Best Pickleball Machines
Best Pickleball Machines
Finding the perfect pickleball paddle without breaking the bank can be a challenge, especially for those new to the sport or looking to upgrade on a budget. The right paddle can significantly enhance your game, offering better control, power, and overall performance.
To make your life easier, we’ve selected the best pickleball paddles under $50. This carefully curated list ensures you don’t have to sacrifice quality for affordability.
Our selection includes paddles that boast durability, comfort, and the latest technology in pickleball design. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced player seeking value, our guide to the best pickleball paddles under $50 in 2023 has you covered.
Dive into our recommendations to find a paddle that fits your playing style and budget. This guide promises to arm you with all you need to make an informed choice and elevate your pickleball experience.
The Pickle Two is a great option for players who are looking for a pickleball machine that can throw to the forehand side with the next shot to the backhand side. And the electronic elevation makes it easier to adjust angles. You get 6-8 hours of playing on the battery.
The Pickleball Tutor Spin is a great pickleball machine, primarily for its quality and popularity at clubs around the country. It has all the features that a player needs. The addition of the spin option makes this a well-priced option for pickleball players of all skill levels.
The Sports Tutor Multi-Twist is a great pickleball machine for those on a budget. It’s simple to set up. It’s lightweight, very compact and can provide entry-level adults and children with an excellent training option at a very affordable price.
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Best Pickleball Machines
Pickle Pickleball Machine By Lobster
SPECS:
- Ball speed: 10 – 60 mph
- Ball feed: 2 – 12 seconds
- Ball capacity: 135
- Oscillation: yes
- Weight (lbs): 35 lbs
- Wheels: yes
- Remote: optional
- Warranty: yes or no
PROS:
- High ball capacity
- Battery life
- Lightweight and easy to transport
- Simple to use
CONS:
- No programmable drills
- Must adjust the machine for each new shot
Pickleball Machine At A Glance
The Lobster Pickleball Machine by Lobster Sports is lightweight and easy to move around the court with its 8” wheels. The hopper holds up to 135 indoor or outdoor balls and the adjustable options let you set up standard shots with backspin or topspin, and lobs or dinks based on the elevation setting and speed selected.
One little niggle was that the hopper will spill balls if you try to move the machine while it was full.
While the rechargeable battery does offer up to 4 hours of practice, it can take as long as 24 hours to fully recharge, so you may want to purchase the optional fast charger. It is worth noting that this model does not have the option of plugging into an AC outlet while you’re using it.
Ideal For
At this price point, the Lobster pickle ball machine is an excellent choice for clubs as well as players who have the budget to purchase a training machine for use both indoors and outdoors.
While it is useful for coaches who are looking for a budget-friendly machine, the lack of programmable features may make this less attractive than some of the other more feature-rich machines available.
The Best Features
The Lobster machine offers plenty of control over each shot and you can fine-tune the height, speed, and elevation to mimic just about any shot on the court.
The larger hopper also makes sense, allowing drills to continue for longer instead of having to keep refilling the machine. The random oscillation feature gives a little more realism to drills, allowing players of every skill level to practice their footwork while improving their shots.
The Pickle Two Pickleball Machine By Lobster
SPECS:
- Ball speed: 10 – 60 mph
- Ball feed: 2 – 10 seconds
- Ball capacity: 135
- Oscillation: yes
- Weight (lbs): 34-42 lbs
- Wheels: yes
- Remote: yes
- Warranty: yes
PROS:
- Electronic elevation control
- 2-line oscillation
- 4 power options
- 135 ball hopper
CONS:
- A bit too heavy for some
- Remote control is an optional extra
Pickleball Machine At A Glance
The Lobster range of pickleball machines are almost identical in size and shape, with the Pickle Two being a little heavier due to its inclusion of an AC socket as well as battery operation. It has an electronic elevation option as opposed to the manual option available on the cheaper model.
It carries 135 balls in the hopper and has an impressive battery run time of 6 to 8 hours. There’s a battery extension pack available if you need it.
