2012 Ball Machine Comparison Tables

Choosing the right ball machine is a daunting process, and unless you've got time to sift through pages of information, we know you will benefit from our advice. Feel free at any time to call us on (03) 9418 3934 to ask questions or read our FAQ page. However, to make things really easy, we've created some comparison tables between the models:

To start with, we had to find models that were comparable across the brands. So we've come up with 3 categories:

1. Beginner/Intermediate ($1,650 - $1,849)
2. Advanced ($2,249 - $2,695)
3. Advanced with the lot ($2,995+)

Beginner/Intermediate Range:

These machines are simply designed to run you around the court for a bit of exercise & practice. With maximum top speeds of 115km/h & only these are only recommended for beginners & intermediate players. If you want a machine you can grow into, we recommend the Advanced category 2 or 3.

Model	i-Sam	Lobster Freedom	Tutor ProLite
Product Image
Speed Km/h	25-100	45-115	16-100
Feed Interval	2-7 seconds	2-10 seconds	2-10 seconds
Battery Life	2-3 hours	2-4 hours	2-3 hours
Ball Capacity	250+	150	125
Weight	13Kg	18Kg	13Kg
Propulsion	Counter Rotating Wheels	Counter Rotating Wheels	Counter Rotating Wheels
Spin
Manual Elevation
Electronic Elevation
Horizontal Oscillation
Vertical Oscillation
Electric	Option		Option
Battery
Portable
Low Noise Level
Optional Remote
Heavy Duty Battery
Optional Spare Battery
Optional Storage Cover
Warranty	3 Years	3 Years	1 Year
Good Features	Large ball capacity Cheap	Fast Oscillation Very portable Good top speed Well Built	Well built Compact Reliable
Bad Features	No wheels - carry handles. Elevation handle is easily damaged	None	Ball flaps can be a bit flimsy
Our Rating
Price	$1,795.00 or $17 p/w*	$1,699.00 or $17 p/w*	$1,650.00 or $16 p/w*

Model	Sam-SP1	Lobster Elite	Tutor Plus
Product Image
Top Speed	140 km/h	130 Km/h	140 Km/h
Slowest Speed	15 km/h	16 km/h	16 km/h
Ball Feeds S/I	2-13 seconds	2-10 seconds	1.5-12 seconds
Spin
Electronic Elevation
Elevation Degree	55° **	60°	***
Horizontal Oscillation
Vertical Oscillation
Electric Option		****
Battery
Battery Life	4-6 hours	4-8 hours	4-6 hours
Battery size	14.4 A/h	18 A/h	14.4 A/h
Charge Time	8 hours	18 hours	20 hours
Fast Charger		Option
Ball Capacity	300	150	150
Portable
Weight	20Kg	18Kg	18Kg
Remote	Option	Option	Counter Rotating Wheels
2 Line Drill
Optional Spare Battery
Heavy Duty Battery
Optional Storage Cover
Warranty	3 Years	3 Years	1 Year
Good Features	Large ball capacity Option for Electricity Great Warranty	Very portable Huge battery Fast Oscillation Great Warranty	Good build quality Fast oscillation speed
Bad Features	Poor spin Top speeds seem lower than indicated Slow oscillation is predictable Bulky	No 'Electric Only Option'	Bulky design Ball flaps are a bit flimsy Small handle makes wheeling a little difficult
Our Rating
Price	$2,695.00 or $26 p/w*	$2,149.00 or $22 p/w*	$2,530.00 or $25 p/w*

* Weekly price is for a 3 year finance arrangement. Subject to conditions and approval. Approval can take as little as 15 minutes.
** Lob Enhancer will increase lob to 80°. Lob Enhancer is an additional $66.
*** We were unable to obtain the degree of elevation but were advised by Tennis Tutor that their machines could produce any type of lob required for practicing purposes.
**** Can purchase the fast charger which works like a laptop charger. Even though it continually runs through the battery, it is effectively the same as running off electricity.

Model	Sam-SP4	Elite 3 - TWA	Spinfire Pro 2	Tutor Player
Product Image
Top Speed	140 km/h	130 Km/h	130 Km/h	140 Km/h
Slowest Speed	15 km/h	16 km/h	16 km/h	16 km/h
Ball Feeds S/I	2-13 seconds	2-10 seconds	2-15 seconds	1.5-12 seconds
Spin
Electronic Elevation
Elevation Degree	55° **	60°	60°	****
Horizontal Oscillation
Vertical Oscillation
Triple Oscillation
Internal Oscillation
LCD Display
Player Simulation
Electronic Option
Battery
Battery Life	4-6 hours	4-8 hours	3 - 8 hours	4-6 hours
Battery size	14.4 A/h	18 A/h	20 A/h	14.4 A/h
Charge Time	8 hours	18 hours	20 hours	20 hours
Fast Charger			Option
Ball Capacity	300	150	200	150
Portable
Weight	22Kg	20Kg	21Kg	18Kg
Remote	10 Function	2 Function	8 Function	2 Function
2 Line Drill
Optional Spare Battery
Heavy Duty Battery
Optional Storage Cover
Warranty	3 Years	3 Years	3 Years	1 Year
Review		Read Now!	Read Now!	Read Now!
Good Features	Large ball capacity Option for Electricity Great Warranty	Vertical Oscillation Triple Oscillation Very portable Huge battery Fast Oscillation Great Warranty Includes remote & fast charger	Internal Oscillation (disguises delivery) LCD control panel with membrane touch buttons Includes a 9 function remote Large ball capacity Huge Battery Vertical & Triple Oscillation 3 year warranty Best spin levels we've seen 90 Day Money Back Guarantee	Good build quality Fast oscillation speed Player simulation (one of the best features we've seen) Vertical oscillation when in player simulation mode Center alignment button
Bad Features	No vertical oscillation - very important No player simulation Poor spin Top speeds seem lower than indicated Slow oscillation is predictable Bulky	No 'Electric Only Option' No player simulation	Travelling wheels could be larger Remote control is not well labelled No player simulation A little bit bulky	Player simulation doesn't change height settings often enough. Bulky design Ball flaps are a bit flimsy Small handle makes wheeling a little difficult
Our Rating
Price	$3,595.00 or $35 p/w*	$3,400.00 or $34 p/w*	$2,995.00 or $29 p/w*	$3,995.00 or $39 p/w*

