Lobster Elite 3 or Spinfire 2 (v2)?

[Rhody]

Trying to decide between the Lobster Elite 3 (w/ internal battery and 10 function remote) for $2148, or the Spinfire 2 (v2) for $2400.
Please let me know if you’ve owned / or have used both (real life comparison), or your experienced thoughts between the two. I know the Spinfire is probably more comparable to the Lobster Grand IV, but with the added remote the Lobster is more expensive, and I don’t want to spend $2700+ for a ball machine before taxes, etc. Thanks!

 

[snoflewis]

i have the lobster elite 3 w/o the remote and it's been reliable. can't comment on the spinfire.

if i were in your position and the features were similar, i'd decide more based on my location. lobster is in socal and spinfire is in the east coast, so if you ever needed to service the machine, it may be easier to decide based on that location

 

[Rhody]

I’m in the west (NV). Good point. The machine is for me and a beginner 11 year old. Spinfire may be overkill.

 

[2ndServe]

I‘d consider weight too. I had a friend who worked at a tennis retailer with space to use and I got to try the elite 1, 2 and 3 a lot.

I wouldn’t spend the extra money on the elite 3 for the 2 line option. If you just set the feed interval at 5 seconds or whatever it’s literally the same as 2 Line oscillate as it shots one to the forehand and backhand.

Plus there‘s an extra switch sensor in the ball feed that stopped working. Otherwise he said he’s let people rent, demo the machines for probably 50,000 balls+ and hasn’t had any issues.

I know someone said they have the 3 without the remote. I‘d suggest a remote ( I really like a remote and liked the 10 function remote, ability to adjust speed, spin, along with feed and oscillate) .

The lobster is skinnier than the Spinfire and lighter. Read the thread about people putting a lithium battery in their tennis machines. A lot of us have done that and it’s significantly lighter.

The Spinfire has the internal oscillate which is the only one I can think of that has this feature. I think you’ll be happy with whatever you get.

 

[Rhody]

Like you said, the only difference between the Lobster Elite 3 and 2 is the 2-line function (narrow and wide…wide for the cardio workout ). Lithium battery would make it lighter, but I’m not too concerned with 5-7 extra lbs right now.
Spinfire seems good (internal oscillation), but it’s more expensive and I don’t need preset drills, etc., nor will the beginner 11 year it is for as well.

 

[2ndServe]

Like you said, the only difference between the Lobster Elite 3 and 2 is the 2-line function (narrow and wide…wide for the cardio workout ). Lithium battery would make it lighter, but I’m not too concerned with 5-7 extra lbs right now.
Spinfire seems good (internal oscillation), but it’s more expensive and I don’t need preset drills, etc., nor will the beginner 11 year it is for as well.

Looks like a lobster is what you’re leaning for. I never thought 10 lbs would mean much but it’s the odd shape of tennis machines that makes it an awkward 44 lbs to move. It’s 44 lbs with the 18ah lead acid battery. That battery was about 14 lbs. The lithium 8-10a battery is 3 lbs ( this lasts about 2 hours and change, I’ve never been there longer than 2 hours) . Carrying in/out of the car was much better with the lithium.

That’s up to you and what you need/want but as someone that has used the elite 2,3 for many hours I‘d sacrifice the $200 for 2 line and get the elite 1 or 2 with the remote. There‘s been times when I forgot the remote at home and the experience was definitely really sub par. Might want to ask people their opinions but I consider a remote highly valuable.

 

[Rhody]

I‘d consider weight too. I had a friend who worked at a tennis retailer with space to use and I got to try the elite 1, 2 and 3 a lot.

I wouldn’t spend the extra money on the elite 3 for the 2 line option. If you just set the feed interval at 5 seconds or whatever it’s literally the same as 2 Line oscillate as it shots one to the forehand and backhand.

Plus there‘s an extra switch sensor in the ball feed that stopped working. Otherwise he said he’s let people rent, demo the machines for probably 50,000 balls+ and hasn’t had any issues.

I know someone said they have the 3 without the remote. I‘d suggest a remote ( I really a remote and liked the 10 function remote, ability to adjust speed, spin, along with feed and oscillate) .

The lobster is skinnier than the Spinfire and lighter. Read the thread about people putting a lithium battery in their tennis machines. A lot of us have done that and it’s significantly lighter.

The Spinfire has the internal oscillate which is the only one I can think of that has this feature. I think you’ll be happy with whatever you get.

If I go with lobster I’m definitely getting the 10 function remote.

Looks like a lobster is what you’re leaning for. I never thought 10 lbs would mean much but it’s the odd shape of tennis machines that makes it an awkward 44 lbs to move. It’s 44 lbs with the 18ah lead acid battery. That battery was about 14 lbs. The lithium 8-10a battery is 3 lbs ( this lasts about 2 hours and change, I’ve never been there longer than 2 hours) . Carrying in/out of the car was much better with the lithium.

