Best pickleball machines in 2025 - top 5 compared

I've been busy playing with every pickleball machine I can get my hands on. With each one, I look at shot speed, accuracy, portability, and how well each machine mimics real game situations. Some feel like glorified ball tossers. Others? Legit training partners.

After hours on the court, I've picked my top machine for 2025: the Titan ONE. I'll explain why below.

Training with a pickleball machine is an amazing way to improve your skills. Working on the same shots over and over again increases your accuracy and consistency so much quicker. It also helps you stay sharp and game-ready.

For me, the highly customizable and portable Titan ONE machine is the best, but there are different machines that may be better for your needs or budget, so I've included others I recommend. Check them out below.

A good pickleball machine helps you practice the same shots repeatedly to sharpen your skills. For example, if you're trying to improve your two-handed backhand drive, hitting 100 in a row will help you pick up that skill in one session.

That's the power of pickleball machines – they boost your on-court performance and hone your consistency and accuracy. That's how you get better and improve your skill rating.

When evaluating pickleball machines, I look for, at a minimum:

Let's take a look at what each of these machines does on the courts. I'll break down the specs, tech, in-play performance, value, and more. For two of the picks – the Titan ONE and the Erne – you'll be able to click through to read our full reviews of these machines.

If you're curious about how we select the gear that we recommend, read more about how we test and review products at Pickleheads. Let's go.

Pickleball machines are a big investment, but there's a reason so many people buy them. The simple answer is – they improve your game.

A lot of players want to drill and practice but don't have other players who are always available to train with them. You might feel that your skills are not progressing because of that. That's where a pickleball machine comes in. Rather than wait around for someone to drill with you, you can drill whenever you want.

With a pickleball machine, you can work on repetition – hitting the same stroke over and over again. With machines that offer more customization, you can more closely simulate real gameplay, hitting varied shots and moving across the court. If you're doing this multiple times a week or month, your game is constantly improving.

If you're considering a budget pickleball machine in the $100-200 range, think twice before getting one. We've tested machines like the Franklin Proshot ($130) and the Furlihong 680PBH Pickleball Starter Kit ($220), and, to be honest, they're just not worth your money. You'd be much better off getting a pickleball lesson from a coach.

For one, the ball capacity is so low with these machines (usually 15 balls or less) that you can't really get a rhythm going. You spend a lot of time collecting balls and refilling the machine again.

Secondly, these machines' performances are too inconsistent and frustrating to justify the investment. I played with the Franklin machine recently and I found that even at the highest or lowest power settings, shots tended to launch toward the back of the court, making it only mildly useful for practicing drives or groundstrokes from deep. I also had frequent malfunctions, like the machine failing to shoot the last two or three balls many times in a row.

You'd get more out of a bucket of balls and a friend or family member tossing to you. Or better yet, grab a $30-40 ball cart and do your own feeding drills.

Pickleheads' co-founder Brandon found much the same thing when he tested the Furlihong machine. That's why the machines on this list start at around $1,000. To be truly useful for real drilling, they need a lot of hardware, software, R&D, and expensive materials.

At Pickleheads, we pride ourselves on our hands-on testing of all the paddles and gear we review. Every machine we recommend above was put through rigorous on-court sessions by myself, co-founders Brandon Mackie and Max Ade, or other members of the Pickleheads team. This includes a minimum play time of five hours per machine, across at least two play sessions.

When ranking our favorite machines, we consider overall performance (speed range, customization, accuracy, etc.) but also important factors like ball capacity, weight, and portability. Very importantly, we also consider price and value for money.

We have heated debates before we come to a general consensus for any of our best-of guides. Often, the top gear stands out from the rest, and it's sometimes the case that we all agree quickly on what the best machine/paddle/ball is.

It might be surprising to hear, but the machine guide was one of our most contested debates. The Erne used to be our clear favorite, but then the Titan ONE came along. Add in the Tennibot, a newer machine that Max loved testing, and we had some stiff competition. The good news is that there are a lot of high-quality machines on the market right now. We're confident that the Titan ONE will help the largest number of players improve their game, but the other machines will work better for certain players.

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 one fits your needs.

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.

Pickleball has become a fast-paced game. Having a ball machine with a high-speed range is a great way to train for real gameplay. Regardless of your pickleball skill level, you'll want a machine that offers a good range of speeds so you can practice different strokes.

Cheap machines tend to be too slow, one of the reasons we avoid them. Premium machines can go as high as 70-75 mph, which is frankly unnecessary and even dangerous! You'll want a machine that shoots balls at least 40 mph, with the sweet spot max being around 50-60 mph.

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.

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. Luckily, most machines come with a remote control.

The more advanced machines can be controlled by a mobile app which is one of the reasons they're so popular, saving you 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.

Not all machines allow the drills to be customized. If you want the ability to tweak to your own desires, make sure you get a machine that lets you do that.

When it comes to how many pickleball balls your machine can store, it's usually a case of more is better – unless you'll be traveling often with your machine and want something smaller.

Don't always count on the listed ball capacity on a brand's website. Some machines allow you to increase the ball capacity. For example, the Titan ONE has a ball capacity of 85 but you can get an extension that takes that up to 240, a huge increase.

The weight and portability of a machine are important to think about if you're going to be moving it around a lot. Consider the space in your vehicle if you commute to your practice venue.

Some machines are quite heavy and clunky, which can be a pain after a while, lifting it in and out of your trunk, especially if you drive a smaller vehicle. This will bother people less if they have lots of space in their vehicle. It all depends on your routine and needs.

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 work for you, so you don't have to worry about recharging a battery.

If it's for outdoor use, or you won't have access to an outlet, a strong battery pack will be required.

Read about the battery, how long it lasts, how you charge it, and see if it's included or if it requires an additional purchase.

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. I've seen warranties that range from 1-3 years, so make sure you review before you buy.

It always comes down to price in the end. Make sure you know exactly what you can afford. Don't overextend just because you want the most expensive product on the market – there are great options across a wide price range.

This question gets asked all the time, and the simple answer is sometimes. Some machines are capable of throwing various types of balls, but we 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, 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 opt for one that's been designed specifically for pickleball.

That's my rundown of the best pickleball machines in 2025. The Titan ONE is the star of the show for me, but let's recap the top five again:

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

I've added a brand-new pickleball machine to the list: the Tennibot Partner. Pickleheads' co-founder and CEO Max Ade brought this to our attention and highly recommended it. It has the most advanced tech and moves across the courts, so it was a contender for the top spot.

In the end, I decided that while it's super impressive and an exciting indication of where ball machines are going, it won't appeal to everyone. Some players prefer a less techy option, though players who geek out on the latest technology will love it.

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