Tennis Tutor +(player) vs Lobster Elite 3 vs Playmate Protable

[Pro_Tour_630]

Below are my three choices for battle of the best portable ball machines. I am going to buy one of them though I do not know which one yet. I know I will be spending $1600-$1900. There are some positives and negatives in all three. I would like to hear your comments regarding the pros and cons of each and if you have used any of the three machines mentioned. Thanks

Tennis Tutor plus player model with remote:

Ball capacity 150 Balls
Trajectories Groundstroke to Lob
Ball ejection speed 10-85 MPH
Ball feed rate 1 1/2 to 12 seconds (+)
Playing Time
w/heavy duty battery 4 to 6 hours typical
Recharge Time 12 hours, typical standard (-)
Tennis Tutor Plus 20"H x 19.5"L x 20"W
Weight
Tennis Tutor Plus 46lbs
$1750 plus $65 shipping one year warranty, they have a demo for $1600 plus $65 shipping
3 Player mode (+) Fast charger (1-3hours) $75 Total $1890
two function remote (+)

Lobster Elite 3:

speed10 to 80 mph
Ball capacity: 150
Feed rate: 2-10 seconds
Court time: 4-8 hours (6)
Elevation: electronic
0-50 degrees (+) lobs
Weight: 44 lbs. (+)
Warranty: (+)2 years
$1550, Remote $199 two function (+)compact/light easy to store with big wheels to push
$1890 includes premium charger (1-3hours) plus remote, shipping $48 (they might waive)

Playmate Portable:

Holds 200 Balls (+)
Battery standard life 6hours
Variable Oscillation to 1, 2, or 3 Lines
Pitches any Type of Tennis Ball (flat) (+)
*Best pitching wheels commercial (+)
ON/OFF Remote Control (-)
Standard 6 Hour SMART Charger (+)
1 Year Limited Parts Warranty
MSRP $1,695.00 USD
(-) Heavy, (+)but durable commercial wheels, (-)no 2 function remote.

My observations:

The main thing about a ball machine is the consistency in pitching so all else are just bells and whistles. Which is why I am leaning towards the playmate portable even though it is heavy and only has on/off remote.

But I do like the players mode and the two function remote and the premium charger found on the tennis tutor+ even though it is still a bit bulky

Last but not least is the Lobster elite 3 with its compactness, also with premium charger and two function remote.

In conclusion:

1. Playmate Portable for durability and reliability
2. Tennis Tutor for its features
3. Lobster for it compactness.

Why don't they have a machine that is compact, loaded with features yet built like a tank. I guess you cant have it all. Any observation and comments welcome. Most important I would like to know about the durability of the pitching wheels of all three if there are any updates or issues since I have had bad experiences in the past. I have had one of the first tennis tutors jr. (20 years ago) which had bad wheels and battery that needed replacement. In the past, Lobster were not so great in the quality as well. I have used playmate before and these thing just do not jam nor break.

Thanks

 

[Jack & Coke]

Most important features from my experience:

HIGH PRIORITY

• Portability - does it fit in the trunk of my car?? How easy is it to get from your garage, into your car, out of your car, carried (wheeled) through the parking lot and onto the tennis courts.
• Battery life
• Build quality / durability
• Power - how hard can it throw the ball?
• Ease of repair / customer service

LOWER PRIORITY

• remote control
• topspin
• oscillation (random or 2-line features)
• "player modes" (i.e. simulation programming)

That being said, I bought a model that has everything... the Silent Partner Pro Programmable. lol!

But! If I were on a budget, and WANTED a ball machine, I would not hesitate to purchase a Tennis Tutor. Yes, the normal model with horizontally opposed throwing wheels. I think that's a great basic model for developing, grooving, and improving your strokes.

Tennis Tutor

Silent Partner

 

[volusiano]

I read somewhere that the Lobster Elite 3 is the ONLY machine that offers 2 line drill WITH vertical oscillation. I also hear that the Lobster Elite 2 and 3 offers horizontal and vertical oscillation that's usually only found on higher end commercial machines.

I wonder if the Tennis Tutor Plus Player model does a good job in simulating player mode or not. I think this feature kinda gives it similar capability that the triple oscillation the Lobster Elite 2 and 3 have. I haven't seen any comparison between these 2 brands w.r.t. this aspect.

I personally have a Tennis Tutor Plus (not the Player, just the plain Plus) and it seems pretty durable. I got it for free from my brother. But if I were to buy one on my own, I might have picked the Lobster Elite 3, unless there are reviews favoring the TT+ Player mode over the Lobster triple oscillation mode.

