Lobster Elite 1 Overview
Chances are if you want to improve at tennis you have come up against the following setbacks:
• You can’t find a reliable playing partner to practice with.
• Whenever you do find a reliable playing partner they are either much worse or much better than you and you can’t build a rhythm.
• You find yourself free on a random night of the week and no one is available for a hit.
Tennis is a sociable sport for sure but anyone that’s ever tried to seriously improve knows how hard it can be to find the right hitting partner. As long as you don’t mind looking like a Billy-no-mates a tennis ball machine could sort your hitting woes for good.
The Lobster Elite Tennis Ball Machine is a premium ball dispenser offering a single horizontal oscillator to provide both topspin and backspin shots. Lobster Sports is one of the best known companies in Tennis Ball machines and the Lobster Elite 1 is their entry level model costing $1,139 on their website.
Pros:
• Battery life. Continuous running time of 4-8 hours on fully charged battery.
• Portability. Can easily fit inside the boot of a car. Dimensions are 760mm x 590mm x 480mm 28kgs. Weighs 19kg.
• Variety of shots. Single horizontal oscillator means both topspin and backspin shots can be dispensed at a rate of between 2-10 seconds. Ball speed can be adjusted between 20-80 miles per hour. The oscillator can be angled between 0-50 degrees to produce low shots over the net or high lobs.
• 150 Ball dispenser meaning less time spent collecting balls and filling the machine.
• Well made. Many users still getting excellent use of the machine after four or five years.
Cons:
• Wet balls can cause a jam in the machine.
• Dials are sensitive to adjustment making it difficult to get the right setting.
• Expensive to replace parts such as the remote control.
• Some users complain about glitches occurring. The machine is covered by a two-year warranty but the hassle of contacting customer service shortly after a purchase could be frustrating.
Who is This Product for?
The Lobster Elite 1 ball machine is for players serious about improving their game and who need regular practice. This is a game changer for the keen tennis players who can’t find the right person to practice with on a regular basis.
Things to consider before buying the ball machine:
• How often and for how long will you use it? At $1,139 would you be better paying a coach or someone else to practice with? If you think you will use it multiple times a week/month for a number of years, it could be right for you.
• Do you have a car or storage for the machine at your local club? It is an easily portable machine but think about how you will get it to and from your local club or whether you can store it.
• Do you need an advanced machine? The Lobster Elite 1 will benefit players looking for different speeds and spins and will be suitable for better players. Beginners could benefit from a more basic and cheaper model.
Key Features:
• Oscillation: Random horizontal – helpful for players needing realistic match conditions.
• Speed: 10-80 mph – large range of ball speeds helpful for players looking to improve over time.
• Ball capacity: 150 – large ball capacity means more time spent hitting balls.
• Feed rate: 2-10 sec. Adjustable feed rate for different types of shot and player ability.
• Power: Battery: battery power allows portability on the tennis court.
• Battery Life: 4-8 hrs.: long battery life for players needing lengthy training sessions.
• Elevation: Electronic 0-60 deg. allows variance in shots from low ground strokes to high lobs.
• Weight: 19 kg.
• Spin: Topspin, backspin – different spins can be used to create realistic match conditions.
Customer Reviews
• “As an advanced player myself, I purchased the Lobster Elite Model 1 in late 2005. I practiced for 10 months for the past 5 years, and have hit an average of 3,000 balls per week, and I have almost zero problems. The only issue I have is a quirky horizontal switch on the control panel. In fact, this problem can be easily fixed. I have try a vast number of other tennis ball machines, but this one is definitely the winner. The Lobster Elite 1 is the perfect portable drill master. Big bravo to Lobster.”
• “Performs exactly as advertised. Great training tool which is easy to use, reliable and provides a good variety of shots. A little fiddly getting it centered at the start of each training session but otherwise quick to set up and start hitting. Getting the fast charger is a good idea if you’re impatient like me. Been using it for about a year and no hassles to date.”
• “The only remark I have about this tennis ball machine is that I would like if the battery can stop charging when the machine is 100% charged. Other than that, the machine helped me improve my game.”
The Lobster Elite 1 ball machine is available on the Lobster Sports website or on Amazon at $1,139. The remote control is not included and is an expensive addition. Some customers have complained of parts not working or returns being necessary but a two-year warranty comes as standard. Next day shipping applies to orders on machines or parts made before 11AM PST from the Lobster Sports website.
Conclusion
The Lobster Elite 1 ball machine could be a perfect solution for the serious tennis player looking to improve their game and who needs a reliable and solid hitting partner. It is a reliable and sophisticated machine offering enough variation and power for players looking to practice groundstrokes, volleys and smashes. With the different speeds available, players will find they can get the most from the machine as they improve through the years. At $1,139 potential buyers should consider whether they really will get regular use from the machine and if they can provide transport and/or storage. For those willing to spend more money, Lobster Sports has an even more advance selection available at their website.