Skip to Content

6 Best Tennis Ball Machines in 2024 for all Skill Levels

6 Best Tennis Ball Machines in 2024 for all Skill Levels

The best tennis ball machines are a great way for beginning, intermediate, and even advanced tennis players to work on their game. All without having to find a partner that’s as dedicated to the sport as you are. Moreover, most tennis ball machines are portable, so whether you play on the court in your backyard, the gym, or just at the park, it’s easy and convenient to bring your automated tennis partner with you.

If you’re seeking the best tennis ball machine for your next practice, you’ve come to the right place. In this article, we present the six best tennis ball machines for different skill levels, and each one offering features like variable oscillation, pre-programmable drills, and different ball spin and speed: whatever you might need to practice tennis whenever, however, and wherever you want. 

Tennis is a great sport played by millions. Improve your skills with one of the best tennis ball machines from our ranking.

Our Top Picks

Here’s a quick look at each tennis ball machine we reviewed.

Spinshot-Player-Tennis-Ball-MachineBest Overall: Spinshot-Player Tennis Ball Machine.
With programmable drills, Spinshot-Player is the best tennis ball machine to buy.
Wilson-Portable-Tennis-MachinePortable Pick: Wilson Portable Tennis Machine.
Made from high-impact injected molded plastic, the best portable tennis ball machines come from Wilson.
Spinshot-Plus-Tennis-Ball-MachineIntermediate to Advanced: Spinshot Plus Tennis Ball Machine.
With different oscillation parameters, we like the Spinshot Plus for intermediate to advanced players.
Lobster-Sports-Elite-Two-Tennis-Ball-MachineBeginners: Lobster Sports Elite Two Tennis Ball Machine.
Portable and easy to use, the Lobster Sports Elite Two is the best tennis ball machine for beginners.
Sports-Tutor-Tennis-CubeBudget Pick: Sports Tutor Tennis Cube.
The best tennis ball machine under $1000 is easy to use with plenty of features.
AFP-Automatic-Dog-Ball-LauncherDog Pick: AFP Automatic Dog Ball Launcher.
When is a tennis ball machine not for tennis? When it’s a tennis ball machine for dogs.
 

A Closer Look: Best Tennis Ball Machine

What is the best tennis ball machine? That answer and a whole lot more is coming up in our next section.

1. Spinshot Player Tennis Ball Machine

The best tennis ball machines overall

Spinshot-Player Tennis Ball Machine

Brand: Spinshot | Capacity: 120 | Custom Oscillation and Drills: Yes | Price: 💰💰💰💰💰

With fully programmable drills and 120 ball capacity, the Spinshot-Player is the best tennis ball machine to buy. Players save sequences of up to six shots, with customizable height, direction, spin, and speed — anything you need to work on your game. The machine also comes with 12 pre-programmed drills, adjustable to a player’s skill level, and a free phone app with an optional remote.

This is a very good tennis ball machine, based on feedback. It almost never jams, we learned, and it has a high tolerance for debris, like pine needles of tennis ball “fluff.” Solidly built, it will last a long time, according to reports, effectively simulating real-game situations, or useful when simply working on a backhand or forehand. Some like to alternate volleys to practice footwork, and it’s also pretty easy to lift.

  • Easy to use app
  • Tough metal housing
  • Adjustable ball frequency, speed, and height
  • Battery life could be better
  • Some learning curve required

2. Wilson Portable Tennis Machine

The best portable tennis ball machine.

Wilson Portable Tennis Machine

Brand: Wilson | Capacity: 110 | Ball Speed: Max 75mph | Price: 💰💰💰

Not many of us have a tennis court outside our house, so naturally, portability is an important concern for anyone looking to buy a tennis ball machine. For this reason, we recommend the Wilson Portland Tennis Machine. With a handle on the front and a set of wheels on the back, the machine rolls a bit like a piece of luggage, with a wireless remote and a rechargeable battery offering up to four hours of playing time.

Portability is not the only thing this machine has going for it, however. Reaching ball speeds of up to 75 mph in frequencies of between 1 and 10 seconds, the Wilson portable also offers robust features like a built-in oscillator, and a ball hopper that folds down when not in use. 

Players that prefer Wilson take it out every day, commenting that it’s easy to use for beginners, but sophisticated enough to keep advanced players interested.

  • Lightweight
  • Well-built product
  • Alerts you when the battery’s charged
  • Some jamming issues
  • Battery life could be longer
  • Ball angle a little hard to control

3. Spinshot Plus Tennis Ball Machine

The best tennis ball machines for intermediate to advanced players.