 

[Pro_Tour_630]

I wonder if the Tennis Tutor Plus Player model does a good job in simulating player mode or not. I think this feature kinda gives it similar capability that the triple oscillation the Lobster Elite 2 and 3 have.

In the player model, it has three positions, beginner,intermediate and advanced.

The side-to-side position
and depth of each shot are not simply
changed in a random or sweeping motion (like the elite 2/3) but are computer programmed to simulate
the shot patterns of real players. This feature is found on their $5000 shot maker.

It is very easy to switch between modes than to fiddle around with settings.

 

[Pro_Tour_630]

HIGH PRIORITY

• Portability - does it fit in the trunk of my car?? How easy is it to get from your garage, into your car, out of your car, carried (wheeled) through the parking lot and onto the tennis courts.
• Battery life
• Build quality / durability
• Power - how hard can it throw the ball?
• Ease of repair / customer service

• 
  
  In that case you should have bought the Elite 2.

 

[mrw]

I am with Jack& Coke. The SP Pro does it all and is a great value.

 

[Pro_Tour_630]

I see the two who are praising SP both have bought SP machines.

To me SP=Eagnas, biggest bang for the buck may not be the right choice.

 

[Jack & Coke]

Yes, the Elite 2 is a very nice machine, and was one that I was considering:



However, this unit is around $1,300-$1,500.

I felt that compared to the Silent Partner and Tennis Tutor, it was overpriced a little bit for comparable features.

Given the Elite 2's basic functions, if it was for around $800-$900, I may very well would have purchased it!

 

[Pro_Tour_630]

I liked this post of yours, did you try out the elite?

http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showpost.php?p=1420748&postcount=19

they do have the lobster freedom for $799 which weighs only 35 lbs

http://lobsterinc.com/content/lobster-elite-freedom.asp


$$$ is not an issue, I want quality and reliability. And it seems that Playmate portable has the best commercial wheels ( I know that sucker weight 55lbs :-( Do you know people who have had SP for a long time? are they reliable? you only had your machine for 6 months? how is the quality of the pitching wheels? any jamming? how long does battery last? how long does it take to recharge? I know from my tennis tutor Jr. days (20 years ago) the one you recommended earlier i had lots of issues with battery, pitching wheels and balls jamming. At my local club who has playmate for 15 years, It never jammed and the wheels are much better quality that last for a very long time. According to tennis ball machine dot com they rate the durability of elite higher than the tutorPlus?

 

[Jack & Coke]

wow a lot of questions

First, let me say that I'm not trying to push SP on you. That's just the machine that fit my needs - with portability (i.e. does it fit in the trunk of my car?) being the number one consideration.

After 5-6 months (using it an average of once every two weeks), I am very happy and 100% satisfied with the performance, quality, and reliability of my machine.

I know it is not one of your considerations. I just mentioned it as a point of reference so you know where I'm coming from.

..did you try out the elite?

no. The floor room model they had did not have a charged battery. It was not the actual factory. It was more of an office/distribution building. I got the physically check out the Elite unit. "Kick the tires" so to speak. The unit was compact and heavy with a nice solid feel.

The only questionable "issues" were the handle and cheap plastic wheels. The wheel axle does not go through the base of the unit and can eventually wear down and malfunction over time (for reference).

The design (shape) of the unit is cool, but not practical as far as laying it on it's side for storage in my car trunk during transportation. A "rectangular" design like the TT or SP is much more practical.

$$$ is not an issue, I want quality and reliability.

You will find excellent "quality and reliability" in all of the major brands (i.e. TT, Lobster, SP, Playmate, etc.)

But if $$$ is not an issue, I say go for the MOST EXPENSIVE unit that you're willing to lug around. If you can deal with the size and weight of the Playmate, then go for it!

..how is the quality of the pitching wheels? any jamming? how long does battery last? how long does it take to recharge? I know from my tennis tutor Jr. days (20 years ago) the one you recommended earlier i had lots of issues with battery, pitching wheels and balls jamming. At my local club who has playmate for 15 years, It never jammed and the wheels are much better quality that last for a very long time. According to tennis ball machine dot com they rate the durability of elite higher than the tutorPlus?

