Every few weeks a student asks me the same question: “Should I just buy a ball machine?” It’s a fair one. A machine can be the difference between practicing twice a month and practicing whenever you want. But they aren’t cheap, and the right answer depends on how you actually play.
Here’s how I think about it after years of coaching in Auburn.
Who gets the most out of a ball machine
- Players without a regular hitting partner. If scheduling is your biggest obstacle, a machine removes it entirely.
- Anyone drilling a specific shot. Grooving a one-handed backhand or a third-shot drop takes hundreds of reps. A machine delivers them consistently.
- Juniors and improvers. Repetition builds muscle memory faster than occasional matches.
Who probably doesn’t need one
- Casual players who mostly enjoy social doubles.
- Anyone who already has a steady, reliable hitting partner.
- Players still learning fundamentals who’d benefit more from lessons first.
What to look for before you buy
There’s a huge range in price and features. The things that actually matter:
- Feed consistency and spin — the whole point is reliable, realistic balls.
- Portability and battery life — can you get it to the court and last a session?
- App control and drills — this is the big one. A basic machine just feeds balls to the same spot. A smart, app-controlled machine can run programmed drills that move you around the court, which is far closer to real practice.
- Capacity and quick reload — more balls per load means fewer interruptions to gather them back up.
My bottom line
If you’re motivated, practice alone often, and want to actually improve, a good machine pays for itself in court time. If you’re mostly social, save the money and book a few lessons instead.
I’ll be publishing a full hands-on comparison of the machines I’ve tested with my students soon — check back, or reach out if you want a recommendation for your game.