 |
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q1.
Which are better tennis ball machines, Lobster, Tutor, Silent Partner or SAM?
Q2. Which is the most popular ball machine?
Q3.
How does a ball machine work?
Q4. What features should I be looking for in a tennis
ball machine?
Q5. How do ball machines create spin on the ball?
Q6. Can all machines spin the ball?
Q7. What is random oscillation & what is
triple oscillation?
Q8. Why is top speed important?
Q9. Can I use any type of tennis balls in a ball machine?
Q10.
How many hours use will I get out of a battery?
Q11. How long do the batteries take to recharge?
Q12. Can I overcharge/cook a battery by leaving
it on too long?
Q13. Can I run the machine off
electricity?
Q14. Can I upgrade a machine at a later point
in time?
Q15. In which parts of Australia is there support?
Q1. Which are better tennis ball machines, Lobster, Tutor, Silent Partner or SAM?
It is our belief that Lobster, Tutor, Silent Partner & SAM are some of the best brands of tennis ball machines in the world. However, all 4 companies have differences in their products & it's worth looking at the features you need before deciding. You can do this easily by checking out our comparisons page. Lobster and Tennis Tutor are our two most popular models. If you want a machine that will run off electricity, we recommend Tennis Tutor. If you need the best battery you can get for portability, Lobster is our choice. There are other factors to consider, so please call us for advice (03 9418 3934)!
Q2. Which is the most popular ball machine?
The Lobster Elite 3 is our number 1 selling ball machine due to its triple oscillation feature, compact design and longest battery life. Very close behind that is the Tennis Tutor Player model which is gaining popularity with its "Player Simulation" feature.
 |
Q3. How does a ball machine work?
There are a number of ways that ball machines can work but only 2 are worth mentioning. The best way is through the use of counter rotating wheels. You can see the two red wheels in the picture of the SAM SP model on the right. These spin at high speed to propel the ball.
The other method which is not as effective is pneumatic. This method uses a similar technology to a vacuum cleaner in reverse mode. The pressure build up inside the chamber forces the ball out and projects it through a long tube. The problem with pneumatic is it's noisy, can't provide spin (without the use of an adaptor), has low top speeds & is generally outdated.
Q4. What features should I be looking for in a tennis ball machine?
We start by determining if you are buying it purely for fitness & fun, or if you also want to improve your game and develop? If you just want fitness & fun, you just need a basic machine that will run you around the court. If you are serious about your tennis, or want to give your kids something that will improve their game, you should get a machine that has; top spin, slice, oscillation, a fast top speed, a reasonable ball capacity & a good battery life. You can find this in the SAM SP range, Lobster Elite Range, Silent Partner, Tennis Tutor Plus or Tennis Tutor Player.
 |
Q5. How do ball machines create spin on the ball?
Ball Machines with counter rotating wheels spin the ball by rotating one wheel faster than the other. So if the top wheel spins at a higher speed than the bottom, the machine will impart topspin on the ball. If the bottom wheel spins faster, you will get slice.
 |
Pneumatic machines shoot the ball along a tube. This tube requires an adaptor (see picture to left) to create spin. As the ball passes through the adaptor, one side of the ball will grip on the rubber surface, causing it to slow down, while the other side continues at normal speed. This will impart spin on the ball. The adaptor needs to be rotated to change between slice and top spin.
Q6. Can all machines spin the ball?
 |
No, some machines use the counter rotating wheel system, but choose to place the wheels on either side of the ball, rather than on the top and bottom. Therefore they are unable to get any topspin or slice. The i-SAM range & the Tennis Tutor have their wheels positioned this way.
Q7. What is random 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 faning from side to side which works both your forehand and backhand. Unfortunately they do not vary the depth of the ball (eg, if your machine is set to hit the baseline, it will fan from side to side always hitting the baseline). However the very top machines are capable of dropping in short balls and deep balls as well. This is a feature of the Lobster Elite II, Lobster Elite III & Tennis Tutor Player Model which are the only machines in their price range that can claim this.
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, Silent Partner, Jugs and Lobster Elite Range are capable of.
Horizontal and Vertical Oscillation (Triple Oscillation)
 |
This type of oscillation is only usually found on high end machines worth above $50,000 or more. Now Lobster offer it in their Elite 2 ($3,695) and Elite 3 ($3,995) models. The Tennis Tutor Player model also offers this. It is achieved by sweeping the ball horizontally (side to side) while also oscillating vertically (up and down). The reason 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. 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 any other residential model.
Tennis Tutor Player model takes this feature to a whole new level providing robot like movement where nothing is predictable. It could move left, right, up or down you have no idea as it doesn't follow a pattern (unlike the Lobster). This is one of the most amazing features we've seen.
Vertical Oscillation with the 2 line drill
 |
The two line drill allows you to feed 1 forehand and then 1 backhand continuously alternating between the two shots. It can usually be set to a narrow (10 degree - blue lines) or wide (20 degree - yellow lines) spread. The two line drill is offered by the SAM SP4, Lobster Elite 3, Silent Partner Programmable and the Tennis Tutor Plus (Model 4).
However the two line drill with vertical oscillation is only offered by the Lobster Elite 3 and this is what you can see above. While alternating between forehand and backhand, it is also capable of dropping in short 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 can provide all three types of oscillation and is the only machine in this price range capable of doing so.