• pitching wheels work great.. still too soon to tell how long they'll last.
• never jammed - I've even hit balls back into the ejection hole by accident. Two balls end up being blasted out back to back... kinda funny.
• I just plug in the recharger over night.. I don't have to worry because my SP comes with a "smart charger" that will not "over-charge" the battery. I can actually just leave it plugged in all the time if I wanted to.
• I have not seen the TT jr., just the TT, and TT+.
• So far, I have not had any issues whatsoever with batteries. I'm actually surprised at how long I can run the machine. Definately more than enough to wear me out during a long workout.

Good luck on your purchase for whichever model you choose.. if you train with it properly, it will be one of your favorite tennis investments.

 

[MichaelChang]

I actually think topsin is pretty important. I been hitting with a low-end machine (SAM), it doesn't provide spin controls. The balls are pretty easy to hit. But when you play with real persons the balls will have different spins, or slice from bh, and in my mind these are important, if a ball machine could handle that, great, if not, why paying $1500+.

 

[Pro_Tour_630]

WOW thanks for the ref link on the elite JC, it was a shocker. That is the kind of problem I want to avoid at any cost.

As for the most expensive machine, it would be the TT+player with remote and premium charger $1900, it is more expensive than the Playmate which I can get for $1695 out the door.

How much did you pay for your SP pro programmable? they are now at $1389 not sure about shipping. Isn't it the same as the Elite 2 which is similar in price and similar in functionality less remote? what is so different from the SPpro Vs the Elite2 in terms of functionality? (not ball speed, capacity, weight)

Now you got me thinking SP?!?!

 

[Pro_Tour_630]

I actually think topsin is pretty important. I been hitting with a low-end machine (SAM), it doesn't provide spin controls. The balls are pretty easy to hit. But when you play with real persons the balls will have different spins, or slice from bh, and in my mind these are important, if a ball machine could handle that, great, if not, why paying $1500+.

All the machines we mentioned all have topspin and under spin backspin? am I missing something?

 

[MichaelChang]

All the machines we mentioned all have topspin and under spin backspin? am I missing something?

because I saw JC listed spin in lower priority.

 

[Pro_Tour_630]

because I saw JC listed spin in lower priority.

Oh ok, missed that, his SPpro does have spin, though , how about side spin ha ha, kickers etc.... need that too

anyway check this out, pretty nice chart of all. One thing I noticed is that they do not talk about durability which I agree, one can only find out in the long run how the machine holds up? I did notice that they indicate amps as battery life where both the SP and the playmate where 15 vs elite and tutor as 18 amp, very interesting

http://www.racquetsportsindustry.com/articles/2007/07/ball_machine_selector_1.html

 

[volusiano]

WOW thanks for the ref link on the elite JC, it was a shocker. That is the kind of problem I want to avoid at any cost.QUOTE]

I've read many posts where people complained about the Lobster Elite wheels, too. However, I remember reading a post where the poster said he talked with Lobster support and he was told that Lobster was planning to redesign the wheel to fix the problem. I haven't seen anyone who said they bought an Elite with the redesigned wheel, though. But you might want to call Lobster support to see if they have done that yet.

 

[Pro_Tour_630]

thanks I will do that

 

[Pro_Tour_630]

OK update: the pitching wheels are superior (different type of soft rubber polyurethan) on the playmate portable than the rest of the pack TT, SP, lobster which are hard. The wheels will function using NEW balls or bold balls and will not interfere with the functionality of the machine in the long run. I recall having to scuff up my wheels on the tennis tutor and I believe nothing has changed since then :-(

 

[mrw]

WOW thanks for the ref link on the elite JC, it was a shocker. That is the kind of problem I want to avoid at any cost.

As for the most expensive machine, it would be the TT+player with remote and premium charger $1900, it is more expensive than the Playmate which I can get for $1695 out the door.

How much did you pay for your SP pro programmable? they are now at $1389 not sure about shipping. Isn't it the same as the Elite 2 which is similar in price and similar in functionality less remote? what is so different from the SPpro Vs the Elite2 in terms of functionality? (not ball speed, capacity, weight)

Now you got me thinking SP?!?!

there is a big on line auction site where SP sells demo units. I paid $925. for mine + shipping. There was zero wear on the throwing wheels leading me to believe it was a new machine.

I did not spend the $300. for the programmable option. I really was on the fence but having taken delivery, I find that I just move my self around the court for fh/bh practice and it works well.

I hardly use the random sweep at all but the spin adjustment is priceless.

Lobs are easy to set up and work very well.

As you run your pressureless balls through the machine, the felt wears producing a sort of random action to the balls that is really nice.

