I can still remember being a young boy hanging around in the warehouse of my fathers sporting goods business one afternoon and testing out a new tennis ball machine sample he was evaluating.  It was a simple twist style machine that looked like a mini spiral staircase.  As a little kid I was fascinated with the spiral loading action and the small "pop" lever at the end that would pop the tennis balls into the air.  I never used it on the court but it sure kept me entertained that afternoon.  Well tennis ball machines have come a long way since then.  The basic idea still remains strong but new technology allows them to offer a much more challenging practice and while nothing can replace a human opponent to test your skills in a real game, ball machines are by far the best choice for honing your skills on the court.

From $500 to $3000 and more tennis ball machines come in a range of styles.  Some machines are designed for personal use while others are true work horses designed for commercial use.  What it really comes down to is their capabilities and quite frankly you get what you pay for.  Lets take a look at a few popular styles and compare their capabilities.  We will start at the bottom of the list and work our way up to the top of the line.

The Lobster Economy Ball Bucket is a well equipped ball machine capable of performance found in machines costing hundreds of dollars more.  It features all of the quality design features of the ball bucket above except it only fires the ball at one location repeatedly.  Weighs only 28 lbs, holds 50 balls and offers ball speed from 15 to 60 mph with shot intervals of 3, 6 or 12 seconds.  You can add an optional spin adapter to this model for a little more moola that will make it more realistic but for a price tag under $500 you can't go wrong with this durable little machine.

The Lobster Tournament Model Ball Machine with its random dual oscillation strikes eight spots on the court without the need for stopping to make adjustments.  This machine can give you short and deep shots to keep the practice lively and by moving you both horizontally and vertically this machine not only simulates real match play, but also provides you with a serious aerobic and/or anaerobic workout.  Weighs only 32 lbs, holds 150 balls and offers ball speeds of 15-70 mph with shot intervals of 3, 6, 12 seconds.  You can also buy a spin adapter for this model and you can buy a wireless remote option that is installed at the factory.  This model comes with a price tag that is affordable but notably higher than the economy model above at around $800 retail.

The baseline machine with a ton of features rolled into it would be the Tennis Tutor Tennis Tower.  The manufacturer claims this model was designed for the home court owner but I have to tell you these features would give a tennis pro a great workout.  Here's the basic feature list...

• Speed ranges from 10 MPH to 85 MPH.
• Spin is adjustable from heavy under spin, to flat, to heavy topspin (except Competitor Classic).
• Ball Feed (interval) control adjusts the time between shots from 1-1/2 to 8 seconds.
• Trajectory is adjustable between groundstroke and lob.
• Random oscillator.
• All-in-one control panel.
• 225 ball capacity.

This model machine comes in a couple of flavors the Professional Player model features what Sports Tutor calls the Player mode.  Player mode is worth every penny as it actually simulates the shot patterns of real players.  You can read more about this at morleyathletic.com just check out the tennis ball machine section of their comprehensive online catalog.  You get all of these features for under $2100 which if you consider the longevity and capabilities of this machine is a bargain.

For the aspiring tennis pro or the tennis team that wants to stay at the top of their game the Tennis Tutor Shotmaker® is the ball machine you have been dreaming about.  This is the same machine used at the ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals) Training Center in Florida.

The Tennis Tutor Shotmaker® gives you tons of features, here is the short list.

• Spin is adjustable from heavy under spin, to flat, to heavy topspin.
• Interval control adjusts the time between shots from one second to six seconds.
• Trajectory is adjustable between groundstroke and lob
• Random and programmable oscillator functions.
• 300 ball capacity.
• A single electronic panel controls all functions of the Shotmaker. It is conveniently located at the back of the machine about waist level to allow operation in a natural standing position. You can easily dial-in the tennis shots you want while observing the entire court in front of you.
• Four oversized caster wheels for easy rolling on and off the court.
• A protective all-weather cover is included with each machine to protect your investment.
• A see-through, high-impact plastic cover provides extra protection for the control panel.
• The Shotmaker’s case is made of high-impact injection-molded plastic and powder-coated aluminum for strength and rust resistance. The electric motors are all commercial grade and maintenance free.

If you want all of these features be prepared to hand over some serious clams.  The Tennis Tutor Shotmaker® comes in at just under $3050.

As you can see your options are many but in this writers lowly opinion if you want to be the next big name in tennis, ball machines are not optional.  A human counterpart simply can't offer the kind of practice that a ball machine can.  Tennis ball machines are at your beckoning call 24 hours a day 7 days a week.  That's dedication.

To find a complete selection of tennis ball machines and all of your other athletic needs go to www.morleyathletic.com.