Lobster Elite Grand Slam IV Ball Machine

[tensgrl16]

Has any one tried the new Lobster Elite Grand Slam IV Ball Machine? I am looking to get a new portable machine and am looking for opinions on this one. Currently I am also looking at the Lobster Elite 3 and the Tennis Tutor Plus Player.

I need a machine that does speed and spins, 2 line feed and can feed horizontal and vertical.

What are people's opinions. As well is it worth spending another $200 for a remote? I think it is, but what are people's opinions as far as how well remotes work with these machines.

Thanks for all your help.

 

[esmits77]

Has anybody tried this machine? Any feedback would be appreciated.

 

[Thud and blunder]

Remote is a waste of money; forget about fiddling with the settings in the middle of a bucket of balls.

Fill the basket with as many balls as you want to hit on any given drill...that's it. The remote is both overpriced and impractical, which makes the decision easy.

 

[esmits77]

Thud

What about the pre-programmed six shot drills? Do you think they are worth it?

 

[Thud and blunder]

Can't directly comment on that, since I have the Lobster III, which doesn't have that drill.

If you want to use the machine to build your shot tolerance, or work on patterns of play, I can see the utility perhaps.

Personally, I use my machine almost exclusively for grooving strokes / ironing out glitches, so it wouldn't appeal to me, but that's a very individual decision.

 

[esmits77]

That's what ball machines are for "grooving strokes." I am a little tempted by the Elite IV, but the more I read about the pre-programmed drills the more skeptical I become. I've used the Elite 3 and was not impressed with the triple oscillation so I'm not sure if this would be much different.

 

[MonkeyMuggs]

Hey Esmitts77 .......... I'm also wondering how the "pre-programmed 6 shot" drills on the Grand Slam IV and V are. What did you end up buying or learning?

I'm mainly interested in how good or effective the vertical + horizontal "randomness" really is on these portable machines - when set on and using the "random oscillation" feature. Im also wondering and interested in the "programmability" aspects on the Grand Slam V and Silent Partner Pro & Quest machines.

I need to work on footwork and running/moving. While I'm definitely interested in also perfecting or grooving my strokes, my main concern and need for a ball machine is to work on my FOOTWORK. I need to run/move and strengthen my legs, feet, etc. I seem to hit the ball pretty well if/when I get to the ball in time. (or rather - when I make mistakes - it's usually due to being tired and/or not getting to the ball) Finding hitting partners is always difficult as well. I also need to loose some weight!

Any info, help, advice on these upper end ball mahcines will be appreciated!

 

[lineitup]

get the silent partner!

 

[tpotter]

Let me assure you the triple oscillation on the Elite 3 vs the "true" random feature on the Grandslam IV, V are worlds different.

Triple Oscillation is a fixed speed, random left to right ball toss....it's an incredible feature inexpensive in comparison to what you get and not available on other machines.

True Random on the IV, V, and LE machines mixes up location, spin, speed, and depth randomly from a computer never, ever repeating itself...pretty cool.
The drills on the IV/V are incredible, people love them - it's a one button set up with six shots..the drill repeats itself automatically.

Programmability is really cool, but make sure it's something you will actually use - are you the type that wants to "create" customized drills and save them and play with them? If you are, then there isn't any machine anywhere that can do that, period. If you aren't, then stick with the Elite Grandslam IV.

There's a lot of skepticism about remotes, but I don't know anyone who played without a remote and then purchased one that felt like it wasn't worth the investment. If you never use a remote, you don't know what you are missing in terms of convenience - you control your workout, you can change the drills, the oscillation, the feed, the speed - all ideal to optimize your workiout.

Some people simply fill the hopper and practice forehands, fill the hopper a second time and practice backhands, fill the hopper a third time and practice hitting on the run - therefore, they feel they don't need the remote.

Lobster remotes can be added after the fact, so you don't have to commit up front.

 

[MonkeyMuggs]

Which machine, feature, function will give you the shortest (closest to the net) ball?

Will the "true" random oscillation feed you as short, or shorter, a ball as the programming (13 -18 locations) found on the V L.E.?

Say you have programmed the Grand Slam V L.E. to hit location 14, and have returned a half dozen shots from location 14. You then leave everything on the machine set the same way........except........you specifically "back the speed down" on the ball only. By "backing the speed down" on a ball previously programmed to hit location 14...........will this cause the machine to drop the ball shorter than before (between the service line and the net)? Or will the computer "override" your "modified parameter selection" (less speed and/or more topspin) and attempt to "force" the machine to still toss/place the ball to location 14?