There is no way I would spring for the "player options" on any machine. $1500. to $1900. is too much $$$ for me + I use it to grove my shots. I am not looking for a electronic competitor

 

[Jack & Coke]

How much did you pay for your SP pro programmable?

I won an auction at that really big auction site for US $1,177.00

Regular suggested retail price for this machine new is $1498.00

Although it was a demo unit, they said "it was used less than 10 Hours and runs great. The machine was fully tested by thier technicians."

Every now and then, search the big auction site for "silent partner machine", you can find demo units for hundreds less than retail.

Isn't it the same as the Elite 2

SPPP has custom horizontal angle settings for oscillation. Where Lobster and Tennis Tutor + have "2-line" features (i.e. preset sweeping angle), the SPPP is the only one where you can adjust the angle to any spread you want:

 

[Jack & Coke]

because I saw JC listed spin in lower priority.

Don't get me wrong.. I like the variable spin option.

It's just that I put it as a "lower" priority.

It's not a "deal breaker".

The amount of top spin that these machines can generate (vertically opposed throw wheels) is tremendous. Way more than you can handle. One a spin scale of 1-10 (1 being full power back spin, 5 being neutral, and 10 being full power top spin), the majority of your practice sessions will probably be set around 6-8 on this spin scale.

Believe it or not, the TT with no spin option (which uses two-horizontally opposed throw wheels), actually generates pretty natural, average-player top spin. You can see the ball spining with top spin! The ball does not "knuckle" out of the ejection port. This happens because the ball rolls down a ramp, gets propelled forward by the throw wheels, and then shoots off a ramp. It is this ramp that imparts a bit of forward rolling top spin. Couple that with the additional forward spin caused by the friction of hte ground when the ball lands in your court, and you will notice a good "top spinning" ball when you strike it.

Since this produces a top spin on a scale of 5-7, I put it "lower" on my priority list of wanted features.

Summary..

the TT with no "spin" option does produce "top spin".

Just not heavy "mega" top spin like the TT+ or others with spin options.

Even with "spin" options, I rarely crank it up to fully utilize this added feature.

 

[dcottrill]

If you can deal with the size and weight of the Playmate, then go for it!

I agree.

I am a very happy SP Pro owner, and I still think it provides the most bang for the buck. But if portability isn't an issue and you don't mind lugging it around, I suspect the Playmate will last forever.

 

[brandx]

FYI- enjoying my SP pro for last few months with no major issues. Occassionally, it will not feed for a moment and then shoot 2-3 balls at you. Usually, these are flatter balls and when I remove them from my collection of balls, the problem is gone. I mainly wanted the two line drill as a must have, and was also considering the Lobster Elite 3. I'm happy with the SP. Have never use another machine BTW. Good luck with your choice.

 

[Pro_Tour_630]

thanks guys,

I just called my friend who has TT+ and he said just like the SP more often balls jam or spits out the semi bold flat balls into the net. Dont know about you but I like hitting with these types of balls. (arm problems plus my kids like hitting softer balls, we will not hit with hard pressureless balls, no way) You have to take into consideration that you will be spending more $ in the long run for good quality balls to keep the machine running while on the Playmate portable it will throw just about anything ;-)

Not that it matters or fair, but can anyone give me dimension of the SPPP while the hopper is up? Because on the hight of the Playmate when it is folded down it is 25 and only 5 inches more when extending the hopper to hold 200 balls, while on the SPPP the hight is 22 and I have a sneaky suspicion that it is closer to 40 if not more while it is extended to hold 200 balls.

Anyway I have an SUV and a Van so dimension does not matter, what matters is the 10lbs extra that I will be lugging around with the playmate. but for durability and longevity it will be worth it in the long run.

Playmate Portable
19 x 21x 25 inches Hopper Down, 19 x 21x 30 inches Hopper Up
Weight 55lbs

TT+player it is almost a perfect cube which is why it does not fit in midsize trunks
20" × 19.5" × 20"
Weight 46lbs

Elite 3 an odd elongated/oblong shape
24" × 16" × 19"
Weight 44lbs

SPPP a thin tall perfect rectangle which will fit in many cars
22"X18"X14" I bet with the hopper up it is >40inch please check
Weight: 48lbs

 

[Pro_Tour_630]

Lobster elite in trunk
http://www.racquetsportsindustry.com/issues/200409/images/200409lobster_luggage.jpg

seems like I am not alone
http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showpost.php?p=1366328&postcount=14

they all have the same pitching wheel except Playmate portable:

If you used new balls in the TT when you first bought it this might be the cause of the jamming. Sports Tutor recommend that you use used balls the first few time that you use the TT as new balls cause the wheels to become slick. You might need to sand the wheels down already (not that it is recommended that you lightly sand the wheels when they become noticably slick and the balls start jamming). Don't over do it though.

