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Even if you don’t play racquet sports, you’ve probably seen tennis ball machines. Pickleball machines do the same thing, but just with pickleball. If you’re a serious player who wants to perfect various types of shots on the pickleball court, you might want to consider a pickleball machine. It’s a big investment, but it can certainly pay off!
Why Get a Pickleball Machine?
So how are pickleball machines used? These machines work almost like automated pickleball coaches. Depending on the machine, you can adjust (or randomize) the ball trajectory, speed, spin, etc.
Pickleball machines have the ability to create an experience that is as close to playing with another person as possible. That said, they also have the ability to consistently deliver identical shots so players can perfect technique. And sometimes, they can also deliver wildly different shots back-to-back to help sharpen your reaction time.
If you want to see machine in action, check out this video demonstrating a useful drill.
What’s the Difference Between a Tennis Ball Machine and a Pickleball Machine?
You might wonder if you can just use tennis ball machines for pickleball. But a pickleball pitching machine is designed specifically for pickleballs.
It makes sense if you understand just how structurally different the two ball types are. Tennis balls are solid and coated in fuzz. Since they’re somewhat rubbery, they tend to bounce high and easily.
Pickleballs, on the other hand, are lightweight plastic. They are hollow and covered in holes that allow air to pass through. Consequently, they don’t have nearly as much bounce. Since the balls are ao different in structure, tennis ball machines won’t really work as pickleball machines (and pickleball machines won’t work as tennis ball machines).
What to Look for When Buying a Pickleball Machine
Pickleball ball machines are probably one of the most major pickleball equipment purchases you can make. So of course, the decision to purchase a machine should not be made lightly. If you have a pickleball coach, it certainly doesn’t hurt to ask for advice. But as you look for the best machine for you, it’s a good idea to consider a few key things:
Features
“Features” is a broad term, but in this case, we mean features that affect the pitch. Before making a purchase, ask yourself about the following:
- How fast does the fastest pitch need to be? How about the slowest one?
- Do you need pitches to be able to oscillate?
- Do you want to be able to practice with topspin? Backspin? Sidespin?
- What interval do you need between shots?
- Do you need to be able to adjust the shot trajectory? Do you want that adjustment to be electronic?
Ball Hopper Capacity
This might not sound like a hugely important consideration. But especially if you practice with other people, getting a machine that holds a large number of balls is crucial. A larger ball hopper means you have to take less time out of your practice sessions to collect the balls and refill the machine.
Portability
When you think about all the balls you need to load into a machine, you probably don’t instantly think of portability. But especially if you have to travel to a court to practice, it’s a good idea to make sure that you can easily take the machine from one location to the next.
Overall size of course makes a difference in portability. The lighter machines are about 20-30 pounds, while the heavier ones are closer to 60. A heavier machine isn’t necessarily less portable: extendable handles and attached wheels make big difference, too. Often, wheels that are larger in diameter make a machine easier to transport.
Power Options
Most of these machines run on battery power: there is an internal battery that needs to be charged before use. If you intend to purchase a machine that is powered this way, make sure that you look into the battery life. Some of the higher-end machines have batteries that can last 10-12 hours. But even decent-quality machines sometimes have batteries that only last 2-3 hours.
If you want other options besides battery power, some machines offer the option to run on AC power. That way, you can plug them in while using them or run them on battery power. In some cases, you can even upgrade to a fast charger that will charge the entire battery relatively quickly. Some machines also have the option of using an external battery.
Control Options
When practicing with a machine, it’s nice to be able to control it from afar. However, in many cases, the base model of a given machine will not come with a remote. Most will let you upgrade to a remote-controlled model for a fee. Some models have a watch-style remote — an ideal option if you want to control the machine without walking off the court.
Some of the best pickleball machines now can be controlled via a remote app. In some machines, the app does more than basic on/off controls: you can create presets for drills, pitch speeds, etc.
Manufacturer Warranty
A machine is a major investment, so you probably want to make sure that it’s affordable to fix if necessary. Generally, manufacturer warranties extend up to about 3 years. But some high-end machines have a lifetime warranty on the server wheels. These wheels power the ball feed, so they are the most likely to wear out of all machine parts. With a lifetime warranty, you’ll know that you can get new wheels if the current ones begin to malfunction.
The Top 6 Best Pickleball Machines
1. Lobster Pickle
The Lobster Pickle ball machine is a great investment if you’re budget-conscious but still want a great machine for improving your game. Even though it’s affordable, it offers a full range of shot types at a wide range of speeds and intervals. So whether you’re a beginner just learning to hit or an expert trying to simulate match play, chances are good that this machine has what you’re looking for.
This Lobster Pickle ball machine also is fairly customizable. The base battery-powered model is the most affordable, but if you want to be able to use an AC power supply indefinitely or want to be able to control functionality with a remote, it will cost a little more.
