The Lobster Ball Bucket 201 is unlike the Lobster Elite range, not only in appearance and it's less than flattering name, but in the way the tennis ball is fired from the ball machine.
The Lobster Elite range is powered by batteries that drive revolving delivery wheels to eject the tennis balls. The Lobster Ball Bucket is powered pneumatically as air is compressed in a cylinder behind the tennis ball until it's forced from the machine. This was the preferred ball delivery method in many of the original tennis ball machines.
This method of ball delivery is a simple system with fewer moving parts, so these ball machines tend to be very reliable, but the downside is they require more power to shoot the balls. This means battery operation is unrealistic, so they're AC electric supply only. As they don't require a heavy battery, pneumatic machines tend to be a bit lighter than their DC counterparts and at 28lbs the Lobster 201 Ball Bucket is no exception.
The Lobster 201 Ball Bucket is the most affordable Lobster machine, but still has plenty to offer the home court owner, the tennis school or club, or anyone with access to a power outlet.
The Ball Bucket's main advantage over it's battery powered cousins is it can throw balls all day long, and indeed every day, as it's pneumatic operation means there's less to wear out.
It's also got the ability to throw balls with varying spins with oscillation and elevation up to 80 degrees - all features you wouldn't find in a battery machine of this price. There are various attachments to the ball firing nozzle that make this variation possible.
Other advantages of the ball delivery method are more accurately thrown balls and a wider range of useable tennis balls. The Lobster 201 isn't as 'fussy' as to whether tennis balls are new or old or pressurized or not, as is the case with most other ball machines that use spinning wheels. These wheels are more sensitive to ball variation, causing occasional jams and divergent deliveries, whereas the Bucket's ball delivery is uncomplicated and constant.
Obviously, the first consideration when assessing the Ball Bucket is whether you're able to get regular access to mains electricity. As to whether it'll suit your tennis abilities, it's a beginner to intermediate level machine, with ball delivery speeds up to about 55mph and horizontal oscillation.
This should be plenty to give most of us a good workout. The lob and ball spin attachments will give you even more variety to your tennis drills, but these devices will reduce the ball delivery speeds slightly.
The spin created in particular isn't quite as pronounced as that provided by wheel delivery ball machines, but the 0 - 80 degree lobs is a much better range than found on battery machines and will allow you to test your overhead shots until your heart's content!
You shouldn't have any trouble getting the Lobster 201 from a to b as it's one of the lightest machines available, but with a 'bucket' of only 50 balls, you'll need an efficient ball pick up decice to keep it fully operational and 'firing on all cylinders'.
Pneumatic tennis ball machines tend to be produce more sound than other machines - a bit like a vacuum cleaner that momentarily changes pitch as the ball is thrown. It's not that loud, but may distract another tennis player if you're using your Lobster 201 on an immediately adjacent court.
Like all Lobster Tennis Ball Machines the Lobster Ball Bucket is blessed with a two year warranty, about twice the length of the competition and very good for a machine this economically priced.
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It seems that it's getting more and more difficult to find Lobster's pneumatic ball machines in the US. They're even tucked away on Lobsterinc's own website (which I've linked to here).
I'd guess they're going to mainly available in Europe soon where tennis ball delivery by air pressure is more popular.
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