If you're serious about getting a tennis ball machine, you're serious about improving your game, which means you want a machine you can grow into. With one exception, even the machines for children or beginners contain enough features (speed, ball capacity, playing time, etc.) to keep you challenged as you improve. Our machines for experienced and advanced players improve upon those features with higher speeds and ball capacities, more variety in spins and oscillation, and a slew of programming options. Our very top machines, built for the pros, feature speeds up to 95 mph, the ultimate in programming variety, and plug-in power for infinite training sessions.

This is for My Kid - Our entry-level machines are perfect for getting children excited about playing tennis without requiring a ton of money up front. They feature lower speeds, lower ball capacities, and enough features to keep your little athlete happy for hours on end. One of them, the Tennis Twist, is extremely basic and low-powered, but it lasts for 10 hours on six D batteries and serves baseballs as well as tennis balls. The other machines have more features and speeds that will accommodate a growing game with ease.

I'm Just Getting Started - Whether you're convinced you're in this for the long haul or you're just following up on a whim, we've got a selection of entry-level machines perfectly suited to a beginner's game. With one exception, these have enough speed and training features to help you improve, and they hold enough balls to keep your legs running and your heart pumping. If you have dreams of competing and more than a couple of years of experience, check out our machines to Get into Competition or Blow Away the Competition.

I'd Like to Get into Competition - These aren't our best machines, but they're loaded with the goods: higher speeds, more ball capacity, your choice of power, and with some mixture of spins, oscillations, elevation control, remote control, and even two-line play. Pros and highly skilled vets won't be too impressed by these, so if you are one or you're training one, check out our machines to Blow Away the Competition.

I'd Like to Blow Away the Competition - Want a machine you can't outgrow? Choose from this selection, which boasts our highest speeds and most advanced training features, including the most realistic player simulation, programmable shot selection, program memory, and more. Most of these machines are AC powered, meant to become practice institutions at elite courts the world over.

Where you're going to play dictates what kind of power you need for your machine. If you're playing on one court with a plug-in power source, you'll appreciate an AC machine that plugs in and runs forever. If you're playing on more than one court, or on one court without an outlet, you'll want battery power that you can recharge and carry around as needed. If you want flexibility in power choice, pick one of our AC AND Battery Optional Machines, which offer adaptors to let you switch to your preferred power source as needed. Please note that many of our machines are available with either AC OR Battery, so your choice isn't limited by your power preference.

Home Court - If you're using your machine on one court and one court only, you'd probably prefer AC power, for limitless practice sessions without the hassle of recharging. All of these machine have AC power, whether standard or optional. If you'd like the flexibility to take your machine to other courts but you like the idea of combining that with durable AC, check out our machines for Anywhere I Feel Like a Hitting Session. If you'd rather just have the flexibility of portable battery power, check out the standard or optional battery-powered machines for Rec Courts.

Rec Courts - These models are under 6 feet in length, with slightly sturdier frames (read: longer warranties) than folding models and some higher-end choices from Kettler, one of the industry's most renowned brands. They're all affordable, and they all offer a great total-body workout, especially for smaller users who don't require a long stroke.

School or Club Court - If you're using your machine on one court and one court only, you'd probably prefer AC power, for limitless practice sessions without the hassle of recharging. All of these machine have AC power, whether standard or optional. If you'd like the flexibility to take your machine to other courts but you like the idea of combining that with durable AC, check out our machines for Anywhere I Feel Like a Hitting Session. If you'd rather just have the flexibility of portable battery power, check out the standard or optional battery-powered machines for Rec Courts.

Anywhere I Feel Like a Hitting Session - For the ultimate in flexibility and convenience, choose from our selection of machines that come with battery power you can take anywhere AND AC power that lasts as long as you can play! Please note that for our Sports Tutor models, external AC adaptors will only work with healthy, fully charged batteries — they're not meant as a backup option when the battery runs low.