Ideal For
This machine is perfect for a club or coach that is looking for a pickleball machine that offers a little more sophistication and a longer run time. It can be used both indoors and outdoors with the option of running it directly on mains AC power.
The Best Features
The Pickle Two has a 2-line oscillation and electric elevation capability, which allows you to quickly change the angle the balls are launched at, even though it has a very similar appearance to the Pickle One.
The battery upgrade offers as much as 6 hours of practice time without the need for charging. You also have the option of a battery-only or AC-powered model.
The Pickle Two holds up to 135 balls and can send them toward the player at as much as 60 mph. While the machine weighs in at around 42 lbs, the 8-inch wheels make it easy to move around the pickleball court.
Sports Tutor Multi-twist Pickleball Machine
SPECS:
- Ball speed: n/a
- Ball feed: about 6-10 mph
- Ball capacity: 28
- Oscillation: no
- Weight (lbs): 11 lbs
- Wheels: no
- Remote: no
- Warranty: yes
PROS:
- Price
- Lightweight
- 12 to 20-foot arc
- 10-hour operating time
- external battery pack available for purchase
CONS:
- Minimal adjustment
- Ball capacity is limited
The Sports Tutor Multi Twist pickleball machine is an entry-level pickleball machine that is suitable for beginners or children. The ball capacity is limited when compared to other machines on the market and you don’t have the option of adding spin or speed.
However, it can loft a variety of ball sizes over the net and you can adjust the distance it throws the ball by varying the elevation.
Pickleball Machine At A Glance
The Multi-Twist pickleball machine is a low-budget option for those who want a cheap and effective means to practice pickleball on their own.
While the limited number of balls you can load may seem like a problem, the limited adjustments available mean that you have the opportunity to change the Multi-twist’s position after 24 to 28 balls while you are restocking it.
Ideal For
This pickleball machine is perfect for children as it is very light and easy to use.
Adults will find that the machine lacks the ability to fire balls at them at realistic speeds, rather, than lobbing the ball at an easy pace. This will help to groove one’s shots but isn’t overly useful as a game-preparation tool.
However, if you’re on a budget, then at almost a quarter of the price of the next available machine, this is an easy choice.
The Best Features
With a ball coming at you every 5 seconds, you can use the machine to work on your fitness or footwork as well as choose a drill that will focus on those aspects of your game.
Players can run to the non-volley line and back to the baseline between balls or make movements laterally across the court before making sure to get back into position in time to hit the next ball.
With a little ingenuity, players can raise the Sport Tutor machine on a table to help very the arc of the balls as they are lobbed over the net.
It is impressive that the batteries last over 10 hours on the 6 ‘D’ batteries.
Pickleball Tutor Plus and Pickleball Tutor Spin
SPECS:
- Ball speed: 65 mph
- Ball feed: 1 – 6 seconds
- Ball capacity: 110 (Plus) and 125 (Spin)
- Oscillation: yes
- Weight (lbs): 34 lbs
- Wheels: yes
- Remote: yes (optional)
- Warranty: yes
PROS:
- Random oscillation
- Delay timer
- Shot options
- Is easily maneuverable
- external battery pack available for purchase
- rechargeable battery with 4 hours of playing time
CONS:
● Smaller ball capacity
● Some features and options cost extra
Pickleball Machine At A Glance
The Pickleball Tutor Plus machine is one of the most popular brands used by clubs and coaches around the country. The Tutor Plus and Tutor Spin are almost identical machines with the Plus offering the option of 2-line oscillation, wireless remote, and electronic elevation control.
The start-up time delay allows you to start the Pickleball Tutor Plus machine and then still have time to position yourself on the other side of the net before the balls are shot out.
Ideal For
These are tried and tested machines that are in use by clubs and coaches both for indoor and outdoor use.
While they might cost a little more than the competition, and not offer quite as many features, you’ll find that the machine gets the job done consistently with little fuss or bother.
The Best Features
Both the Pickleball Tutor Plus and the Pickleball Tutor Spin machines are powerful and provide options for every type of shot you wish to practice.