Key Specs:
- Speed: 10-60 mph
- Adjustable Arc: Yes
- Shot Interval: 2-12 seconds
- Spin: Yes
- Oscillation: Yes
- Ball Capacity: About 135
- AC/DC Power: Optional
- Battery Life: About 2-4 hours
- Fast Charge Option: Optional add-on
- External Battery: Optional add-on
- Remote Control: Optional add-on
- Wheels: Yes
- Weight: 35 pounds
- Warranty: 2 years
- Price: Just under $1000
Pros:
- This is one of the more affordable machines on the list
- 8-inch wheels make it easy to move around
- Random oscillation and variable speeds make it ideal for beginning through advanced players
- It’s very lightweight, especially considering all of its features
Cons:
- The remote and more convenient power options (like the fast battery charger) cost extra
- It has a shorter warranty than many other ball machines
2. Simon 2
This Simon machine is a classic; it was one of the first ball machines to hit the market. And though it isn’t one of the most modern pickleball machines, it’s reliable and has plenty of useful features.
One of these is its adjustable ramp. That means you can set it to throw perfect dinks and lobs. If there’s a specific shot type you want to work on, this is a great machine to choose.
That said, the Simon 2 comes with an interesting collection of features. The oscillation feature is an add-on you need to pay extra for, but it does have a wireless remote. It’s also a great machine purchase option for teams or group practices, as its ball hopper has an impressively large capacity.
That said, if you like the Simon 2 but wish it had more features, you might want to check out the Simon X, the next machine on the list.
Key Specs:
- Speed: 10-60 mph
- Adjustable Arc: Yes
- Shot Interval: 1.5-10 seconds
- Spin: No
- Oscillation: Optional add-on
- Ball Capacity: 160
- AC/DC Power: No
- Battery Life: 6 hours
- Fast Charge Option: No
- External Battery: No
- Remote Control: Yes
- Wheels: Yes
- Weight: 32 pounds
- Warranty: 3 years, but throw wheels have a lifetime warranty
- Price Just under $1400
Pros:
- Zero-jam technology makes it virtually impossible for the ball feed to jam during practice
- It’s compact, lightweight, and easy to move
- Throw wheels come with a lifetime warranty
- Adjustable ramp lets you fine-tune your practice shots
Cons:
- Though oscillation is a pretty standard feature on a lot of ball machines, this one requires you to pay extra for it
- This one isn’t the most versatile or up-to-date model
3. Simon X
This pickleball practice machine might just be the Ferrari of ball machines. You won’t find one more durable than the Simon X; these military-grade built machines use heavy-gauge aluminum and other strong materials.
The Simon X is probably the only machine out there that offers a “stealth oscillation” feature. This means that you can’t see the machine itself move to oscillate; you’ll get great practice hitting surprise oscillating shots with the Simon X!
The Simon X can also pitch balls both slower and faster than other machines. And using it in battery-powered mode doesn’t mean you have to cut practice sessions short; its 10-12 hour battery life is significantly longer than that of almost any other machine. You also have the option to significantly increase its hopper capacity; the standard Simon X ball hopper holds 120 balls, but you can add an extra one to increase it to 180.
Key Specs:
- Speed: 5-70 mph
- Adjustable Arc: Yes
- Shot Interval:1.5-10 seconds
- Spin: Yes
- Oscillation: Yes
- Ball Capacity: 120-180
- AC/DC Power: Yes
- Battery Life: 10-12 hours
- Fast Charge Option: Yes
- External Battery: No
- Remote Control: Yes
- Wheels: Yes (Tri-Wheel System)
- Weight: 65 pounds
- Warranty: 3 years, but throwing wheels have a lifetime warranty
- Price Just under $2400
Pros:
- Its ball speed range extends past that of most pickleball practice machine options
- It is built to be extremely durable
- Thanks to its range of features, the Simon X is one of the top pickleball machines on the market
- It comes standard with a remote control that can be operated 100 feet away
Cons:
- The Simon X is very expensive compared to other machines
- It’s very heavy and may not be the most portable machine
4. Lobster Pickle Two
If you liked the Lobster machine mentioned above but want an upgrade, then the Lobster Pickle Two might be just what you’re looking for. This two-ball machine has two massive upgrades: electronic elevation for precision-setting your shots and 2-line oscillation.
The Pickle Two was also a revolutionary machine in the industry, as it was the first machine released that could be used as either a battery-powered or plugged-in model. If you do prefer to use it as a battery-powered machine, you might be relieved to hear that the Pickle Two’s battery life improves upon that of its predecessor; it will give you about 6 hours of playing time.
The Pickle Two also weighs a bit more than the original Pickle, but it has the same useful and highly maneuverable 8-inch wheels. It is of course a bit more expensive, but if you’ll get a lot of use out of its upgraded features, it might be a worthwhile investment.