Where you're going to play dictates what kind of power you need for your machine. If you're playing on one court with a plug-in power source, you'll appreciate an AC machine that plugs in and runs forever. If you're playing on more than one court, or on one court without an outlet, you'll want battery power that you can recharge and carry around as needed. If you want flexibility in power choice, pick one of our AC AND Battery Optional Machines, which offer adaptors to let you switch to your preferred power source as needed. Please note that many of our machines are available with either AC OR Battery, so your choice isn't limited by your power preference.

Plug in and Run Forever - You know exactly where you're going to play, and it's a court with an outlet. These are your machines: AC-powered models you can plug in and run forever. The power source is their only common denominator; you can get anything from an economy ball bucket to an ultimate professional training machine in this category.

A Battery I Can Take Anywhere - Want to choose your machine solely on training features? Look in this selection, where every machine is available in either battery or AC models. Find the machine that's perfect for you, then simply select your preferred power source (not vice versa).

Plug-in and Battery in One! - For the ultimate in flexibility and convenience, choose from our selection of machines that come with battery power you can take anywhere AND the option to add AC power that lasts as long as you can play! Please note that for our Sports Tutor models, external AC adaptors will only work with healthy, fully charged batteries — they're not meant as a backup option when the battery runs low. The AC/DC Converter for our portable SAM machines will work independently of the battery.

The more balls a machine can carry, the longer you can go without interrupting your practice to sweep the court and reload. Keep in mind that bigger ball capacities generally mean bulkier frames that can be harder to fit in a car and harder to store away when not in use.

50 or Fewer - The lowest ball capacity is found in our entry-level machines: the kid-friendly Tennis Twist and the Lobster 201 and 202 ball buckets. They're our lowest-priced machines with entry-level features, and the low capacity means that for any practice lasting longer than 15-20 minutes, you'll have to stop at least once to run around and gather the balls. But it also means that these machines are our smallest and most portable — great for practicing on any court, anytime.

51 - 150 - Medium-sized ball capacities are found in machines for intermediate players — a category which just so happens to include some of our best-selling machines, like the Tennis Tutor, Tennis Tutor Plus, and Lobster Elite Three. You'll be able to work up a good sweat before stopping to pick up the balls, but you'll endure more practice interruptions than you would with one of our machines with ball capacity of More than 150.

More than 150 - Build your stamina, work your stroke, and find your rhythm with our More than 150 Ball Capacity machines, which range up to 300 balls and give you a good, extended go before any pick-up is necessary. These are generally our biggest and best machines, though you can find some to suit fit intermediate players. They're also our least portable, which makes sense given the size of the ball hoppers involved. (Distinguish between battery and AC powered machines with the Need Help? section.)

60 mph - Most beginners and some experienced players will be happy enough with these machines, which feature speeds adjustable from 10 or 15 mph to 60 mph. The category has a range of other features like high ball capacity (the i-Sam and i-SAM+).

70 mph - Built to advance the game of many school and club players, our machines with speeds up to 70 mph move up the line in other features as well. They still don't have enough juice for the most advanced games, but they're great for teens and adults with more than a year of experience under their belts.

80 mph - These are built to accommodate every user -- short or tall, small or large -- without regard to noise or space restrictions. They include the best machines from some of the industry's best brands -- WaterRower, Concept 2, and LifeCore -- with the sturdiest construction around and warranties to match. Most are also programmed with great training options to suit everyone from novices to serious competitive rowers.

More than 80 mph - Now you're talking: the highest speeds, the best features, the most heavy-duty frames for long-term training programs. These are our very finest machines, with enough power to keep even the pros on their toes.

How portable do you need your machine to be? We've broken our machines into four categories: Light (under 33 lbs) with Wheels, for the ultimate in on-the-go convenience; Light (under 33 lbs) without Wheels; Heavy (over 33 lbs) with Wheels; and Heavy (over 33 lbs) without Wheels. What you give up in portability with the heavy machines, you often get back in advanced features. Our very top-of-the-line machines are meant for advanced players' permanent courts in backyards or, more typically, in clubs and teaching schools.

Light with Wheels - These machines are easiest to move around a court. They're not necessarily battery-powered; if you're looking for a machine to put in your car and take anywhere, make sure it has an option for battery power, which doesn't require an outlet.

