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.
