Its great to see that the popularity of Tennis continues to grow in schools.Organised by the Tennis Foundation and supported by the LTA a Tennis Program targeted at Secondary Schools has been launched

This is a result of a similar program run in Primary Schools which over the past 12 months has seen a large number of Primary School teachers successfully trained in tennis delivery.

The Tennis Tutor Pro Lite measures 19.5” L x 12” H x 18” W (495 X 305 X 457mm) and weighs 29lbs (13.2KG)

A standard Doubles Court measures 36ft (10.97m) in width by 78ft (23.77m) in length.

If you are looking for a machine which doesn’t cost thousands of pounds but does the basics well the Tennis Tutor Pro Lite may be your best option. With a ball speed of 18 – 60 mph and ball interval setting of between 2 – 12 seconds it is suitable for both beginners and intermediate players or indeed could be regarded as a fun machine for the entire family.

The Lobster Elite Freedom with the facility to fire Mini Tennis Balls is also worth consideration. Please click on the above links to review the full specifications of both machines

The manufacturers of Tennis Ball Machines recommend using pressureless balls as these tend to be more durable and retain their bounce for longer than standard pressurised or match balls . A particular good quality pressurised tennis ball is the Tretorn Micro X Trainer which tends to last longer than many of the other balls on the market.

All the battery operated Lobster Elite Tennis Ball Machines come with a ’Smart Charger’ which charge each machine to the required level and no more. If the machine is left idyll for a period of time the charger will occasionally top the battery up with charge.

It is important to use a Tennis Net Centre Tape, Tennis Net Swivel Adjuster and either a Tennis Net Ground Base or a Tennis Net Ground Plunger to ensure the net remains at the correct height. N.B. The plunger will need to embedded into the court.

The measurement from the centre to centre of each tennis net post is 42ft or 12m 80cm.

Currently none of the main manufacturers of Tennis Ball Machines (Lobster, Tennis Tutor, Playmate) offer a machine which can be used on either Battery of Mains independantly. However, it is possible to operate some Battery powered Ball Machines i.e. Lobster through the main although to some extent the battery will still be used and require charging after use.

From a completely flat battery a Lobster Elite 3 Tennis Ball Machine will take between 6 to 8 hours to fully re-charge. To extend the life of the Ball Machine battery always remember to charge your machine up after use.