man that's chonky and heavier than the ball machine. Anyone have coupon code for this thing, I'll try it out and review it.
Hydrogen Sports PROTON
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Nostradamus
Bionic Poster
Yes but it adds entirely new dimension to this ball machine ,, mimicking serves and power groundies from realistic Height. Now only thing missing is the automatic ball pick upper and constantly putting balls back in the machine so that you don't have to pickup balls all the time...
Nostradamus
Bionic Poster
JEDI MASTER
Professional
There's a new roller bag with retractable handle coming out soon.
kayak4water
Rookie
I saw such a wagon at Wally Mart. ~$90
Amazon sells a $20 plastic dolly with telescoping handle (not radically different from the one pictured) to move the Proton. The handle of a wheeled ball hopper containing about 50 balls is strapped to the handgrip of my Proton. (FYI, that’s a rebuilt Tourna Ballport in steel). A wheel-less ball hopper can ride on top of the Proton.
stapletonj
Hall of Fame
$400 for a stand. ouch. although I STILL might get it if it looks good..... hardest shot in tennis to practice is the return of serve
stapletonj
Hall of Fame
they do offer a 30 day money back guarantee..... has anyone gotten one and tried it out?
Holdingserve85
New User
What balls do you use in your proton as I bought new Wilson trinitis and they are jamming the machine but other ball go through great
JEDI MASTER
Professional
My proton will be back this week
I used a lobster in the meantime for practice and man what a hassle.
1- so much more complicated to set up shots
2- battery was subpar
3- portability sucks. these classic ball machines are a pain to load/unload a vehicle
despite my complaints about durability, it really is a great machine
I used a lobster in the meantime for practice and man what a hassle.
1- so much more complicated to set up shots
2- battery was subpar
3- portability sucks. these classic ball machines are a pain to load/unload a vehicle
despite my complaints about durability, it really is a great machine
The big machines are super sturdy I’ve had a Lobster, tutor and Silent Partner Quest for 10+ years and only needing battery mostly. Proton is still the best, haven’t had it long enough to see if it’ll last 10 years
JEDI MASTER
Professional
i've had mine since it's release in 2019... so far so good.. no major issues
I got my Proton about three weeks ago, but only started using it pretty heavily this past week due to work, weather, etc. Man, I really love it!!! It has been everything I hoped it would be…easy to transport and set-up, the app is great, Apple Watch control is awesome and the machine’s performance is top-notch. I got the extended warranty, so hopefully will be covered with any issues that tend to pop up after the first year of ownership. My only gripe is that I wish there were more video tutorials from Hydrogen on the machine, its features, troubleshooting, on-court demos on the built-in programs, etc. Their offerings on their website and their YouTube channel are pretty sparse for a machine as advanced as the Proton. But I’m nitpicking here…it is a fantastic ball machine!
Mine is back- works well after the tune up
Having had one- I can never go back to a ball machine without an app to set up drills. Manually setting angle and that stuff with physical knobs feels so outdated…same thing with the battery. Can’t go back to a ball machine without the removeable battery again.
You can create custom drills and shots. That’s where it gets really exciting. Practice a deep ground stroke, followed by an approach/volley to simulate match play. Anything you can think of…it can probably do and takes moments to swap to diff shot
Definitely get the warranty
JonathanShefftz
Rookie
A tidbit to share that might provide some amusement ....
Returning to tennis from a two-decade hiatus via my 15 yo daughter's newfound love of the sport, I was looking into ball machines and was surprised that many models seemed surprisingly similar to the ball machine I used in 1979 while reworking my two-handed backhand.
But this Proton, ooh, it even uses the same Ryobi 18v batteries I use for -- a whole lotta tools!
So I asked them if perhaps a discount was available for ordering the Proton sans battery and charger.
No, but also:
Returning to tennis from a two-decade hiatus via my 15 yo daughter's newfound love of the sport, I was looking into ball machines and was surprised that many models seemed surprisingly similar to the ball machine I used in 1979 while reworking my two-handed backhand.