* Weekly price is for a 3 year finance arrangement. Subject to conditions and approval. Approval can take as little as 15 minutes.
** Indicates an option that has been added in for the basis of comparison. The price has been increased to include this option.
*** Lob Enhancer will increase lob to 80°. Lob enhancer is an additional $66.
**** We were unable to obtain the degree of elevation but were advised by Tennis Tutor that their machines could produce any type of lob required for practicing purposes.
***** Can purchase the fast charger which works like a laptop charger. Even though it continually runs through the battery, it is effectively the same as running off electricity.

If you've read through this, then you are serious about finding the right ball machine. There are many factors to consider including:

1. Where you will be using it (home or local club)?
2. Will electricity be available?
3. Is it for you or your kids and at what level are they?
4. Will your kids coach use it in their coaching sessions?

These questions and more will have an impact on which ball machine is right for you. Why not take advantage of our experience and call us on (03) 9418 3934 to find out which model best suits your needs!

It doesn't matter where you are located in Australia, we deliver everywhere!

Call or email us to find out what bonus we throw in for free with every ball machine. We know you will be pleasantly surprised!

Please note, if you talk to your local shop about a ball machine, they will most likely have to order it from the importers who are all based in Melbourne or Sydney. We actually stock the machines and send them directly to you ourselves.

If you haven't already read our Frequently Asked Questions page about ball machines, then we recommend you do so.

What is Oscillation and Triple Oscillation?

Random oscillation is where the tennis ball machine replicates a match situation by shooting balls randomly around the court. Rather than groove a particular shot, this allows a player to focus on footwork, fitness and practice shots in a more realistic environment.

Most machines with oscillation are capable of changing from side to side (without varying the depth) which works both your forehand and backhand. However the very top machines are capable of dropping in short balls & deep balls as well. This is a feature of the Lobster Elite II, Lobster Elite III & Spinfire Pro 2 which are the only machines in their price range that can claim to have triple oscillation.

Below are some diagrams to show the difference between oscillation patterns of different ball machines:

Horizontal Oscillation (Single Oscillation)

This is the most common oscillation method found on all machines. The balls randomly move from side to side along the baseline. This is what the SAM SP Range, Tennis Tutor Plus Range, Spinfire, Silent Partner, Jugs and Lobster Elite Range are all capable of.

Horizontal and Vertical Oscillation (Triple Oscillation)

This type of oscillation is only usually found on high end machines worth $8,000 or more. Now the Spinfire Pro 2, Lobster Elite 2 and Elite 3 models offer this feature. This is achieved by sweeping the ball horizontally (along the baseline) while also oscillating vertically (up and down). The reason Spinfire & Lobster can offer this so cheaply is because the commercial machines use a more advanced method of dropping in short balls. They can actually reduce and increase the speed of the ball by changing gears (very quickly too), which is a much better way to achieve it and more realistic too. Spinfire & Lobster's triple oscillation is an amazing feature (especially on a residential machine), even though it uses a simplistic method to achieve it. It really gets your feet moving more than models without it.

Triple Oscillation with the 2 line drill

This is technically incorrect to say the machine is using triple oscillation in the diagram to the right. It is actually using the two line drill and vertical oscillation. The two line drill allows you to feed 1 forehand and then 1 backhand continuously. It can usually be set to a narrow (10 degree) or wide (20 degree) spread. The two line drill is offered by the SAM SP4, Lobster Elite 3, Spinfire Pro 2 and the Tennis Tutor Plus (Model 4).

However the two line drill with vertical oscillation is only offered by the Spinfire Pro 2 & Lobster Elite 3 and this is what you can see above. While alternating between forehand and backhand, it is also capable of changing the depth of the balls, making you work your feet more. Again this can be done on the narrow (blue lines) or wide spread (yellow lines).

The two line drill can be used when you have two or more players using the machine at once, allowing them to take it in turns to hit a ball.

The Lobster Elite 3 & Spinfire Pro 2 can provide all three types of oscillation and are the only machines in this price range capable of doing so.

If there is a particular make or model of tennis ball machine that you are interested in which we don't have on our web site, please email us here and we will let you know if we can help.