 

[sorin]

Lobster-3 vs SAM model 4

I finally bought a ball machine, but not without adventures. The buying adventure started in July and ended in September and included a purchase and return of a SAM4 machine and ended with the final purchase of a Lobster 3.
The SAM4 had a problem with the ball feed motor. It would stop at random after feeding 5 to 40 balls and I had to restart it with the remote, no ball jam though. From one of the posts I read that they had problems with the electronic boards through time and it I guess it is still true. After a few frustrating days I called the Master Sports and, heart broken, I returned the machine.
So, I turned to Lobster Sports and purchased a Lobster3 with remote and smart charger ($1900). This is one sweet machine... I have used for more than a month and it works great, no jams, no battery issues. It is compact, light weight, and quiet, the two-function remote works great from allover the court. There are also some improvements on the new models that people out there should know since they are not mentioned on Lobster's web site:
(1) The handle folds-in and is very easy to use. It is also more sturdy.
(2) The transport wheels are redesigned with a solid shaft. They rub a bit against the housing but they do not fall off. The wheels are still cheap plastic though.
Things that I had to do:
(1) Put a ground strap to eliminate static discharge. Basically a small chain that drags on the ground and is attached to the ground metal bracket inside the machine. I was getting zapped when I was touching the handle after a 1-2hours of use. I believe that the charge was building due to friction between the spinning wheels and balls and had nowhere to go.
(2) Replaced the original transport wheels with some old ones I had that were a bit smaller in diameter so that they do not rub the housing. I still do not understand why Lobster does not get the right wheel size and fix this issue for all.
Other observations:
The spinning wheels are made of nylon reinforced with fiber glass and covered with a rubber layer. They seems as durable as aluminum ones but lighter. The replacement cost is $54/wheel when the rubber wears off. I guess all wheels will need to be replaced at some point. They also have a V-shape profile that guides the ball, while the aluminum ones don't. The sweep/feed motors are smaller than the ones used by SAM but they are still heavy-duty. The housing is molded plastic and it has recessed handles. The remote is nice and small, but only two functions. The SAM had a full function remote but it was as big as an old VCR remote and you cannot run with it in your pocket.

In conclusion I am very happy with the Lobster 3. I believe that the plastic-metal combination in the Lobster is what leads to about 5pounds less than the SAM and I think that it has the right combination of robustness, features and light weight needed for a ball machine. The SAM is built like tank, but it weighs like a tank (if you get the electronics to work). :grin:

 

[volusiano]

Hi Sorin,

Thanks for sharing about your experience with the SAM4 and Lobster Elite 3. I wonder if you've had a chance to try out the triple oscillation feature on the Elite 3 yet. If yes, do you find it cover the court well and is it close to simulating random play against a player?

 

[sorin]

Lobster 3 triple oscillation

Volusiano,

I tried out the triple oscillation and I am not that impressed, maybe because I use a mixture of new and old balls that bounce differently. The vertical oscillation moves only about +/- 5degrees around a nominal position that you have set. With my mixed bag of balls the variability in depth of the shots is confounded partially with the small vertical oscillations of the machine. Basically I can get about the same effect by mixing used and new balls only you do not know when you get shorter balls.

The horizontal sweep, narrow and wide, function works very well and you can truly see the difference. Sometimes I use the narrow sweep to run around and practice the inside out forehand.

Please let me know if you have any other questions. Also, I had to take the cover off to clean the inside and I got a good look at the guts.

 

[geo123]

where did u buy your lobster elite 3 ball machine from?
Is it from TW or Lobster inc or other vendor? Did u pay tax on it? and how much was your shipping?

 

[sorin]

where did u buy your lobster elite 3 ball machine from?
Is it from TW or Lobster inc or other vendor? Did u pay tax on it? and how much was your shipping?