The major difference between the plus and the Spin is that while the Plus offers an adjustable top and backspin, the Spin offers an adjustable side spin. This gives the ball a more realistic, game-like feel and forces the player to adjust for direction on each shot.
The machine’s ability to send balls out at 1-second intervals forces players to play under pressure and is the best way to make practice sessions more realistic.
Pickleball Tutor Mini
SPECS:
- Ball speed: 10 – 50mph
- Ball feed: 2 – 10 seconds
- Ball capacity: 60 balls
- Oscillation: extra
- Weight (lbs): 24 lbs
- Wheels: yes
- Remote: no
- Warranty: yes
PROS:
- Start-up delay
- Simple to use
- Random oscillation
- Compact with easy portability
CONS:
- Ball capacity is low
- Balls speed and height can be a little inconsistent
- Only battery power operation but can buy an external battery pack
Pickleball Machine At A Glance
The Pickleball Tutor Mini is quite a bit smaller and lighter than the other Tutor machines. You only have a 60-ball hopper available, so you’ll be filling the hopper a little more often than some of the other machines on the market.
The elevation control is manual and takes a little getting used to. You’ll have to play around with the settings quite a bit to make sure that the ball is going where you want it to.
Ideal For
This is perfect for someone on a budget who wants to get the benefit of a pickleball machine without shelling out a huge amount of cash.
The Best Features
You can set the Pickleball Tutor Mini up to allow you to simulate specific shots such as serves, groundstrokes, dinks, third shot drop, lobs, and drives with speeds up to 50 mph. You can adjust the ball feed to serve a ball every 2 seconds for a more pressurized drill or up to 10 seconds to give you time to receive instruction or get back into position.
By adding in the optional oscillator you have the perfect machine to randomly send balls across the court either for practicing with a partner or to simulate running for the ball.
Simon X Practice Machine
Simon X and the Simon 2 are military-grade built machines made of stainless steel and HD aluminum meaning that they’re built solid and intended to last and withstand a lot of use.
They have two pitch/throw wheels with a lifetime warranty. Serious players love the Simon X and appreciate that they’re made in the USA.
With a top speed of 70 mph, deep hard baseline drives are easily possible along with dinks and soft shots with consistency.
And the rechargeable battery lasts 10-12 hours or it can be plugged in for all-day use.
Pickleball Buying Guide – Things to Consider Before Buying a Pickleball Machine
Price / Budget, Value for Money
It goes without saying that every buying decision is heavily influenced by pricing. It’s crucial to take into account both the base price and any potential “add-ons” when purchasing this equipment.
Ball Capacity
Ball capacity is one of the most crucial factors that players consider. The number of balls the machine can hold in the hopper directly affects how fun it is to play with. To pick up a ball during a drill, you must always stop.
However, this can be beneficial if you are drilling a repetitive stroke, as it gives you time to recover and then set up the machine for the next drill.
There is approximately a 40-ball variation amongst the machines reviewed but hitting 135 balls is quite taxing and may take some getting used to for less-fit players. You also don’t necessarily want too many balls on the court to fall over as you are playing.
Portability
The size and weight of your machine will affect whether you think it’s worth carrying about with you if you travel with it frequently. The larger wheels on machines weighing 34 lbs are easier to manage than some of the small caster wheel options. The Lobster machines’ ability to fold up into a small package and use the hopper as a top cover when not in use is something we like.
Features
Feed Intervals
For coaching and making suggestions in between shots, a longer speed interval will suffice. But to put a player under a bit of pressure and to ensure good footwork, shorter intervals are essential.
To keep players guessing, randomization of shoots is important. Machines that offer oscillation options in a random horizontal pattern make for a better more entertaining training session.
Spin
The ability to impart spin to the ball makes the machine far more useful as a teaching tool. It helps to give a more realistic feel to each shot and forces the players to adjust their return accordingly.
Battery Life
The amount of time required to charge a battery-powered model could be an important consideration when making your decision because it could limit how much use the machine can get on the court each day. Alternatively, you may have to purchase extra battery packs to keep up with the demand.
