Best pickleball machines in 2024 - top 8 compared

If you want to level up your pickleball game fast, training is absolutely essential. However, if you can't find a trainer or a partner to practice with, then you're going to need one of the best pickleball machines.

When you're looking to develop quickly, your pickleball drills can be improved greatly with the help of a training machine. Since they never tire and can shoot balls with high accuracy, they're a great investment if you want to improve your pickleball skills quickly.

In this article, I've compared my top eight picks, scoring them across ball capacity, battery life, speed range, drill customizability, and more. So you can see which ones are actually worth spending your money on.

Why should you trust Pickleheads? I spend hours testing every product I recommend. Only the cream of the crop makes it onto my lists, so you can be sure you're buying the best. Learn more about how I test and review products.

Want to know more? Keep scrolling for my in-depth analysis of each pick.

Just like when choosing a pickleball paddle, there's a lot to consider when finding the right pickleball machine for you. Let's take a closer look at every key feature of a pickleball machine and how to know which option fits your needs.

Spin is the rotation a ball has after you hit it. Almost every shot has some spin on it.

As you improve your game, you need to learn how to read the spin on the ball. Having a pickleball machine that can throw with topspin, backspin, or sidespin can help you assess and respond accordingly.

All machines have speed control, but some are more adjustable than others. Regardless of your pickleball skill level, you may want something that offers a range of speeds so you can practice different strokes.

At the advanced level, pickleball becomes a very fast-paced game. So, having a pickleball ball machine with a high-speed range can be a great way to train for that style of gameplay.

Oscillation is how the ball is delivered to you. Oscillating moves the feeder back and forth across the front of the machine. But there’s a clear difference between random and 2-line.

Random oscillation will fire out balls no matter where it is currently pointed, giving you an unexpected exit trajectory. This can help test your reaction skills, but can also sometimes be frustrating if you’re trying to work on a specific shot.

Meanwhile, 2-line oscillation means alternating between two specific launch angles, giving you the chance to fine-tune your training regimen.

You probably don’t want to walk over to the other side of the court every time you need to change a setting. So remotes are important to think about.

Many advanced players love the ability to switch things up with their smartphone or watch, saving them time that is better used practicing.

The best pickleball machines come with a variety of pre-programmed drills. Whether you want to focus on your dinks, groundstrokes, volleys, or lobs, this can save you a lot of time figuring out how to set up your practice routine.

You even get some inspiration on how to improve your game. Not all machines allow the drills to be customized though. So make sure if you are going to be tweaking, you get the right product.

When it comes to how many pickleball balls your machine can store, it's usually a case of more is better—unless you often travel with it Make sure you consider how you'll most often be using it before weighing up the different capacities.

Similarly, the weight and portability of a machine are important to think about if you’re going to be moving it around a lot.

As with any piece of equipment, you'll want to consider how durable the machine is. It's important to find something that will last, especially if you plan on using it frequently or will be transporting it between venues.

Ideally, you’d want something that’s made with heavy-duty materials to withstand any on-court or off-court use.

Power supply is an important consideration. Will you be doing pickleball practice at home or indoors? An AC-powered unit may be a reasonable option.

If it’s for outdoor use though, a strong battery pack will be required. It’s not just battery length you have to think about though.

Does the entire machine need to be plugged in to charge, or is it an external pack that can be taken inside? Does it come with multiple packs that can help to lengthen the battery life?

Too often, customers overlook things like warranties when making a serious purchase. Pickleball ball machines are expensive enough that this shouldn’t be one of those situations.

It always comes down to price in the end. Paying more or less than you need can make an otherwise perfectly reasonable machine seem like a huge mistake.

Make sure you know exactly what you can afford. And don’t overextend just because you want the most expensive product on the market.

Outside of a paddle and enough balls to fill the hopper, there aren’t a ton of necessary accessories for a pickleball machine. You’re probably going to want a ball collector of some sort, whether it is a rolling Kollectaball or a standard pickup tube, and a container to keep them in.

A weatherproof cover is also always a good bet, even if you’re going to be storing the machine indoors. Given the investment you are making, you should protect it when not in use.

Using a pickleball machine isn't overly complicated, but the more often you use them the more use and value you will get from them. To use a machine effectively, read the manual and watch some videos of others using them.

To get set up, simply:

Fire up the machine and get practicing!

This question gets asked all the time, and the simple answer is sometimes. Some machines are capable of throwing various types of balls, but I recommend getting a pickleball-specific machine if you're planning to invest.

Tennis balls are more than twice as heavy as pickleball balls. Not only that, but the material used and the surface of the balls are totally different, meaning that the two balls shot from the same machine will fly completely differently.

If you're looking for precision and consistency (two important aspects of any machine), then you should definitely opt for one that's been designed specifically for pickleball.

So folks, that's my rundown of the best pickleball machines in 2024. The Erne is the star of the show for us, but let's recap the top 5 again:

Make sure you pick the one that suits you best. What's best for me may not be best for you.

My review of the Erne pickleball machine (my favorite overall in 2024) is now live, so I wanted to revisit this article and add more thoughts.

The more I play with the Erne, the more impressed I am. I've already noticed two major updates to its functionality via software updates, so it just keeps getting better.

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