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The investment in a tennis ball machine is an excellent way to improve your game. You can improve a weakness such as your backhand or perfect your forehand, but also work on your volley, rhythm, sequences of play and endurance. The balls sent to you in succession are all identical and of the same quality, allowing you to focus on a specific shot or gesture. For club coaches, the ball launcher allows more time for players to correct their technique. We suggest you to come back on the main criteria of choice to be taken into account to find the model of tennis ball machine adapted to your needs.

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Criteria of choice

Slinger ball launcher on a court

Speed

The maximum speed of the balls sent by a ball launcher and the possibility of adjusting this speed are important elements to take into consideration in your choice. On average, the ball launcher offers a speed between 16 and 140 km/h. Below 90 km/h, the ball will be rather slow to give you time to place and hit the ball. Above 110km/h, the speed starts to be useful for competitive players.

The ejection interval

This criteria will allow to impregnate the rhythm. Very often, higher ranked players have more consistency and more power. They deprive you of time and therefore you don’t have the rhythm to compete, because you don’t often play against players ranked much higher than you. The idea here is to shorten the ejection interval in order to hit more balls in a shorter time, to position yourself and to organize yourself technically so that you are not hindered anymore. With a ball launcher, you can get into a high rhythm and it will also train your physical condition.

Slinger bag placed on a court

The direction

Pay attention to the different directions in which the ball launcher of your choice can send balls : on the backhand or forehand side and in a fixed or random manner.

The effects

Some ball launchers offer chop or lift. This option is interesting if you have trouble returning your opponents’ backhand chops, for example.

The programming of game sequences

Being able to program play sequences on your ball launcher will allow you to vary the different balls sent, for example by starting with two balls on the forehand side, then a short ball then a smash, etc.

Ball thrower battery charge indicator

The power supply

Most ball launchers have a lithium battery, which allows them to have a slower discharge, a longer life and a faster recharge than older lead batteries. Lead-acid batteries also require recharging every 2 months if you are not using your ball launcher.

The remote control

A remote control that will allow you to control your ball launcher remotely will certainly be essential so that you don’t need to go to the other end of the field each time.

The ball capacity

Also, pay attention to the number of balls that your ball launcher can carry : the larger its capacity, the longer you will be able to train before refilling it. The Slinger Bag, for example, will allow you to put up to 144 balls in it.

Which tennis ball launcher to choose ?

Slinger bag ball laucher with its ball catcher

I want to improve my technique

If you are looking for a ball machine to perfect a shot or to progress, you don’t need a launcher that provides high speed and many features. The Slinger Bag, which sends balls between 16 and 73 km/h, could be just what you need : it is possible on this one to put some lift and to set the ejection in random mode in order to receive balls from left to right. Its price is very affordable compared to other ball launchers on the market.

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set of tennis balls

What type of ball should I choose for my ball launcher ?

You will have the choice between many models of balls with or without pressure to feed your ball launcher. You’ll get more comfort and fun with pressure balls, but a shorter life span because the launch wheels compress the ball when ejected. To improve the life of the balls, we therefore recommend using balls without pressure, which will have the same lifetime as if they were fired by an opponent. If you still want to use pressure balls to maintain a good feel for the game, Head Tour balls offer very good wear resistance.

Please note that junior foam, orange, red or green balls cannot be inserted into a tennis ball launcher because they are too soft to be ejected.

How do I maintain my ball launcher ?

  • Keep your machine in a dry place and avoid excessive temperature differences and humid places ;
  • Regularly clean the launch wheels with a dry cloth : they may occasionally have felt embedded in them and removing it will allow you to use your tennis ball launcher optimally.

Previously, it was important, especially during the winter period when you were not using the tennis ball machine, to recharge the battery at least completely once every two months. From now on, thanks to our selection of ball launchers with lithium battery, you are no longer obliged to do this operation.

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