So you’ve fallen in love with pickleball? You’ve decided to dedicate yourself to hitting the court for consistent practice and improving your game. But chances are that you won’t have a practice partner every time you want to work on your game.
It would be great to have a friend ready to run drills with every time you wanted, but unfortunately, that’s rarely the case for most of us. But that’s not a problem if you have a pickleball machine! A pickleball machine, sometimes referred to as a pickleball practice machine or pickleball pitching machine, will feed you dozens of balls so you can practice your hits and improve your game – no matter what level of player you are.
In this article, we’ll be looking at the five best pickleball machines, their specs, what makes them the best, and what to consider when choosing one. Let’s get to it!
Best Pickleball Machines Compared
Top 6 Pickleball Practice Machines – Reviews
SIMON X Pickleball Machine – Best Overall
Specs and Features
- Top Speed: 70 mph
- Low Speed: 5 mph
- Spin: Topspin and Underspin
- Ball Capacity: 120
- Oscillation: Random “Stealth Oscillation”
- Battery Life: 10-12 hour
- Preset Drills: No
The SIMONX is as high quality as pickleball practice machines get. It’s manufactured in the US and composed of military grade aluminum and heavy duty stainless steel. Don’t be deterred by the weight of the machine until you see the features the SIMONX is equipped with.
It has the highest ball speed out of all the machines maxing out at 70 mph which is great for simulating fast paced hands battles at the net and hard, topspin smashes. However, it also has the lowest ball speed out of any machine at 5 mph which is incredible for simulating very soft and tricky dinks.
The oscillation is truly a guessing game and really works your reflexes. The “Stealth Oscillation” occurs inside the blacked out machine so you have no idea which direction the ball is coming from unlike other machines where you can predict it based off of where the body is pointing.
Furthermore, you have overspin, and underspin shots along with an easily adjustable ramp to change the elevation. If you need to get more precise with the elevation you use different wheel adjustments from the unique 3-wheel system.
The SIMONX is truly for pickelball fanatics and can be used all day. The battery life is 10-12 hours, and if you’re near an outlet you can use the AC power which will never run out.
It comes stock with a hopper that holds 120 pickleballs, but you can purchase an additional hopper that ads another 60 balls totaling to 180.
Finally, the pinch/throw wheels on the inside which are the mot important part of any machine are covered under a lifetime warranty.
If you want to learn more check out the full review of the SIMONX.
Pros
- A high range of speed allows you to simulate all kinds of shots
- Easy to adjust the height
- Stealth Oscillation challenges your reflexes
- Lifetime warranty on the most important part of the machine
- Longest battery life and additional AC power
- Extremely durable.
Cons
- Higher priced
- Heavier than the other machines
Pickleball Tutor Plus Ultra – Runner Up
Specs and Features
- Top Speed: 65 mph
- Low Speed: 10mph
- Spin: Top Spin and Under Spin
- Ball Capacity: 110
- Oscillation: Random
- Battery Life: 3-4 hours
- Preset Drills: Yes (6 Drills)
As the best overall machine on this list, the Pickleball Tutor Plus Ultra is an excellent practice tool and drill partner for pickleball players of all levels! It is the upgraded model of the ever-popular Tutor Plus and has several added features, such as digital settings that allow for six preset drills, multiple remote control options, and a setting for random oscillation.
This machine allows you to adjust settings to pinpoint what type of shots you want to receive. With the push of a button, you can adjust the oscillation, spin, elevation, intervals, and speed of the shots.
The six drills preset into the machine are:
- Straight dink – set the machine just behind the kitchen line to work on your dink shot returns.
- Cross-court dink – Move the machine to the far corner of the kitchen line and face the opposite sideline to practice those deadly cross-court dinks.
- Third shot drop – From the baseline, this preset sends third shot drops for you to practice your dinking and attacking.
- Lob – Set anywhere on the court and get ready to defend the lob.
- 15-15 – This setting will fire 15 drives to your forehand and 15 drives to your backhand.
- 10-10-10 – This drill setting will shoot ten flat shots, ten topspin shots, and ten backspin shots so you can consecutively return a variety of spins.
The Tutor Plus Ultra has the capacity for 110 pickleballs with a max speed of 65 mph – that’s fast! It comes with a large digital display that makes adjusting the settings a breeze.
One of the best features of the original Tutor Plus was the delay timer, which gave you time to get back to the other side of the court before it started firing balls. But the Ultra model makes it even easier with its remote control options. You can even connect your smartphone to it to control the settings!
The Tutor Plus Ultra comes with mounted 3″ wheels for quick and easy setup and transport and can be bought as a battery-powered or an A/C electric unit. This thing is the best pickleball machine out there today! If you want one of the top-performing machines on the market, the Tutor Plus Ultra is a sure bet!