Key Specs:
- Speed: 10-60 mph
- Adjustable Arc: Yes
- Shot Interval: 2-12 seconds
- Spin: Yes
- Oscillation: 2-line oscillation
- Ball Capacity: 135
- AC/DC Power: Yes
- Battery Life: Up to 6 hours
- Fast Charge Option: Yes
- External Battery: Yes
- Remote Control: Optional add-on
- Wheels: Yes
- Weight: 42 pounds
- Warranty: 2 years
- Price About $1500
Pros:
- Electronic elevation makes it easy to practice with infinite ball height adjustments
- Two lines of random oscillation make it a great practice tool for serious players
- It comes with four separate power options for maximum versatility
- It lets you practice singles or doubles games
Cons:
- If you want the remote control optional feature, you’ll need to pay extra
- It’s a bit more expensive than other machines
5. Pickleball Tutor Plus
The Pickleball Tutor Plus is one of the more popular machines out there. It’s a great choice if you want to perfect just about any pickleball shot. Whether you’re focused on practicing overhead shots, dinks, lobs, serves, drives, etc., the Pickleball Tutor Plus can help.
The start-up time delay is probably one of its most innovative features. That means that when you start the Pickleball Tutor Plus, you’ll have time to get across the court before it begins to shoot balls.
It also has a unique smart battery charger. This charger will fully charge the internal battery overnight. However, it will automatically shut off once the machine is charged. This feature of the Pickleball Tutor Plus is more important than many people realize, as over-charging has the potential to damage the battery over time.
This Pickleball Tutor machine has a dial that allows you to adjust the level of topspin and backspin on each shot. If you want a throwing machine that focuses on sidespin, you might be interested in the very similar Pickleball Tutor machine, the Pickleball Tutor Spin. This one has many of the same specs as the Tutor Plus, but the Pickleball Tutor Spin has a dial that controls the amount of left and right sidespin instead of topspin and backspin.
Key Specs:
- Speed: 10-65 mph
- Adjustable Arc: Yes
- Shot Interval: 1-10 seconds
- Spin: Yes
- Oscillation: Optional add-on
- Ball Capacity: 110
- AC/DC Power: Optional
- Battery Life: 3-4 hours
- Fast Charge Option: No
- External Battery: Yes (provides 6 hours of play)
- Remote Control: Optional add-on
- Wheels: Yes
- Weight: Between 22 and 34 pounds (varies by exact model/year)
- Warranty: 3 years
- Price About $1000
Pros:
- This Pickleball Tutor machine offers one of the best values on the list
- Simple dial lets you adjust both topspin and backspin on each shot
- Random oscillation setting and spin controls help you develop muscle memory for almost any kind of shot
- The Pickleball Tutor Plus is very compact and portable
Cons:
- Several optional features cost more to add on; the standard version must be controlled manually
- Compared to other best-selling machines, its hopper has a smaller ball capacity
6. Spinshot Player
This Spinshot Player pickleball machine has a truly remarkable feature thanks to its app. You can create customized drills on the app and then use them on the machine with the touch of a button on the control panel.
That feature alone places it among the best pickleball machines out there. It’s a powerful machine that is also designed to be extremely user-friendly. So even if you’ve never used pickleball machines, this one’s control panel should be easy to figure out.
Key Specs:
- Speed: 18-68 mph; high-spin models go up to 80 mph
- Adjustable Arc: Yes
- Shot Interval: 2-10 seconds
- Spin: Yes
- Oscillation: 2-line oscillation
- Ball Capacity: 120
- AC/DC Power: Optional
- Battery Life: 2-3 hours
- Fast Charge Option: No
- External Battery: Optional
- Remote Control: Optional add-on
- Wheels: Yes
- Weight: 42 pounds
- Warranty: 2 years
- Price Just over $2000
Pros:
- Unique app function lets you develop and save custom drills
- You can upgrade the power module for longer playing time
- If you’d rather not use the app remote, you can control the machine using a convenient watch-style remote
- It is compact and highly portable
Cons:
- It has a very short battery life compared to some other machines
- Given the high price, it’s somewhat unusual that most power options cost extra
Keep Improving Your Pickleball Game!
Finding the best pickleball machine for you and using it the right way will almost certainly improve your game. And while you may not want to make every single practice session revolve around the machine, it’s a great substitute for another pickleball player when you need one!
FAQs
Still have some questions before running out and buying a pickleball ball machine? Here are some answers:
That depends on what your goals are. If you typically practice by yourself, a pickleball throwing machine is the best way to improve your game. If you have a coach or practice with other people, it’s a nice add-on but probably not essential.
That said, these machines are expensive, so if it’s out of your price range, you might want to seek out other options. You can save money by buying a used pickleball machine, and some centers allow you to rent one, too.
No — that’s because tennis balls and pickleball are a lot different in terms of weight and size. Each sport’s machine is specialized to toss a specific type of ball, so if you use pickleball in a tennis ball machine, the tosses won’t work the way you need them to.
You can’t really do this, as the balls are too different. But you can convert a tennis court into four pickleball courts. Each court has a net that is 34″ in the center, and there is a 7-foot “no volley zone” you’ll need to extend from the net.
Many pickleball machines come with suggested drills. But a good way to start is by setting up the machine in the middle of the court about 1-2 feet behind the baseline. This will do a good job of simulating another player. In many cases, you can use a spin effect and/or randomize the ball path to make it more like playing against another person.
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