But this Proton, ooh, it even uses the same Ryobi 18v batteries I use for -- a whole lotta tools!
So I asked them if perhaps a discount was available for ordering the Proton sans battery and charger.
No, but also:
"[...] we don’t support third-party batteries. Proton ships with our 18V 5Ah battery and charger, which are required to ensure performance and warranty support."
(For those of you not familiar with the Ryobi ecosystem, their products are sold exclusively via Home Depot, so retailer/etailer margins can't be competed away, and the on-line Chinese knockoffs of their batteries are notoriously under spec. For example, I experimented with one listing that was highly rating, and the ostensible 4Ah batteries I received were obviously far too small and far too light, and lasted about as long as a 1Ah battery! Fortunately all I had to do was drop them off at Whole Foods the next time I went grocery shopping and receive an instantaneous refund. So for Proton to claim that their knockoff is somehow better than the real thing ... ?!?)
BenC
Hall of Fame
Weighed a Proton and Ryobi battery, both 4Ah.
Proton - 680g
Ryobi - 748g
So probably something to the thought that proper Ryobis have more juice than the knockoffs.
However, some more thoughts:
1) Hydrogen has no idea what condition our Ryobis are in, or if people are going to use underspec'd or poorly built knockoffs. Presumably they've tested the machine extensively with their included battery, so they can guarantee the machine's performance during the warranty period with that battery. Maybe if you offered to buy the machine as-is and waive the warranty ...
2) Being compatible with a commonly available battery format is a good thing - replacements are cheaply and easily available. If they really wanted to squeeze owners on the battery they could a) make them internal and require factory service for replacement b) modify the battery format to make it incompatible, like adding an extra tab and/or changing the order of the contacts
Proton - 680g
Ryobi - 748g
So probably something to the thought that proper Ryobis have more juice than the knockoffs.
However, some more thoughts:
1) Hydrogen has no idea what condition our Ryobis are in, or if people are going to use underspec'd or poorly built knockoffs. Presumably they've tested the machine extensively with their included battery, so they can guarantee the machine's performance during the warranty period with that battery. Maybe if you offered to buy the machine as-is and waive the warranty ...
2) Being compatible with a commonly available battery format is a good thing - replacements are cheaply and easily available. If they really wanted to squeeze owners on the battery they could a) make them internal and require factory service for replacement b) modify the battery format to make it incompatible, like adding an extra tab and/or changing the order of the contacts
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stapletonj
Hall of Fame
sssshhhhhhh! Dont give them any ideas!!!! I love this product, btw.
JonathanShefftz
Rookie
Agreed on #2. By contrast, Slinger uses its own proprietary battery, which is $99, and also ... out of stock:
Replacement Lithium 6.6Ah Battery
Our Lithium 6.6Ah Battery is rechargeable outside of the launcher allowing the use of multiple batteries to extend your time on the court. It provides up to 3.5 hours of battery life at average speed and feed settings. *This battery will work for Tennis launchers with serial numbers starting...
slingerbag.com
But at least it's lithium, unlike a used SP I was looking at, whose seller would change the battery, which the seller says lasts only about year, perhaps b/c it's a lead-acid dinosaur:
Regular Replacement Battery 12V 9AH - F2 Terminals
This battery is compatible with the Silent Partner Edge LITE only. Note this battery has F2 adapter terminals.
www.sptennis.com
The best approach though is Titan, which uses Ryobi-compatible batteries, and doesn't even sell the machines with batteries.
If you don't already have a Ryobi setup, the Titan webpage effectively just places on order on your behalf with Home Depot:
Battery & Power Supplies
Titan, the newest, most advanced tennis ball machine and pickleball machine to launch in 2023. Speed, power, ultimate performance - Titan is your all in one ball machine offering ball & racket storage, custom drills all in a sleek design. Titan ball machines have fully adjustable speed, height...
titanballmachines.com
(Remember when each flip phone model had its own proprietary charging cable?)
Nostradamus
Bionic Poster
Is the Next evolution in Proton ball machine to add complicated AI and also to make it move around like a robot?