Pros
- Six preset drills
- Multiple remote control options
- Random oscillation
- Shoots up to 65 mph
- Smartphone compatible
- Holds 110 balls
Cons
- Finding the right elevation setting can be tricky
- Metal plate over the ball carousel can catch balls and cause a jam
Pickleball Tutor Spin Ultra – Best Spin Settings
Specs and Features
The Pickleball Tutor Spin Ultra is the sister to the Tutor Plus Ultra, it’s also an excellent machine, but it focuses more on honing in those tough spin shots. This thing can supply all kinds of spins and comes with easy-to-use control dials to get the settings exactly how you want them. The Tutor Spin Ultra has the capabilities for 2-line oscillation and fantastic right/left spin shots which make for a lot of variety.
The Pickleball Tutor Spin Ultra holds up to 125 pickleballs but remains quite compact for easier transport. It comes with 3″ wheels and a heavy-duty handle so you can move it around the court with ease.
This machine can be either battery-powered or A/C and can shoot balls up to 60 mph. It boasts random oscillation, remote control compatibility, and increased side spin. Like the Tutor Plus Ultra, this model comes with six preset drills that help you dive right into your practice.
- Straight dink – set the machine just behind the kitchen line to work on your dink shot returns.
- Cross-court dink – Move the machine to the far corner of the kitchen line and face the opposite sideline to practice those deadly cross-court dinks.
- Third shot drop – From the baseline, this preset sends third shot drops for you to practice your dinking and attacking.
- Lob – Set anywhere on the court and get ready to defend the lob.
- 15-15 – This setting will fire 15 drives to your forehand and 15 drives to your backhand.
- 10-10-10 – This drill setting will shoot ten flat shots, ten topspin shots, and ten backspin shots so you can consecutively return a variety of spins.
This machine can hold its own in nearly every category against its competitors. That’s why the Tutor Spin is a great option for anyone looking for a quality pickleball pitching machine, especially those who want a device that can throw some added spin their way.
Pros
- Generates great side spin
- Six preset drills
- Easy-to-use dials for setting shots
- Random and 2-line oscillation capable
- Shoots up to 60 mph
- Smartphone compatible
- Holds 125 balls
Cons
- Requires several shots before getting the speed and elevation set properly
- Balls can jam above the feeder occasionally
Lobster Pickle Champion – External Battery Option
Specs and Features
The Pickle Champion Machine from Lobster Sports is a completely digital pickleball machine that comes with some great features. This is the first machine from Lobster to come with pre-programmed drills, making the Champion model way better than any previous Lobster machine.
Each drill is designed to simulate in-game situations and requires similar movements. You can switch between drills with the simple press of a button.
The Pickle Champion can fire at up to 65 mph and hold over 130 pickleballs. It features top and back spin controls and side-to-side sweeping oscillation. It has a nice LCD screen that makes it easy to read the settings and adjust them on the fly.
The Pickle Champion is a battery-operated unit that lasts from 4-6 hours of continuous use. You can set the intervals that it fires shots from two to nine seconds. And one of the best features is that it is available with an external battery pack, which means you can have multiple batteries to ensure it never dies mid-use!
This machine is a bit less durable than the other machines on this list, and it’s still pretty pricey; but if you’re looking for a good pickleball machine that has a nice handle and wheels and an external battery option, this might be the one for you.
Pros
- Pre-programmed drills
- Shoots up to 65 mph
- Holds 130 balls
- Nice LCD screen
- Good top spin and back spin
- External battery pack
- 8” wheels
Cons
- Less durable than the other machines on this list
- Screen can be difficult to read when in the sun
Spinshot Player – Best For Speed Shots
Specs and Features
- Top Speed: 68 mph
- Low Speed: 10 mph
- Spin: Top Spin and Under spin and side spin
- Ball Capacity: 85
- Oscillation: Yes
- Battery Life: 2-3 hours
- Preset Drills: Yes (12 drills)
If you have a background in tennis, Spinshot is probably a familiar brand; they make quality equipment, and this pickleball machine is no exception. The Spinshot Player is definitely the sturdiest machine on this list. It’s built like a tank but remains relatively easy to move around.
This pickleball version of the best-selling tennis launcher on the market is a super reliable and high-speed option. It can consistently fire balls up to 68 mph, making it the fastest machine on this list.
It has 12 preset drills that will help you master returning any shot that comes your way in games. It can also connect to your smartphone for easy control. This is a hybrid machine that can be used with both battery and A/C power.
This is another excellent option for a quality pickleball machine, but it is pretty heavy at almost 45 lbs, and the battery does die pretty quickly due to the power it outputs.