That’s up to you and what you need/want but as someone that has used the elite 2,3 for many hours I‘d sacrifice the $200 for 2 line and get the elite 1 or 2 with the remote. There‘s been times when I forgot the remote at home and the experience was definitely really sub par. Might want to ask people their opinions but I consider a remote highly valuable.

I’m definitely getting the remote. I may get the lobster 2 after considering your real life experience with them. Thank you for your advice (sincerely). I appreciate it!

 

[Rhody]

Looks like a lobster is what you’re leaning for. I never thought 10 lbs would mean much but it’s the odd shape of tennis machines that makes it an awkward 44 lbs to move. It’s 44 lbs with the 18ah lead acid battery. That battery was about 14 lbs. The lithium 8-10a battery is 3 lbs ( this lasts about 2 hours and change, I’ve never been there longer than 2 hours) . Carrying in/out of the car was much better with the lithium.

That’s up to you and what you need/want but as someone that has used the elite 2,3 for many hours I‘d sacrifice the $200 for 2 line and get the elite 1 or 2 with the remote. There‘s been times when I forgot the remote at home and the experience was definitely really sub par. Might want to ask people their opinions but I consider a remote highly valuable.

I believe I can get the lobster with an external battery. That way I can leave the machine in the car and only bring the battery in to recharge. I can then put the battery back into the machine after I take it out of the car and wheel to the court (and take it out before putting back into the car). Lobster says the a fully charged battery should last 4-8 hours. I’ll never play that long, but will get 3+ sessions playing out of one battery charge (vs the lithiums that are far less)

 

[Spinfire]

Just an update here to let you know that we have just launched our iOS and Android apps (phone and Apple watch). This makes our Pro 2 more comparable to the Lobster Elite V LE in terms of functionality. Our app allows you to program unlimited drills of up to 30 shots. It also has AI so you can use voice to tell the machine what drill you want it to create and it will instantly make it for you.

 

[YTuchee]

Just an update here to let you know that we have just launched our iOS and Android apps (phone and Apple watch). This makes our Pro 2 more comparable to the Lobster Elite V LE in terms of functionality. Our app allows you to program unlimited drills of up to 30 shots. It also has AI so you can use voice to tell the machine what drill you want it to create and it will instantly make it for you.

Is the apps available in Canada iOS platform? Seems not able to download it.

 

[Spinfire]

Currently the app is not available in the app store. It's currently only available in Apple's TestFlight. You can download the app by using your phone and visiting this link: https://www.spinfiresport.com/spinfire-app/

 

[Rhody]

The app is available in the US in the Apple App Store? Lobster is having a sale on some of their Grand models. Is Spinfire planning any sales?

 

[Spinfire]

The app is still not available in the Apple App Store but it should be any day now. At this stage, we have no planned sales coming up.

 

[Rhody]

If I were to buy the machine in the next couple weeks would I be able to use the App when it comes out later to be able to preprogram my own drills, etc? Or do I need to wait to buy the machine until the App comes out? Any ETA on the USA version App thru Apple?

 

[Spinfire]

If I were to buy the machine in the next couple weeks would I be able to use the App when it comes out later to be able to preprogram my own drills, etc? Or do I need to wait to buy the machine until the App comes out? Any ETA on the USA version App thru Apple?

The app is due to be public in the Apple Store any day now. We are just waiting for Apple to approve it. However, the app is already available to use via Test Flight which is very easy to use. I'm not sure if drills you've created while using Test Flight will automatically transfer to the app once it's public, so I'd recommend exporting them and then re-importing them once you're on the public app.

 

[Rhody]

Thsmks for the info! Lobster has a trade in policy…cut the wires from / put out of commission any ball machine i skresdt own (i own an older Tennis Tutor), take pics and email to them, and they take 15% off. Does Spinfire have something similar?

 

[Spinfire]

Thsmks for the info! Lobster has a trade in policy…cut the wires from / put out of commission any ball machine i skresdt own (i own an older Tennis Tutor), take pics and email to them, and they take 15% off. Does Spinfire have something similar?

I'm not sure I fully understand your question. However, trade in offers may be possible, but you'd need to contact your local distributor. You've indicated that you're in the USA, so you will need to reach out to our USA distributor at www.spinfireusa.com to see if they are interested in trading in your Tennis Tutor.

 

[dak95_00]

Thsmks for the info! Lobster has a trade in policy…cut the wires from / put out of commission any ball machine i skresdt own (i own an older Tennis Tutor), take pics and email to them, and they take 15% off. Does Spinfire have something similar?

Why would you destroy a machine to save $200? You could sell the machine to another and get $400.

Also, why would they be offering a discount to begin? Is it because their machines are overpriced? Where's the Lobster support person on these boards? I'd buy a Tennis Tutor before I would buy a Lobster. For that matter, I'd buy a Silent Partner before I would buy a Lobster. The programmable Spinfire is going to be above the others but you get what you pay for. I've seen where Lobster is making offers on their higher end products and I think it's because they are going to create a completely programmable machine to compete with Spinfire, Titan, Proton, etc.