Month: April 2021

The Lobster Elite Freedom is a mid-level tennis ball machine. Like all of the Lobster range, the Elite Freedom is lightweight, portable and comes with a range of advanced features.

The Lobster Elite Freedom is a mid-level tennis ball machine. Like all of the Lobster range, the Elite Freedom is lightweight, portable and comes with a range of advanced features.

The battery-operated launcher is designed to offer maximum durability whilst still being light enough to transport to and from the court.

Offering great value for money, the Elite Freedom provides outstanding performance for an affordable price tag. If you want to know more about the Lobster Elite Freedom and its features, keep reading!

Technical Details

Weighing just 35 pounds, the Elite Freedom is one of the lightest ball machines on the market. Despite its light weight, the launcher is strong and hard-wearing, so you don’t need to worry about damaging it during transport.

Like the other machines in the Elite series, the Freedom is mounted onto two large wheels for easy movement around the court.

The launcher features a standard ball hopper that can hold 150 balls. This keeps the machine light weight while still providing ample playing time before needing to refill.

The machine is battery powered and has a backup time of between 2 and 4 hours. A premium 3-Amp fast charger is included with the machine, so you don’t have to worry about forking out more cash.

The machine is similar to the Elite 1 but has a couple of more advanced features. One of the best and most challenging features is the corner-to-corner sweeps that help to improve your lateral movements.

As most of the settings are customizable, the Freedom is suitable for all types of tennis players. It offers random and horizontal oscillation and can fire out the ball at speeds from 10 to 70mph.

Like the Lobster Elite 1 and the Lobster Elite 2, the Elite Freedom has a feed rate of 2 to 10 seconds. While it doesn’t offer any spin on the ball, you can manually adjust the elevation from between 0 and 50 degrees.

The Good

Here are some of the Lobster Elite Freedom’s best bits.

+ Speed

The machine is capable at shooting the ball at a speed range of 10 and 70 mph. This makes the launcher suitable for all players, regardless of your ability or training requirements. If you’re a beginner, you can start with a speed of 10 and progress to 35 mph. Intermediate players should opt for between 30 and 50 mph while pro-level tennis athletes should start at 45 mph and go as high as 70.

+ Feed Rate

Feed rate is one of the most important features in a tennis ball launcher. Thankfully, the Lobster Elite Freedom can go as low as 2 seconds to as high as 10, making it suitable for all types of player. If you’re just starting with tennis, begin at 10 seconds and speed up as necessary.

+ Battery Powered

The Lobster Elite Freedom is battery powered and comes with a rechargeable battery pack. When fully charged, the battery will last somewhere between 2 and 4 hours. The battery can be recharged using either a standard 1-Amp or a premium 3-Amp fast charger. If you go for the premium option, it should take less than 8 hours to fully recharge the battery.

+ Elevation

Adding elevation to your shots will make use of overhead shots and improve your tennis skills. Thankfully, the Freedom’s elevation can be set anywhere between 0 and 50 degrees so you can adjust it to suit your training requirements. The only downside is that it has to be altered manually.

+ Oscillation

The Elite Freedom offers random horizontal oscillation to improve your lateral movements on the court. When switched on, the random oscillation shoots the ball randomly across the court so you’ll never know where it’s going. To make things even more challenging, pair this with the varying speed and feed rate. It’s also worth mentioning the Freedom’s full corner-to-corner capability. This innovative feature will take your tennis skills to a whole new level.

The Bad

Here are the drawbacks of the Lobster Elite Freedom.

– Poor Batteries

Though the battery pack is designed to last up to 4 hours, a few customers have complained that it drains in less than 2 hours after a couple of uses. This may prove annoying if you want to enjoy a long practice session. One way around this is purchasing an additional battery and alternating between the two if necessary.

Material & Construction

Like all the Lobster machines in the Elite series, the Freedom has durable plastic construction. This keeps the machine lightweight while still providing the necessary strength to last longer. The launcher also comes with a plastic cover. This can be used to protect the machine during transport and also to protect it from the elements when stored outside or in the garage.

Overall Performance

Overall, the Lobster Elite Freedom is an excellent tennis ball machine. Although it has some flaws, these are certainly outweighed by the machine’s pros and affordable price tag. The launcher performs well on the court and will certainly improve your tennis skills when used regularly.

Who Is It For?

As the Freedom is fully customizable, it’s suitable for all types of player. Whether you’re a beginner, intermediate or advanced level tennis payer, the Lobster Elite Freedom will help you to improve your game.

Verdict

With a weight of 35 pounds, the Elite Freedom is one of the most portable machines on the market. If you’re looking for a portable tennis ball machine with excellent features, this launcher will suit you perfectly.

Lobster has always offered a wide range of tennis ball machines. The Elite 3 is the most advanced in the Elite range, following the Lobster Elite 1 and the Lobster Elite 2.