Pros
- Shoots up to 68 mph
- 12 preset drills
- Smartphone compatible
- Hybrid power
- Durable and sturdy
- Holds 120 balls
Cons
- Fairly heavy
- Short battery life
Pickleball Tutor Mini – Best Budget Option
Specs and Features
- Top Speed: 50 mph
- Low Speed: 10 mph
- Spin: None
- Ball Capacity: 60
- Oscillation: Yes
- Battery Life: 2-3 hours
- Preset Drills: No
Are you looking for an affordable pickleball machine that can still perform well and last a long time? Well, this little guy might just be the best machine for you! It’s compact, so you can take it almost anywhere, but still powerful enough to shoot balls up to 50 mph.
The 24lb Tutor Mini is ideal for players who want a lightweight, durable, and consistent machine. It has a lot of the same functionality as the premium Tutor models but at a much, much lower price. It’s the perfect selection if you don’t want to spend thousands of dollars on a pickleball practice machine but still want to get in on the action.
There are a few drawbacks to the Tutor Mini – it has a small hopper that only holds 50 balls, it doesn’t put much spin on the balls, and it has limited oscillation options. For players who want all the bells and whistles, this likely isn’t the one for you. But for anyone who wants a reliable and much more affordable option, here it is!
Pros
- Lightweight and portable
- Most affordable machine on this list
- Quality-made
- Shoots up to 50 mph
Cons
- Only holds 50 balls
- Limited spin and oscillation settings
Factors to Consider When Buying a Pickleball Machine
Ball Capacity
Typically, the more balls a pickleball machine can hold, the better. But if you plan to be dragging your machine around everywhere with you, smaller models with less ball capacity might be your best bet.
Spin
On the pickleball court, you will most definitely see a lot of spin action. In fact, almost every shot in pickleball will have some degree of spin on it. So it’s important to practice returning spin shots at different speeds, angles, and positions on the court as well as learning how to read the spin on incoming balls.
The more spin options a pickleball machine has, the better.
A/C vs Battery
One important thing to consider when shopping for a pickleball machine is whether it’s battery-operated or plug-in electric. There’s not necessarily a better option, as they each offer their own set of advantages. A/C-powered machines are generally cheaper and can generate more speed on the balls, whereas battery-powered machines are much more portable – meaning you can set it up on any court!
Some models offer external battery packs, which is a useful feature because you can have multiple batteries and alternate charging them. And even better, hybrid machines give you the option to plug in or use the battery mode.
Weight and Portability
You’ll need to consider what you’ll be using the machine for, as well as if you’re comfortable moving a heavier machine around. Even if a machine has wheels, you’ll likely need to occasionally lift it up to put it in your vehicle, etc. Make sure you get a machine that suits your needs and ability to lift it.
Speed, Oscillation, and Interval Adjusting
Here, it’s all about options! Do you need to be able to practice a larger variety of shots, or are you okay with a more simple machine? A machine with random oscillation can fire the ball in a less predictable pattern, keeping you on your toes. Higher speeds will help you practice your quick reaction, and interval adjustments simply give you more options in your practice sessions.
If you want a machine that will push your limits and toss you different types of human-like shots, then higher speeds, variable oscillation, and more interval options are the way to go. But if you’re okay without as many options, a more basic machine will be fine.
Pricing
A lot of purchases come down to price. You don’t want to overspend your budget, but you also want to avoid buying a cheap machine that will break too soon. When shopping for pickleball machines, simply ask yourself if each price tag is worth the product you’d get. Will you get your money’s worth?
Warranty
This one’s big. How long will the manufacturer stand by their product? Even the best manufacturers can have a faulty product slip through to distribution. And if you end up with that product, you want to be able to get a replacement for free. The longer the warranty, the better.
FAQ
Are Pickleball Machines Worth it?
There are a lot of pickleball machine models available in the market. However, not all have the same features and quality. Some are simply better than others and might be worth paying for, depending on your personal needs.
If you want to improve your swing mechanics, a pickleball machine is a well-placed investment. Practicing repetitive pickleball shots can take your game to the next level.
Can a Tennis Ball Machine be Used for Pickleball?
One may think that a tennis ball machine could be used for pickleball, given that pickleballs are roughly the same size as tennis balls. However, the weight and diameter are different enough to make pickleballs incompatible with a tennis ball machine.
Conclusion
Pickleball pitching machines are one of the best ways to dial in your swing and get quality practice reps if you don’t always have someone to practice and run drills with. No matter what level of player you are, you can benefit from a quality pickleball machine.
There are a lot of machines out there to choose from, but we feel that the five listed above are the best options. We hope you have a blast when you finally get your new machine and can get those consistent practice sessions in!