I bought the ball machine from Lobster direct, no tax, but I payed shipping (~$45). I did it becasuse I wanted to have the latest changes included.
Initally I thought to buy it from ********* (Baltimore), no tax, no shipping. I also wanted to see it, so I went to ********* store (about 1.5hrs from my house). They told me that they sell about two units a week, and they pulled one out of the box for me to see, but then I noticed that the box had the manufacturing date of Sept 2006. I knew that most improvements from Lobster were done after June of 2007.
If you want to be sure that you get a recently built machine buy from Lobster direct.
Also, I asked Lobster if they plan on any updates in the near future, they said that there is a new upgrade before X-mas for the electronics. The new model will be replicating a "real player". I was not interested in more sopfisticated programming since I use it for drills and practice only, so I did not wait.

 

[sorin]

where did u buy your lobster elite 3 ball machine from?
Is it from TW or Lobster inc or other vendor? Did u pay tax on it? and how much was your shipping?

I bought the ball machine from Lobster direct, no tax, but I payed shipping (~$45). I did it becasuse I wanted to have the latest changes included.
Initally I thought to buy it from ********* (Baltimore), no tax, no shipping. I also wanted to see it, so I went to ********* store (about 1.5hrs from my house). They told me that they sell about two units a week, and they pulled one out of the box for me to see, but then I noticed that the box had the manufacturing date of Sept 2006. I knew that most improvements from Lobster were done after June of 2007.
If you want to be sure that you get a recently built machine buy from Lobster direct.
Also, I asked Lobster if they plan on any updates in the near future, they said that there is a new upgrade before X-mas for the electronics. The new model will be replicating a "real player". I was not interested in more sophisticated programming since I use it for drills and practice only, so I did not wait.

 

[papahemi]

Hey Sorin

Could you post a pic of the redesigned handle and wheels? I have a Lobster Elite 2 (love it) and am wondering if it's worth upgrading to a 3. The handle pins were kind of a dumb idea to begin with. How's the two line drill work for you? Worth it?
One thing I would like is a slightlly more powerful remote. Sometimes you have to walk up to the net to get the thing to register. I wonder if something could be done inside the case regarding the antenna...

 

[sorin]

Could you post a pic of the redesigned handle and wheels? I have a Lobster Elite 2 (love it) and am wondering if it's worth upgrading to a 3. The handle pins were kind of a dumb idea to begin with. How's the two line drill work for you? Worth it?
One thing I would like is a slightlly more powerful remote. Sometimes you have to walk up to the net to get the thing to register. I wonder if something could be done inside the case regarding the antenna...

Papahemi,

Here are the pictures. I hope it helps, if you need different views please let me know. A few more details:
(1) I replaced the wheels, the original Lobster wheels are black and all plastic, mine have rubber on the outside. Also, look at the lock-nut that Lobster uses to secure the wheels, the mounting is very solid and the shaft is rigid, they will not fall off.
(2) My remote is working from all areas of the court. On mine I took the remote apart and replaced the antenna with a long solid core wire about the same gage as the original, I then wrapped it on a pencil and when I took the pencil out it stays like spiral. Now it sits up inside the lobster housing.The original antenna wire is very short and limp. I know, it sounds like a lot of work but I am an engineer and I am pretty good at this kind of stuff. Although, all this should be done by Lobster, but it is not...
(3) The two line drill is great, definitely worth to have. The vertical oscillation is a nice concept but it is not too well implemented, specially if you mix new and old balls.

Send me an e-mail at nicholasjordache@gmail.com and I will send you the pictures

 

[papahemi]

Hi Sorin

I sent you a note the other day. Let me know if you don't get it. Thanks.

 

[sheppardk]

Volume comparison

thanks guys,

Playmate Portable
19 x 21x 25 inches Hopper Down, 19 x 21x 30 inches Hopper Up
Weight 55lbs

TT+player it is almost a perfect cube which is why it does not fit in midsize trunks
20" × 19.5" × 20"
Weight 46lbs

Elite 3 an odd elongated/oblong shape
24" × 16" × 19"
Weight 44lbs

SPPP a thin tall perfect rectangle which will fit in many cars
22"X18"X14" I bet with the hopper up it is >40inch please check
Weight: 48lbs

	        l	w	h	volume volume comparison
Playmate	   19	21	25	9975	   100%
TT+player	   20	19.5	20	7800	   78%
Lobster Elite3  24	16	19	7296	   73%
SPPP	           22	18	14	5544	   56%

 

[rafael17_13@hotmail.com]

in my opinion i don't like the lobsters just seem weird I've used the playmate its but it was hard to operate for me and the tennis tutor is good but I had to like move the machine a bit to get the wide line feature right. So i think tennis tutor is the way to and its portable