What ball machine should I buy

[eaglesburg]

I have a budget of 2000 and am willing to buy demos. I want to have both vertical and horizontal oscillation. I would prefer to have a player mode and programmability. Battery powered. Preferably 50lbs or less.

I am looking at tennis tutor plus player which has player mode but no programmability and lobster grand elite v(5) which has programmability but feeds balls randomly. Any suggestions between those two or any other ball macines.

 

[AndI]

In a recent discussion, some benefits of SpinFire were discussed. It appears to be a newcomer to the market, but their machine was designed more recently than other brands. It might be worth looking at. It did not quite meet my criteria when I was in the market, but with your requirements it could be a fit. I have no experience with it, though.

Since very few people here used more than one brand of ball machine here (myself included), it is really hard to find an unbiased opinion regarding how they compare.

My only thought is that programmability may be overrated for individual use. For one thing, it takes time to program which is kind of boring, and high end interfaces (such as iPad type user controls) are only available on high end plug-in machines (e.g., they are optional for some $7k+ Playmates). Additionally, if you know where the next ball will go (of course you do after you programmed it!), the drill will lose much of its value-added since you will be moving towards the next ball before it leaves the machine. With a live instructor, there is some human-imposed ball to ball variability, with a ball machine it is much less.

I read quite a few times that 3D variability of Lobsters does not work very well, or takes too much time to set up accurately. Reportedly, 3D variability on Spinfire has much less variability to it (more like a grid of 12 or so spots) but it is easier controlled and people say it works fine.

There is no perfect machine on the market, unfortunately. Not in the battery operated segment, at least.

 

[Byakuya]

The Spinfire looks pretty much like a Silent Partner but 2x the price. The Spinfire Pro 2 looks like it has the same features as a Silent Partner Lite but for $1100 more.

 

[tennissavvy]

The Spinfire looks pretty much like a Silent Partner but 2x the price. The Spinfire Pro 2 looks like it has the same features as a Silent Partner Lite but for $1100 more.

You don't know much about the difference apart from price. You don't see internal vs external osciallation difference and other ton of features. If you are looking at price go with the cheapest one and very basic features.

 

[tennissavvy]

In a recent discussion, some benefit of SpinFire were discussed. It appears to be a newcomer to the market, but their machine has the newest design. It might be worth looking at. It did not quite meet my criteria when I was in the market, but with your requirements it could be a fit. I have no experience with it, though.

Since very few people here used more than one brand of ball machine here (myself included), it is really hard to find an unbiased opinion regarding how they compare.

My only thought is that programmability may be overrated for individual use. For one thing, it takes time to program which is kind of boring, and high end interfaces (such as iPad type user controls) are only available on high end plug-in machines (e.g., they are optional for some $7k+ Playmates). Additionally, if you know where the next ball will go (of course you do after you programmed it!), the drill will lose much of its value-added since you will be moving towards the next ball before it leaves the machine. With a live instructor, there is some human-imposed ball to ball variability, with a ball machine it is much less.

I read quite a few times that 3D variability on Lobsters does not work very well, or takes too much time to set up accurately. Reportedly, 3D variability on Spinfire has much less variability to it (more like a grid of 12 or so spots) but it is easier controlled.

There is no perfect machine on the market, unfortunately. Not in the battery operated segment, at least.

AndI,

I remember your knowledgeable thread on the playmate volley. Some people think about price first (nothing wrong) and ignore features. They regret buying the machine in few months because a very basic machine is boring and offers limited functionality.

 

[beernutz]

AndI,

I remember your knowledgeable thread on the playmate volley. Some people think about price first (nothing wrong) and ignore features. They regret buying the machine in few months because a very basic machine is boring and offers limited functionality.

And some people pay too much for a machine with "features" they never use or which are too complicated to set up. They regret their purchase decision and go on a crime spree to recoup the extra money they spent.

 

[tennissavvy]

And some people pay too much for a machine with "features" they never use or which are too complicated to set up. They regret their purchase decision and go on a crime spree to recoup the extra money they spent.

savvy people don't make that mistake only recreational or newbie or people without scrutiny

 

[beernutz]

savvy people don't make that mistake only recreational or newbie or people without scrutiny

Recreational people?

 

[tennissavvy]

Recreational people?

Recreational activity suits best to you.. take that or people who buy stuff without critical observation or examination. :-?

 

[LanceyPants]

Pay me the $2000. My rally balls are better than any silly machine can produce!

 

[beernutz]

Recreational activity suits best to you.. take that or people who buy stuff without critical observation or examination. :-?

That is not savvy writing.

 

[sundaypunch]

Pay me the $2000. My rally balls are better than any silly machine can produce!

Sounds like a deal. I'm assuming you can be available anytime I want and can hit for as long as I want - for the next 5-years.

 

[tennissavvy]

That is not savvy writing.

Useless info from you

 

[nn]

I like internal oscillation vs external. It is obvious with entire machine moving in the direction of the ball feed. So random mode it is an easy guess the direction of next feed. If I am in the market for ball machine that will be my first selection criteria. Only two machines provide such feature one is spinfire pro2 and playmate volley (both are in range of 2k).

Your budget will allow you to purchase spinfire pro2, playmate volley, lobster elite 4 (remote extra) and silent partner smart.

If you search you will find good info on spinfire pro2 and playmate volley.

 

[frank52]

For $2,000 I'd definitely want internal oscillation. For under $1,000 I will stick with my Silent Partner (I sold my Tennis Tutor). I don't particularly care for the external oscillation on my Silent Partner and don't use it much. As a substitute I often position myself to either side requiring me to move and then hit when a ball is launched.

 

[mad dog1]

Given op's budget, I'd go spin fire pro2