As any avid tennis player knows, finding a practice partner who is willing to do tennis drills can be difficult, as they may find it monotonous.
That’s where a tennis ball machine comes in as you can set up the machine to hit you as many balls as you want.
Two popular options on the market are the Lobster Elite Liberty (or “LEL”) and the Slinger Bag (or “SB”) and in this article, I will compare these two machines and discuss their key features, pros, and cons to help you decide which one is the best fit for you.
Slinger Bag vs Lobster Elite Liberty Comparison
| Slinger Bag | vs | Elite Liberty |
|---|---|---|
| 144 | Ball Capacity: | 150 |
 | Design: |  |
| 45MPH (72.42km/h) | Top Speed: | 80MPH (128.75km/h) |
| 10MPH (16.09km/h) | Slowest Speed: | 20MPH (32.19km/h) |
| 1.5-3.5 Hours | Battery Life: | 2-4 Hours |
| 33lbs (528 Ounces) | Weight: | 36lbs (576 Ounces) |
 | Remote Control: | Optional Extra |
| Phone/Camera Holder: |  |
| Oscillation: | |
| Rechargeable Battery: | |
| – Light Weight – Maneuverable – Nice Design – Good Ball Capacity | Pros: | – High Top Speed – Good range of Speeds and Spins – Easy to use |
| – Low Top Speed | Cons: | – Remote has to be purchased separately |
Below is a short YouTube video summarising the differences between the two ball machines.
Ball Capacity
There isn’t a huge difference in terms of ball capacity between the two machines with the LEL (150 balls) having a slightly bigger capacity than the SB (144 balls).
Speeds
The LEL (80MPH (128.75km/h)) has a higher top speed which will suit adult players but the SB (10MPH (16.09km/h)) has a lower minimum speed which will be useful for juniors and adult beginners.
Battery Life
The LEL (2-4 Hours) has a slightly longer battery life than the SB (1.5-3.5 Hours) but on average, you aren’t going to find much of a difference between the two machines.
Weight
The SB (33 lbs (528 Ounces)) is 3 lbs lighter than the LEL (36 lbs (576 Ounces)), so it will be slightly more maneuverable.
Remote Control
The SB comes with a remote control but you have to buy the remote separately for the LEL.
Machines in Action
Below are some YouTube videos showing both machines in action.
Slinger Bag in Action:
Elite Liberty in Action:
More Information on these ball machines is available on the official SlingerBag.com and LobsterSports.com websites.