With a similar design to the previous models, the Elite 3 is light weight and can easily be maneuvered in and out of the trunk.

As it’s mounted on two large wheels, you can also move the machine around the court without putting your back out. While the Elite 1, 2, and 3 have some similarities, the features get more advanced as you move up the models.

The Elite 3 benefits from horizontal oscillation, allowing you to shoot the ball both wide and narrow. This mixes things up to provide a challenging practice session on the court.

If you want to know more about the Lobster Elite 3 and its features, keep reading!

Technical Details

The Lobster Elite 3 weight just 44 pounds, making it lightweight and easily portable. The machine has a convenient handle which is used to maneuver it around the court. As it’s mounted on two large wheels, the launcher can easily be pulled or pushed to your desired location.

Like all Lobster launchers, the Elite 3 has a large ball hopper which folds upside down.

The machine can hold a maximum of 150 balls, allowing you to play for a decent amount of time before needing to refill.

The machine comes with a rechargeable battery with a backup time between 4 and 8 hours. This varies depending on how you use the machine, but you’ll get at least 4 hours when using the launcher to its full capacity.

As the Elite 3 is more advanced than the Elite 1, Elite 2, the Lobster Sports Elite Grand Five, and the Lobster Sports Elite Liberty Tennis Ball Machine, it offers random, horizontal, and vertical oscillation.

If you want the best of both worlds, the machine also has a setting for combined horizontal and vertical oscillation. To provide a challenging practice session, you can adjust the ball speed between 20 and 80mph. The feed can be adjusted between 2 and 10 seconds, while the elevation can be altered from 0 to 50 degrees.

The Good

Like all tennis ball launchers, the Lobster Elite 3 has some good points and some not-so-good points. Below, we explore a few of our favorite things.

+ Electronic Elevation

Though most tennis ball machines offer ball elevation, it’s usually manual. However, the Elite 3 offers 0 to 50-degree electronic elevation. This can be adjusted via the control panel or the Lobster remote. Providing randomly angled shots, the machine helps you to master several different moves.

+ Various Oscillation Options

Many tennis ball machines either offer vertical or horizontal oscillation. The Lobster Elite 3 comes with random, horizontal, vertical, and horizontal & vertical oscillation for an advanced experience on the court. Better still, you can set the launcher to add random oscillations to your shots to mix things up. This, along with the varying speed and feed rate will ensure you don’t become complaisant.

+ Adjustable Speed

The speed can be set as low as 20 mph to as high as 80 mph. The adjustable speed means that the Elite 3 is suitable for players of all sorts. Typically, beginners are best suited to a ball speed of between 20 and 45 mph, whereas intermediate and advanced level players are better off starting with 45 and going as high as 80 mph. Regardless of the speed, the Elite 3 provides a high level of spin to make the experience more challenging for you.

+ Good Battery Life

From fully charged, the battery will last between 4 and 8 hours depending on how you use the machine. This allows you to enjoy a healthy practice session before needing to recharge. It’s worth keeping in mind that the battery can take a while to recharge if you run it fully down, though.

+ Portable

The machines light weight makes it easy to transport to and from your car. The large wheels that the launcher is mounted onto also make it easy to maneuver around the court.

The Bad

Here are some of the Elite 3’s drawbacks.

– Recharging Time

While the battery backup time is impressive, the recharging time is not. It can take as long as 25 hours to fully recharge the battery, which is much longer than similar machines on the market. The long recharge time also increases the risk of overcharging the battery which can affect its lifespan. If you want to decrease the recharging time, you’ll need to invest in a premium fast charger.

– Poor Folding Handle

The Lobster Elite 3 features a handle to push and pull it around the court. While this is handy, the handle is of poor quality so must be used with caution. If you’re not careful, this could easily snap and negatively impact its maneuverability.

Material & Construction

The launcher boasts a durable plastic construction. The hard-wearing case allows you to transport the machine with peace of mind and also protects it from the elements when left out on the court.

Overall Performance

Overall, the Lobster Elite 3 is one of the best machines on the market. The most advanced model in the Elite series, the launcher will certainly take your game to the next level.

Who Is It For?

With fully customizable features, the Elite 3 is suitable for all abilities. Whether you’re a beginner, intermediate or professional level tennis player, the machine can be adjusted to suit your needs.

Verdict

If you’re looking for a feature-rich tennis ball machine with a reasonable price tag, the Lobster Elite 3 will suit you perfectly. The lightweight design makes it easy to lift in and out of the trunk, while the wheels allow you to move it around the court with ease. If you want to take your tennis game to the next level, the Lobster Elite 3 will not disappoint.

If you want the best ball machine for your money, look no further than the Lobster Elite 2.

The Elite 2 Portable is another great launcher from Lobster that comes with a plethora of features and an affordable price tag. Just like the other Lobster series ball machines, the Elite 2 has a classy but durable design.

