A Pickleball Machine Comparison: Tutor Plus vs Tutor vs Lobster

There are three main pickleball machines on the market and if you're looking to keep your game sharp, there's no better investment to supplement practicing solo or with small groups.

Many players use them at clubs, activity centers or within their own homes to work on different drills and improve their game. But how do you know which one will be right for you? This article will describe the major differences.

The machines in question are the Lobster Pickle Ball Machine, Pickleball Tutor and Tutor Plus. The following table compares the first two machines with the Tutor Plus below for easier viewing.

	Tutor Plus	Tutor	Lobster
Ball Capacity	110	125	135
Weight	27/34 lbs (AC/Battery Model)	22/29 lbs (AC/Battery Model)	35 lbs
Dimensions Assembled	26” x 16” x 26”	12” x 18” x 20”	21” x 14” x 20”
Dimensions for Travel in car/storage
Ball Speed (Be accurate)	Up to 65 mph	Up to 60 mph	Up to 60 mph
Feed Rate	1 – 10 seconds	1 – 10 seconds	2 - 12 seconds
Topspin	Yes	No	Yes
Underspin	Yes	No	Yes
Electronic Elevation Control	Optional	Optional	No
Manual Elevation Control	Yes	Yes	Yes
Random Oscillation	Yes	Yes	Yes
Two Line Drills Oscillation	Optional	Optional	No
Compatible with Cart or Table Horizontal Volley Drills	Yes	Yes	No
Standard Charger Recharge Time
Trickle Charger Included
Optional Fast Charger
AC Only Option
Battery Only Option
Dual Battery / AC Option
Other features as John recommends…

	Lobster Pickle Ball Machine	Pickleball Tutor
Ball Capacity	135	125
Weight	35 lbs	22/29 lbs (AC/Battery Model)
Dimensions	21” x 14” x 20”	12” x 18” x 20”
Speed	Up to 60 mph	Up to 60 mph
Feed Rate	2 – 12 seconds	1 – 10 seconds
Oscillation	Horizontal and topspin/backspin	Optional horizontal
Adjustable Elevation	Yes	Yes
Battery Life	2-4 hours	2-3 hours
Warranty	2 years on machine, 6 months on battery and wheels	3 years on machine, 1 on battery
Price	$899.99	$849.99
Additional Features	Wheels Optional remotes Optional storage cover Optional battery pack Optional 1 and 3 AMP fast chargers Optional AC converter	Lightweight tow cart w/ wheels Optional remotes Optional storage cover Optional battery pack Optional 2-line feature Optional AC converter
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Please note the prices noted here are accurate per this article's date. Pricing is subject to change in the future. To confirm current costs, follow the links included.

	Pickleball Tutor Plus
Ball Capacity	110
Weight	27 lbs (AC model) 34 lbs (battery model)
Dimensions	26” x 16” x 26”
Speed	Up to 65 mph
Feed Rate	1 – 10 seconds
Oscillation	Random oscillation and topspin/backspin
Adjustable Elevation	Yes
Battery Life	2-3 hours
Warranty	3 years on machine, 1 on battery
Price	$999.99
Additional Features	Attached handle and wheels Optional storage cover Optional 2-line feature Optional remote Optional battery pack Optional AC converter Optional electric elevator
Appearance

Major Differences

One of the Lobster Pickle Ball Machine's main benefits are its attached 8' wheels which allow it to be maneuvered without the need for lifting or dragging. It can put spin on pickleballs and this makes it a great choice for learning how to counter tricky shots. It holds a slightly higher amount of pickleballs than the Tutor along with an extra hour of maximum charge in the base model.

The Pickleball Tutor comes with a tow cart that can be used for easy transport. It has a lighter weight, longer overall warranty and less expensive cost (for the non-oscillating models). The Tutor can oscillate normally if that model is chosen, but a 2-line feature can also be added to the machine's capabilities, allowing it to shoot between two preset locations on the court. This lets players work on their forehand and backhand or practice with a partner.

The Tutor Plus has the lowest ball capacity of all the machines, however it has the highest speed in the industry so far at a maximum 65 mph. It offers a combination of the others' benefits including topspin/backspin capacity, an optional 2-line feature and attached wheels. This makes it a great choice for players who want to practice a wide variety of shots in different scenarios.

How Are They Powered?

All the machines can be run through battery or AC power. The Lobster comes standard with a battery and has an additional component (External AC Power Supply) that can be bought to switch it to AC.

The Tutor and Tutor Plus can be purchased with battery or AC power for the same price. The Tutor machines' battery units can also be used with an additional external AC power supply.

Travel Comparison

While the dimensions of each machine are shown above, it can be difficult to determine how the Lobster and Tutor will fit in a car during travel. We've taken a few images of the machines stored in a car trunk for easy reference.

As you'll see, the Lobster requires extra space due to the pickleball-holding bin, while the Tutor is fairly self contained. We do not currently have comparison images of the Tutor Plus available, but it's the longest and second most slender machine next to the Lobster.

Optional Add-Ons

In addition to an External AC Power Supply, there are a number of options that all machines offer. You can add a wireless remote that will control ball feed and oscillation, an external battery pack that will add significant battery time on the court and covers that will protect your machine from debris and dust while in storage.

The Lobster has the option of a Fast or Premium Charger which allow it to charge the unit more quickly.

Both Tutors offer an electronic elevation option that allows you to more easily adjust the ball trajectory.

Video Tutorials

We've created tutorials that show how to set up, run and use the Lobster, Tutor and Tutor Plus. Give them a watch to see how they play in action!

The Tutor not only has the following video available, but there are several videos created with pro player Simone Jardim that run through drills you can try with the Tutor. To see those, check out out Tutor playlist on Youtube.

The Tutor Plus' control panel is the easiest to reach due to its height and design.

With three great machines available, which one do you find suits your requirements? If you have experience with any of these products, we'd love to hear your feedback on what makes these pickleball practice powerhouses handy on the courts.