Q8. Why is top speed important?
The top speed of a tennis ball machine is very important if you want the machine to be able to challenge you or your kids well into the future. The Lobter Elite is capable of 130km/h while the SAM SP can reach 140km/h. The Silent Partner range is capable of achieving 150 km/h! Once a machine starts to add spin or slice these speeds are reduced. A faster top speed will keep you challenged for longer, and as you improve, it is more likely to simulate the speed of your opponents in the higher level of competition. Bare in mind though, that we have tested the above machines and they all hit at similar speeds. It could even be argued that the SAM is quite often slower than the other machines, despite claiming a 140km/h speed.
For information on what speeds the professional players are hitting at, check out this web site, although you will need a calculator to convert mph to kph!
Q9. Can I use any type of tennis balls in a ball machine?
No, you should avoid oversized balls like Wilson Rally. The balls are designed for kids making them easier to hit. They will not fit into the chamber of a ball machine which will cause the machine to jam.
You should also replace your tennis balls once they have lost too much felt, otherwise they will not propel properly from the machine. To get the most out of your machines, we recommend you use pressureless balls. The balls you use every day for tennis are pressurised. After a couple of days of hitting they are considerably flatter and you may decide to open a new tin. If you throw these old balls into the tennis ball machine, you will get varying results. For example, if you set the tennis ball machine to hit the baseline every time, you won't be able to achieve this because each ball will have a different pressure. When a flat ball comes out it will hit the net, and when a new ball comes out it will go over the baseline.
To avoid this, pressureless balls are the answer. These balls have been designed without using pressurised air. This means that the balls will have the same bounce & shape for years to come. The average person will get at least 1 - 2 years out of pressureless balls (depends on court suface, amount of usage, etc).. The only reason you have to replace them is because they lose their felt. Pressureless balls feel very similar to a normal ball, but are often described as 'harder'. Although it's not exactly the same feel as pressurised balls, the savings are considerable over time and definitely worth purchasing. Please email us or call on 03 9418 3934 for information & prices on pressureless balls. We do great deals for people purchasing ball machines.
Q10. How many hours use will I get out of a battery?
You can get as little as 2 hours and as much as 8 hours depending on the model you choose. The Lobster Elite ball machines have the best battery life on the market. This is because they have an 18 amp hour battery, where the others are only 14.4. When running a ball machine at optimum level, it should use 4.5 amps per hour, which means with the Lobster you would get 4 hours. However, in reality, the machines are not run at optimum level the whole time. They are often in idle mode, etc, which allows the battery to last longer.
Q11. How long do the batteries take to recharge?
The SAM SP tennis ball machines take approximately 8 hours to charge, whereas the Lobster Elite can take 18 hours. However Lobster have now released a 'fast charger' that can charge the battery in 3 hours. Silent Partner charges in 12 hours and Tennis Tutor Plus & Jugs machines take approximately 20 hours to charge.
Q12. Can I overcharge/cook a battery by leaving it on too long?
SAM, Lobster, Silent Partner, Tutor & Jugs ball machines all have smart chargers that turn off once the battery is charged. Some machines do not, and you should ask this question before purchasing one. This is an important feature. If the charger does not turn off automatically, you can 'cook' your battery. Please note that the Lobster 'Fast Charger' can cook the battery if left on for more than 24 hours.
Q13. Can I run the machine off electricity?
The SAM & Jugs machines have the benefit of being able to run off either battery or electricity. The Lobster Elite only works on battery but can work like electricity with the fast charger. The Tennis Tutor will only work off one or the other (you have to choose your preference when you purchase). The Lobster pneumatic machines will only work off electricity.
Q14. Can I upgrade a machine at a later point in time?
Unfortunately with SAM, Silent Partner, Tutor & Jugs this is not possible. However, with the Lobster Elite you can purchase a remote at a later stage. The remote does need to be fitted by us or a Lobster service center. The good news is that we will trade in your old machine (no matter what brand) for a great price. We buy and sell second hand ball machines.
Q15. In which parts of Australia is there support?
You will get support all over Australia with all 4 brands. SAM & Lobster are both based in Melbourne, while Tennis Tutor & Silent Partner are in Sydney. Lobster has outlets in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane & Hobart which you can take your machine to for repair. SAM & Tennis Tutor have outlets in Melbourne and Sydney. All companies offer phone support & in most cases can diagnose and fix your problem over the phone. However, in cases where phone support is not enough, you may have to send your machine back to a support center. To make this easier, we suggest you keep your original box.
If your machine is under warranty, SAM & Lobster will organise a courier to pick it up & return it to the service centre at no cost to you. It will then be shipped back to you once the servicing is complete. If your machine is no longer under warranty, you will need to pay for the freight to get it to a service centre, they will ship it back at their expense.
If there are any questions we have not answered here, please feel free to give us a call on 03 9418 3934 or email us here and will answer your questions.
 |
 |
Tennis Ball Machines
SAM, Lobster, Tennis Tutor & Jugs are all excellent
tennis ball machines. They are very similarly priced,
and have their own pro's and con's. It pays to contact us so that
we can help you find out which machine will best suit your needs.