JEDI MASTER
Professional
Maybe!... i think they have fallen behind.. more and more machine are being released that move all over the court....
i'm looking forward to getting the AceMate soon...
Nostradamus
Bionic Poster
do you consider Acemate as the best one out of all of them ?
JonathanShefftz
Rookie
Anyone else concerned about potential reliability issues from a moving ball machine?
These already have enough moving parts to go wrong, and add in an entire machine that's moving ...
These already have enough moving parts to go wrong, and add in an entire machine that's moving ...
BBender716
Professional
Buddy of mine just got his Pong Pace S and that was far bulkier but pretty damn cool. I think what Proton is missing is a social aspect of easily being able to share/download programs directly from a "community" of others who created programs and be able to directly download them In App to be used.
Nostradamus
Bionic Poster
it might have issues on Clay courts due to all the dirt getting into the motors
JonathanShefftz
Rookie
Yes, those video reviews on clay surprised me. Even an old school ball machine must have problems with grit getting into the throwing wheels.
FrankyRelax
Hall of Fame
Something called Aceii is popping up for me now. Looks very intriguing but also looks giant and would not fit in the boot of my car. There's something about the combination of the Hydrogen's compact nature and it's tech that is a really good balance for my needs.
BenC
Hall of Fame
Just an interesting note about the battery quality. I sometimes use a Ryobi battery with an USB-C adapter to power my laptop when I'm traveling, but the Proton battery lasts just a few minutes before conking out even if it's fully charged beforehand. The Ryobis last hours.
In regular usage with the Proton machine I haven't noticed issues though.
In regular usage with the Proton machine I haven't noticed issues though.
Agreed that this would have been ideal.
JonathanShefftz
Rookie
@BenC thanks for the feedback!
Once I tried some knock-off Ryobi 4Ah batteries. Excellent reviews on Amazon. Arrived in a box that was suspiciously light. Housing was clearly for a 2Ah. Lasted about 1/4 of some some old 4Ah batteries, which might be down now to an effective ~3.5Ah, so I'd estimate those ostensible 4Ah knockoffs were less than 1Ah.
Once I tried some knock-off Ryobi 4Ah batteries. Excellent reviews on Amazon. Arrived in a box that was suspiciously light. Housing was clearly for a 2Ah. Lasted about 1/4 of some some old 4Ah batteries, which might be down now to an effective ~3.5Ah, so I'd estimate those ostensible 4Ah knockoffs were less than 1Ah.
Peyote Bjornsson
Semi-Pro
Sent ours in for a tune up late kast week. Awaiting its return.
JonathanShefftz
Rookie
Needed some sort of maintenance? And after roughly how many hours of use?
Peyote Bjornsson
Semi-Pro
Likely aroud 500 hrs, roughly 10 cases of balls run through it daily for about two years.The drifting had gotten really bad and the bluetooth connection no longer worked.
JonathanShefftz
Rookie
Ah, okay, thanks -- probably a lifetime of use for many owners!
Peyote Bjornsson
Semi-Pro
Yeah, we put it through a lot and it has been very valuable in coaching my son since I cant physically play anymore.
eagle
Hall of Fame
Finally got to use the remote for the Proton.
The Nano Remote is a wonderful addition to the Proton line. It is small ... really small, simple, and it works!
It connects to your phone and not the ball machine. This means you continue to control the ball machine through the Proton app on your phone. This also means you only have to do the pairing one time.
You have 5 buttons on the remote. The center button serves two functions: power on/off switch and start/stop command. The other four buttons allow you to make aim adjustments.
The internal battery charges quickly with a provided USB cable.
I clipped the remote to my watchband.
Operation is simple. You press the center button to start/stop a program.
One thing to note about using this remote is that since it uses the phone app to control the machine, you have to keep the phone screen on and the program on the Proton app active on your phone. If another app or function happens to take over the phone screen at the time you are trying to command the app, it won't work. This happened to me when an incoming call came as I pushed the center button to feed balls.