Light without Wheels - These super-lightweight models include many of our most popular battery-powered machines, including the i-SAM series and the Tennis Tutor ProLite. They're the easiest machines to take on the go from court to court.

Heavy with Wheels - If you're a larger rower or need to accommodate a range of users -- heads up, gym owners! -- you need a machine that can hold up. Average-sized users will appreciate them as well; they're the most stable, durable models we sell.

Not many people hit the ball without spin. If you'd like to train against more realistic shots, choose machines with Topspin & Backspin capability. If you're just looking to focus on your own shots for a while, or if spins don't bother you, get a machine with No Spin and keep your money on features like top speeds, ball capacity, and oscillation.

No Spin - If you're not ready for competition just yet and you just want to hone your own form, you can save some money by choosing one of our No Spin machines that provide basic, flat shots. You can still get speeds up to 70 mph and features like elevation control and oscillation. If you buy a Lobster machine, you can always add a spin adaptor in the future if you decide you want to practice against spins after all.

Topspin & Backspin - Any high-end machine will have spin capability to allow you to practice against realistic shots — a must for competition. Beginners looking to shape their own game won't necessarily need to practice against spins right away, but if you ever plan to compete, you'll need to know what hitting against spin feels like. Note: topspin is the most common spin for groundstrokes; backspin (or underspin) is commonly practiced in drop shots.

Tennis is a game of side-to-side and forward and backward movement. If you're content with focusing on side-to-side movement, a machine with Side to Side oscillation is your best bet. If you want the challenge of moving in every direction, you'll need a machine that moves you Side to Side and Front to Back

Side to Side - If you're content with focusing on lateral movement, a machine with Side to Side oscillation is your best bet. You won't get the front-to-back training available in machines with Side to Side and Front to Back oscillation, but you'll get plenty of footwork and cardio training for a little less money.

Side to Side, Front to Back - Tennis is a game of side-to-side and forward and backward movement. If you want the challenge of moving in every direction, you'll need a machine that moves you Side to Side and Front to Back.

Lobs, drop shots, ground strokes…the kind of strokes you'll encounter are produced by varying elevation. Machines with manual elevation rely on a practice partner to control the arc of the shots from the other side of the court. If you're playing by yourself and crave variety, you'll need a machine with electronic elevation control.

Manual - Machines with manual elevation rely on a practice partner to control the arc of the shots from the other side of the court (you can also pre-set the machine to your preferred setting, but you'll need to run over and change it when needed). If you need a more responsive, easier controlled machine, choose an Electronic elevation model that features more variety, more settings, and remote control or pre-set features to help you adjust elevation without leaving your side of the court.

Electronic - If you need a more responsive, easier-controlled machine, choose an Electronic elevation model that features more variety, more settings, and remote control or pre-set features to help you adjust elevation without leaving your side of the court. If you'll be playing with a partner or coach who can adjust the elevation as needed, you can save money by opting for a machine with Manual elevation control.

If you're playing alone and want the power to control your game, you need a machine with remote control. Choose from Optional Machines, where you'll have to add the remote to your order, and Included Machines, where the price includes the remote. Remotes are also great features for coaches who want the freedom to rove around for instruction and dictate practice at the same time.

Included - These top-quality models come with remote control included — no extra fees. Just make sure the remote has enough features to accommodate your practice sessions; the most basic remotes control only on/off and ball feed, while the most advanced control things like oscillation, speed, elevation, and player simulation level.

Optional - If you plan to use your machine in your bedroom, living room, or anywhere else where a little noise could create a big problem, you'll want to choose from these models. You can find all kinds of rowers -- big or small, folding or non-folding, wood or metal, flashy or basic -- but none of them will drown out your snoring spouse or your favorite TV show.

Not Available - Who cares about noise? You want real rowing simulation that doesn't cost an arm and a leg. Your money is best spent on Air Resistance machines, favored models of health clubs for their full-sized frames, realistic rowing stroke, and modest price tags.