If you have no time constraints on how long the machine may be continuously played and you are close to a power source, then AC/DC power options are worth considering.
Construction and Warranty
If your machine is going to be used in a club environment, you want to make sure that it is robust enough to handle the wear and tear. While heavy-duty plastics are the norm, machines with a metal body may be better in this environment. For personal use, a lighter-weight machine will help with transporting it up and down stairs and loading it into the back of your car.
Warranties of at least 2 years are standard and cover the buyer in case of poor workmanship or faulty materials. You also want a supplier who offers great after-sales service and a helpline in case you have any queries on how to set up the machine or correct any problems you may experience.
Spinshot Player Pickleball Machine
SPECS:
- Ball speed: variable speeds: 18 – 68mph (basic model) or 18-80mph (highspeed model)
- Ball feed: 1 ball every 2 seconds
- Ball capacity: 120 balls
- Oscillation: yes
- Weight (lbs): 37lb
- Wheels: yes
- Remote: optional
- Warranty: yes
PROS:
- Very robust construction
- 2-year warranty
- Download your own customized drills
- Practical de-jam feature
- Built-in battery with external battery
CONS:
- Remote control must be purchased separately
- Some players find the machine a bit heavy
Pickleball Machine At A Glance
This Spinshot Player pickleball practice machine holds 120 balls which it can launch every 2 seconds with variable speeds up to 68 mph on its highest setting. It’ll feed your balls with backspin, topspin, and different heights and angles. And as slowly as 1 ball every 20 seconds.
The adjustments and options allow you to feed your balls with a variety of backspin or topspin, different heights, and angles, and as slowly as 1 ball every 20 seconds.
With the Spinshot Player, you don’t have to rush to get into position because you can control it with the remote. You can use it both inside and outside for up to 3 hours in battery mode or for as long as you like if connected to main power.
While it’s a little heavier than most of its competition, the handy wheels allow you to haul it into position with ease.
The Spinshot Player can be connected wirelessly so you can control the machine remotely using your phone, iPhone, watch, or the Spinshot wrist remote. This is great if you want to get a good workout and practice from all positions on the court.
The shots are almost infinitely adjustable, so you can really push yourself with this machine.
Overall, the build quality is extremely good, with high-quality materials used throughout. The metal case appears much more robust than the Lobster pickleball machine and Tutor machines’ plastic cases.
Bear in mind that the battery does take 8 – 15 hours to charge, which will then give you around 2-3 hours of usable life. There’s no fast-charge option available for the battery, so you may want to purchase a spare that can charge while the machine is in use, especially in a club environment.
High-speed ball drills drain the battery more quickly, so you may need an AC outlet close to the court to run the machine directly off mains power instead of relying on the battery when in extended use.
Ideal For
This is a great pickleball machine for a club, as it is a robust piece of equipment made with high-quality, durable materials used throughout. It’s designed to stand up to the higher wear and tear you would expect from club use.
If you’re a pickleball coach and need a versatile machine for indoor and outdoor use, then this machine fits that task perfectly. You can set it to shoot balls at intervals of 2 seconds or adjust it for longer intervals to give players a chance to get into position more easily and with less pressure.
The Best Features
The Spinshot Player has a host of fully customizable features. While it can take a little time to get used to working with the different options, once you get used to it, it will really help players improve their pickleball game and take it to the next level.
Each programable drill has an option of 6 shots, allowing you to set the spin rate, direction, height, and speed of each ball. So, you can use the pre-programmed drills, your own personally designed drills, or the manual mode for repetitive training.
Customer service is excellent, with players reporting that they were able to get answers very quickly to their questions and problems.
One professional player found that his machine wasn’t feeding balls slow enough for dinking drills. The customer representative diagnosed a software issue and the technical team had a fix available within a day. He downloaded the software update to correct the problem and the lowest speed setting was adjusted to feed the balls at a more realistic speed.
Are there any tennis ball machines that also throw tennis balls?
Yes, the Multi-Twist Ball Machine throws tennis balls and pickleball balls.
