In addition, the internal oscillation makes for a much tougher workout as you cannot predict where the ball will go like you can with machines that physically swing in the direction it will throw the ball. This may not seem like a big deal but when practicing in match conditions it is critical. So, we would recommend giving the Spinfire Pro 2 a go if you are considering buying a high quality ball machine, as you will likely get a very similar experience for a fraction of the price! Final Thoughts THE MACHINE – This thing is unbelievable. I have a weird schedule so I have a harder time finding players in my local area. With the Spinfire, this is no longer a concern. I have a constant on call partner that does not complain or get tired. It has really helped me take my game to the next level. The myriad of options and drills helps both my strokes and my conditioning on the court. I’m not using it to teach my wife and kids the love of the game as well. If your a tennis teaching professional this is a great tool to have in your arsenal, as you can have your students hit balls while you coach/film/record and debrief them on mechanics and technique.

The top-of-the-range model from one of the best brands out there, the Lobster Phenom 2 is a great tennis ball machine. Overall, the Lobster Phenom 2 is one of the best tennis ball machines on the market. It comes with a fast recharger and 4 to 8 hour battery life, making it truly portable.

Takeaways: Spinfire Pro 2 Ball Machine

The ‘Horizontal Oscillation’ function has been replaced with ‘Horizontal Random’, so it randomly selects spots across the court rather than sweeping from side to side. On the end, this machine exceeded my expectation and there is plenty of speed and adjustment for me when I improve my fitness ….. If you’re a current user of the Spinfire Pro 2 v1, you may have stumbled upon the latest v2 machine and wonder whether you should upgrade yours for the latest features. From powerful, large capacity machines to portable feeders that can be taken anywhere, there is a wide variety to choose from.

It offers virtually the same level of portability, sophistication, specification, consistency and reliability as some of the most expensive SMART machines from the lines of Lobster, but at a very reasonable price point.

Third, the hopper that holds the balls or covers the machine when not in use needs to be better secured to the machine in either position. The connection is solely by friction, but the grasp of that friction is insufficient to prevent the hopper from coming off if (i) when the machine is tilted up to tow with the carrying handle the front of the hopper hits the ground with any force more than a light tap (necessitating lowering the machine, reattaching the hopper, and tilting it up again), or (ii) when loading the hopper with balls from a basket (e.g. on a mower), the basket hits the side of the hopper, even slightly. Spinfire needs to make that connection more secure (perhaps with a clip of some kind) so the hopper remains firmly attached in place in either situation. Most advanced players will want to replicate match situations in practice, so having a machine that can hit flat, topspin and slice balls is a great asset. I store spinfire2 on my teaching court with the special spin fire balls, and I can set it up, ready to go in less than five minutes easily. Also, what I love about this machine and how it helps my teaching is it’s so much more effective when standing next to my student ! Spinfire has upgraded every single electronic component of the ball machine and added metallic cabling and a battery brace to improve its reliability and durability.

I find this works well to replicate a live-hitting experience where you don’t know which side of the court your opponent will hit. Like the two-line drill, you can set the width of the machine’s feeds to narrow, medium, and wide. Increasing the feed rate is an easy way to make it more challenging. Vertical Random This is a very inexpensive option that will introduce you to the world of ball machines and see if they are the right tennis tool for you.

Spinfire Pro 2 Tennis Ball Machine + Wireless Remote

Although machines with more modes will be more expensive, it is worth considering how many different modes you’ll need depending on who will be using the machine.