash.
2. Battery Life
Battery life matters a lot when it comes to choosing a tennis ball machine because it determines how long you can keep it running, and hence how much playtime you get before you have to recharge the machine.
Ultimately, the right battery life for you will depend on how often you use the machine and also how long you spend on the court or backyard playing tennis. Hence, here it will be all up to your personal preferences.
That said, a good tennis ball machine is one that will provide a battery life of between 4 and 8 hours if not longer as this is more than enough play or practice time for most users
3. Speed Range
A good tennis ball machine should offer you a challenging playing experience as this not only makes it more fun but will also be very helpful for sharpening your skills. And one of the best ways to ensure this is by going for a machine that delivers high ball speeds.
But, because you might have different goals when playing and also different moods, the best tennis ball machine for you will be one that offers a wide speed range or allow you to choose from different ball speeds.
A model that will provide an adjustable speed range of between 10 and 100 MPH will be good enough for all kinds of tennis players, but a few professional players might want something a little faster than this.
4. Weight and Size
The weight and size of the tennis ball machine matter a lot as they will determine how easy it will be to handle and move around when playing. Ideally, a good model should be compact and lightweight as it will be easy to move around and will also not take up a lot of space when in storage.
However, a smaller model will also often have a smaller capacity hopper and will also not be very powerful. Hence, when it comes to the size, you will need to strike a good balance between the capacity and power of the machine and its weight and dimensions.
5. Extras
Certain things might not be necessary for a tennis ball machine to function but are still good to have as they make it more useful and easy to use. Key among this is a remote control that will ensure you do not have to go all the way to the machine to make any adjustments to the settings. Remote control will save you a lot of time and make life easier or you.
Also, an extra battery pack will be very useful for ensuring you get longer court time as you do not have to stop when your battery drains, and a cover for the machine will be nice as it will help protect it from the elements in case you leave it outdoors.
Conclusion
Tennis ball machines are a must-have if you are serious about taking your tennis skills a notch higher. With our reviews and buying guide above, finding the best tennis ball machine should now be super easy.
And while all the 5 models on our list will offer top-notch service, the Spinshot-Player Tennis Ball Machine seems to outperform the others and is hence our best overall model while the Spinshot Lite Tennis Machine is the perfect choice for budget shoppers.