Spinshot Plus Tennis Ball Machine

Brand: Spinshot | Capacity: 120 | Custom Oscillation and Drills: 5 Quick/Typical Settings | Price: 💰💰💰💰💰

Intermediate to advanced tennis players looking for a tennis ball machine to match and help improve their skills should consider the Spinshot Plus tennis ball machine. What makes it a good choice for advanced players is the freedom to turn up ball speed and spin, and one experienced player saw good results after using the machine for practice. The machine is also versatile enough to satisfy children who are just learning how to play.

Intermediate tennis players, on the other hand, call the machine’s pre-set ball speed, spin, and other factory defaults more than adequate for their needs. And overall, the machine is sturdy and easily transportable, with seamless app integration as well. Players also appreciate the large ball capacity and five quick oscillations, adding that going through 120 balls while moving from forehand to backhand is quite a workout.

  • Good battery life
  • Love the versatility
  • Performs flawlessly
  • Hooper flaps made from plastic
  • Plastic wheels instead of rubber
  • 120 ball capacity? More like 90–100 some say

4. Lobster Sports Elite Two Tennis Ball Machine

The best tennis ball machine for beginner players.

Lobster Sports Elite Two Tennis Ball Machine

Brand: Lobster Sports | Capacity: 150 | Ball Speed & Feed Rate: Max 80mph/2-12 seconds | Price: 💰💰💰💰

You want a tennis ball machine that will help you practice tennis, not waste your time just figuring out how to get the thing to work. That’s especially true if you’re a beginner. With easy to use controls, we call the Lobster Sports Elite Two tennis ball machine the best players new to the sport.

But just because the learning curve is low, the Elite Two offers customizable features as your game improves. With Lobster, there’s 150-ball capacity and speeds reaching up to 80 mph, and adjustable frequency from between 2–12 seconds. Using the Lobster is like having a practice partner, we learned, so you can work on your service returns, volleys, swinging volleys, and overheads.

  • Good battery life
  • Relatively compact, folding handle
  • Work on your strong when, where, and how you like
  • Handle a little flimsy
  • Takes time to calibrate
  • Battery charging takes some babysitting

5. Sports Tutor Tennis Cube

The best tennis ball machine under $1000.

Sports Tutor Tennis Cube

Brand: Sports Tutor | Capacity: 70 | Speed: Max 50mph | Price: 💰💰

Tennis ball machines are expensive, no question. But it is possible to get a tennis ball for under $1000. With this in mind, we recommend the reasonably-priced Tennis Cube from Sports Tutor, with a 70 ball capacity and ball speeds reaching up to 50 mph. Players also enjoy ball frequencies from between 2–7 seconds, and a random oscillator with knob controls.

Fans of the Cube call it simple, effective, and fun for three generations of players, all with different skill levels. The directions are straight forward, and for the price, it’s a good choice for beginning players to use while building music memory. Otherwise, the machine offers a kick-butt workout, with fun oscillation settings, launching balls low, high, long, short, and everything in between.

  • Made from good material
  • Easy to set up and get going
  • Light and easily transportable
  • Accuracy could be improved
  • Some jamming issues reported
  • Easier to move when strapped to a dolly

6. AFP Automatic Dog Ball Launcher

PET PICK: The best tennis ball machine for dogs.

AFP Automatic Dog Ball Launcher

Brand: AFP | Capacity: 3 | Range: 10-30ft | Price: 💰

Ok, his last one is just for fun. But who loves launching tennis balls into the air more than a tennis player? Yeah, that’s right: a dog. So in conclusion, we recommend AFP Automatic Dog Ball launcher for your four-legged friend, keeping them occupied in the family room, or maybe instead, helping them stay in shape for Wimbledon.

The AFP automatic dog ball launcher has a 3-ball capacity with an adjustable 10–30 foot range. Balls are launched once every 10 seconds or so, or whenever the sensor detects it. Some dogs can even be trained to fetch and load the thing themselves, but the launcher is intended for indoor use only, we found out.

  • Dogs love it
  • Batteries included
  • Push-button distance adjustment
  • Pretty spend dog toy
  • Not actually for tennis players
  • Better with Nerf balls, some say

Our Process

For this guide on the best tennis ball machines, our team spent 6 hours researching the most popular options from all the most popular brands. We then read through user reviews (both positive and negative) to discover what shoppers thought about each machine. After comparing this data, we narrowed our list down to the top 6 tennis ball machines on the market. You can count on this research to guide you to a mindful purchasing decision.


Further Reading

best tennis rackets for beginners
Best Tennis Rackets for Beginners
best tennis balls
Best Tennis Balls