No big deal compared to the convenience of a truly small remote on the court vs. using the phone.
I am very happy with this long-awaited compliment to my Proton machine.
Two thumbs up! Thanks Hydrogen Sports!
The Nano Remote is a wonderful addition to the Proton line. It is small ... really small, simple, and it works!
It connects to your phone and not the ball machine. This means you continue to control the ball machine through the Proton app on your phone. This also means you only have to do the pairing one time.
You have 5 buttons on the remote. The center button serves two functions: power on/off switch and start/stop command. The other four buttons allow you to make aim adjustments.
The internal battery charges quickly with a provided USB cable.
I clipped the remote to my watchband.
Operation is simple. You press the center button to start/stop a program.
One thing to note about using this remote is that since it uses the phone app to control the machine, you have to keep the phone screen on and the program on the Proton app active on your phone. If another app or function happens to take over the phone screen at the time you are trying to command the app, it won't work. This happened to me when an incoming call came as I pushed the center button to feed balls.
No big deal compared to the convenience of a truly small remote on the court vs. using the phone.
I am very happy with this long-awaited compliment to my Proton machine.
Two thumbs up! Thanks Hydrogen Sports!
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stapletonj
Hall of Fame
Outdoor season is coming! Any more thoughts on the "serve stand"?
Service Ace
Hall of Fame
Not thrilled I'm having to send mine in for repairs after 3 years of use. Conveniently just outside the window of the extended warranty I paid for and the company made no offer to honor it regardless. Still a great ball machine but not durable and had lead me to looking for an alternative device to backup and hopefully replace the Proton as my main ball machine.
kayak4water
Rookie
Same here. Our unit broke down — the front wouldn’t elevate—balls went into the net. I updated the app and the firmware — thought it was fixed, but like a bad penny…
Benefits of not having the machine:
1. I broke my brother of making FH contact at calf height with a vertical racket.
2. I taught him racket lag — I explained the power of the extended wrist & why it required contact in front.
3. I taught both of us to use our legs for better control when playing mini tennis.
4. I taught both of us to focus better on the contact (“memorize the target location — don’t look up—I’ll tell you where the ball went”)
FYI, I’m 69. He’s pushing 70.
A simple solution for drifting:
I just bought a Proton from FB that didn't come with a pivot foot. I tried the HF clamp pad hack, which works fine, but I wanted something that stayed attached to the machine.
I got a replacement pivot foot (kudos to Hydrogen Sports for not marking up accessory parts), cut some anti-slip tape to size, and voilà...
I just bought a Proton from FB that didn't come with a pivot foot. I tried the HF clamp pad hack, which works fine, but I wanted something that stayed attached to the machine.
I got a replacement pivot foot (kudos to Hydrogen Sports for not marking up accessory parts), cut some anti-slip tape to size, and voilà...
stapletonj
Hall of Fame
hauled my proton out today and there is some shuddering when starting and stopping. Twice, about 25 balls in, it would suddenly freeze up and have to be restarted. Battery was fully charged.....
would restart and finish with no problem, no jam noticed. less than 100 hours total use since new. thoughts?
would restart and finish with no problem, no jam noticed. less than 100 hours total use since new. thoughts?
Do a good inspection of the innards.
Myshoulderhurts
New User
Some features I’d like to see after using my proton for about 2 years now.
The ability to shoot N random balls at a particular speed/spin to M locations, then have a longer pause, and then restart the cycle. I don’t want to have to restart a fixed ball loop over and over again.
It would also be nice if for a shot, instead of specifying an exact speed and spin, one could instead give it a range and the machine would randomize the speed/spin in that range, letting you use that shot just like the current shots in a program.
The ability to shoot N random balls at a particular speed/spin to M locations, then have a longer pause, and then restart the cycle. I don’t want to have to restart a fixed ball loop over and over again.
It would also be nice if for a shot, instead of specifying an exact speed and spin, one could instead give it a range and the machine would randomize the speed/spin in that range, letting you use that shot just like the current shots in a program.