Designed for maximum durability, the launcher can tackle wear and tear and remain in top-quality for years to come. If you want to know more about the Lobster Elite 2 and its features, keep reading!

Technical Details

The Lobster Elite is 2 is Lobster’s mid-range ball machine. Sandwiched between the Elite 1 and the Elite 3, the Elite 2 offers similar features to the Elite 3, with a price tag closer to the Elite 1. The combination of this machine’s price and features make it popular amongst tennis players of all sorts.

Weighing just 44 pounds, the machine is one of the lightest on the market. The lightweight makes it suitable for transporting to and from the court, and even in and out of your trunk.

The lightweight profile and ergonomic design don’t just make the machine practical, but they also make it look appealing.

Unlike other tennis ball machines on the market, the Elite 2 doesn’t look too clunky. Mounted on extra-large wheels, it’s also easy to wheel the launcher around the court.

With a feed rate of between 2 and 10 seconds, the Elite 2 simulates the motion of a real player. It can fire out the ball at a speed of between 20 and 80mph and can be adjusted to suit your training requirements.

Like the Elite 1, the Elite 2 has a 150-ball hopper to maximize time on the court without needing to refill. The machine is battery-powered, and the charger is included with your purchase. When the battery is fully charged it has a backup time of between 4 and 8 hours, depending on how intensely you use the machine.

The Good

Like all tennis ball machines, the Lobster Elite 2 has its pros and cons. Below, we explore some of its key features.

+ Good Value for Money

Compared with similar machines on the market, the Elite 2 boasts great value for money. The machine is reasonably priced and offers plenty of interesting features to improve your playing experience. The launcher comes with everything you’ll need to get started, including the battery charger at no additional cost. Providing that you’ve got a tennis racket and enough balls, you can use the Elite 2 right away.

+ Innovative Oscillation

To improve your gameplay, the Lobster Elite 2 comes with an innovative oscillation feature. The feature includes three variations: side to side, forward and backward, and combo. Below, we explore these in more detail.

Side to Side: During Side to Side oscillation, the machine can feed the balls smoothly from side to side. If you want to mimic the movement of a real opponent, this feature is a must-have.

Forward & Backward: To make you travel forward and backward on the court, the Elite 2 boasts forward and backward oscillation. When turned on, this feature feeds the ballers deeper into the court.

Combo: The combo function provides the best of both worlds. Combining the two oscillations, this feature provides the side to side and forward and backward modes simultaneously.

+ Speed & Feed Rate

The Elite 2 boasts variable ball speed and feed rate. The machine fires out the balls at a speed of 20-80mph. This is more than enough for both beginners and advanced level players, as the speed can be adjusted to suit your preference.

The feed rate can be set as low as 2 seconds or as high as 10. This is the same as the Isam Ultimate Tennis Ball Machine, the Lobster Sports Elite Freedom Machine, and the Lobster Sports Elite 3 Tennis Ball Machine. Both the speed and feed rate can be adjusted via the easy-to-use control panel.

+ Adjustable Spin and Elevation

If you want to challenge yourself on the court, you’ll need a machine with a good level of topspin. Thankfully, the Lobster Elite 2 provides just that. The elevation can be adjusted between 0 and 60 degrees to provide a realistic on-court experience. Like the other settings, these can be adjusted via the control panel or the remote which can be purchased separately.

+ Impressive Power

Like the Lobster Elite 1, the Elite 2 has an impressive battery life. When it’s fully charged, the battery has a backup time of between 4 and 8 hours depending on use. If you want to enjoy a longer session, you can transform your Elite 2 so that it runs from AC. To do this, all you need to do is purchase the AC power unit and plug the machine in!

The Bad

Here are some downsides to the Lobster Elite 2.

– Additional Cost

If you want to transform your machine into an AC powered launcher, you’ll need to purchase the AC power unit separately. While this isn’t a necessity, it’s a great option for those who want to play for a long time without worrying about the battery.

You can also purchase a remote to use with the Lobster Elite 2, however, this is also sold separately. While this isn’t uncommon, it would be nice is the remote came as part of the package.

Material & Construction

The body and ball holders of the Lobster Elite 2 are made out of hard-wearing plastic. This keeps the machine lightweight while also maximizing durability. The launcher also comes with a 2-years solid warranty against manufacturing defects, which is a bonus.

Who Is It For?

With fully customizable settings, the Elite 2 is suitable for tennis players of all levels. Regardless of whether you’re a beginner, intermediate, or advanced level tennis athlete, the Elite 2 will help to improve your skills.

Verdict

Overall, the Lobster Elite 2 is a mid-level ball machine with several great features. The machine gives you a taste of how it feels to play a professional game, without the need for a real opponent. If you’re looking to improve your tennis skills without breaking the bank, this launcher will suit you perfectly.

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