The Spinshot Player tennis ball machine is one of the most sought out machines on the market. It’s one of the best performing tennis ball machines, offering a fantastic number of features, and extra-ordinary design.When compared with similarly priced products, the Player model offers far superior features than its competitors.
If you’re looking for a top-notch tennis ball machine, regardless of the hefty price tag, the Spinshot Player might be your next training partner. It’s fully customizable and mimics the experience of playing with a pro tennis athlete. Offering a variety of features and drills, the Player model is suitable for any tennis player looking to improve their skills.
With tons of features, the Spinshot Player is probably one of the best, and the most reasonably priced tennis ball machines on the market.
- Use Phone to Program each Shot for Speed, Spin, Height, Angle and Feed Rate.. No additional Cost for Phone Remote Upgrade.
- Any Type of Oscillation Can be Easily Made By the Player Model.
- Charger Provided. Battery Sold separately.
- You Can Program the Machine to Make your Own Drills.
- Only Ball Machine Machine not made of Plastic.
Features and specifications:
Unlike most models from their competitors, who use plastic housing, the Spinshot decided to give Players a metal body. The green powder-coated aluminum body is more stable than a plastic frame, and it can withstand the worse treatment. Though it may seem like a disadvantage, it’s much more practical. It’s lightweight and rust-free, and it can keep its top condition for many years.
The aluminum body measures 21”x21”x14”, and weighs only 42lbs. It’s mounted on towing wheels, which make it extremely maneuverable on the court. Even kids won’t have much trouble moving it around the tennis court.
There are five different functions you can use on this tennis ball machine. You can adjust the ball speed, spin, feed interval, and shot height, and horizontal angle of the shots. Just about any function, you would need during a tennis practice. The ball capacity of this model is 120 balls, which is slightly less than the industry’s standard for this price range.
The maximum ball speed reaches up to 68mph, which exceeds some more expensive models. The minimum speed sits at 30mph, making this machine suitable for beginners and intermediate players, too. Balls can be launched at an adjustable interval, ranging from 2 to 10 seconds. Also, the Player offers nine different spin rates for topspins, and backspins, offering an adjustability range wide enough to satisfy even the most demanding of athletes.
Probably the best feature of this tennis ball machine is its oscillation capabilities. The Player features both vertical and horizontal oscillation, both of which are fully customizable. You can adjust both the width and the height of swings, as well as the depth of the shots. Also, the horizontal oscillation offers a 2-Line function, which allows you to adjust the shot angle to be broader or narrower. With such extensive oscillation features, you can change the settings to best suit your training requirements.
Along with the fully customizable oscillation, the Player comes with 12 preprogrammed drills, which are also fully customizable. Each of these 12 drills consists of six ball shots. And they’re so customizable that you can even customize each shot in the training to suit your needs. With this feature, you can practice a single shot multiple time, or you can sequence several different shoots, to better increase your skills.
The programmable drills offer several factors that can be adjusted, like horizontal shots, ball speed, and spin, and feed interval. However, if you want to enjoy the full experience of the tennis match, you can use the “random” drill. It shoots the ball at a completely random vertical and horizontal angle, at random speeds. In this case, the feed interval is pre-set to 6 seconds, which doesn’t sound like a challenge to an advanced player. Do keep in mind that the random drill is designed to stress out even the most advanced tennis players.
All the features are programmable through a control panel, placed on the side of the tennis ball machine. Instead of a typical RC, the Spinshot offers a downloadable app for the Player model, for free. The app is compatible with Android and Apple phones, and it mirrors the control panel. It’s pretty user-friendly and straightforward to use, allowing you to adjust all the settings, and pause the feeder when you wish to. All you need to connect the app to the machine is a WiFi connection.
The SpinshotSport offers several options for powering this tennis ball machine. The default option is the battery, which offers 2-3 hours of court time, depending on the drills performed. It might not sound like much, but it will satisfy even those with the most stamina. Recharging the battery takes 8 to 15 hours, which is a bit long.
Please note that there’s a lot of talk on the internet about the battery being sold at an additional cost, since the Player ships without the battery. This is not true, as the battery is included in the initial price. However, it’s packed and shipped separately from the machine itself.
The other option is powering the machine with an AC power module, which allows you to draw power directly from the AC socket. This option is best suited for tennis clubs, as it offers unlimited court time. You can order the AC power module at the point of purchase, of you can buy it later on. Replacing the battery with an AC unit requires minimal tech skills, and it can be done pretty quickly. This option is a good value for your money, especially if you’re a tennis couch.
The good:
- Fully adjustable oscillation feature
- 12 preprogrammed drills
- Multiple power options
The Bad:
- Short battery life
Final verdict:
Providing a fantastic range of features at the given price tag, the Spinshot Player is one of the best tennis machines in its field. It offers superior performance, with a variety of features and drills, at a very reasonable price.
The 2-3 hours court time might feel insufficient, but it’s the best it can provide, given the number of options it offers. This is easily solvable by upgrading your unit with an AC power module. On the upside, the Player is the first tennis ball machine to provide a free Remote-Control App.
Even though it’s designed to challenge even the most experienced athletes, with fully customizable settings, the Player is suitable for anyone looking to improve their skills.
- Use Phone to Program each Shot for Speed, Spin, Height, Angle and Feed Rate.. No additional Cost for Phone Remote Upgrade.
- Any Type of Oscillation Can be Easily Made By the Player Model.
- Charger Provided. Battery Sold separately.
- You Can Program the Machine to Make your Own Drills.
- Only Ball Machine Machine not made of Plastic.
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