Elite 2 Product Details
Now let’s take a look at some of the most specific details for the Lobster Elite 2.
Feature |
Details |
Oscillation |
random horizontal, random vertical |
Speed |
20 to 80 mph |
Feed Rate |
2-10 seconds |
Spin |
topspin, backspin |
Elevation |
0-60 degrees, electronic |
Ball capacity |
150 |
Power |
battery (ac/dc optional) |
Court time |
4-8 hours |
Weight |
42 pounds (before adding balls) |
Basic charger |
included |
Fast Charger |
optional |
Remote |
Elite10 or Elite (not included) |
Warranty |
2 years |
That’s a lot to take in, so let’s break each of those down quickly:
Speed
With ball speed between 20-80 mph, the Elite 2 can feed gently enough for beginners or kids, but it can also bring the heat for intermediate and advanced players.
Feed Rate
The feed rate is the amount of time that passes between balls that the Elite 2 feeds. Two seconds will keep you on your toes for a rigorous workout, while 10 seconds would give you more than enough time to adjust or reset yourself in between shots.
Most players will likely settle with a feed rate somewhere between 2 and 10 seconds.
Spin
The Elite 2 can feed topspin and backspin, with the ability to modify the levels of spin. You can also set the machine to feed without spin or “flat.” One important note when hitting is that you have to pick one spin setting because the machine cannot alternate between spins.
Elevation
The Lobster Elite 2 can feed balls at an angle anywhere from 0 to 60 degrees, which gives you plenty of flexibility, including the capacity to feed yourself lobs for practicing overheads.
Adjusting the elevation is done electronically with a switch on the back of the machine or with the Elite10 remote, sold separately.
Ball Capacity
The Elite 2 can hold up to 150 tennis balls – more than enough to have a solid hitting session without littering the court with an excessive number of balls.
Power
The Elite 2 is a portable battery-powered tennis ball machine. However, you can transform it into a unit that plugs directly into a wall outlet with the optional external AC power unit, which you can purchase separately.
Court Time
Out of the box, the Elite 2 will get you four to eight hours worth of playing time depending on how quickly you’re refilling the machine as well as the feed rate, speed, and spin settings you’re using.
Most players will find this to be more than sufficient. However, if you’re looking for more time, you can also purchase an additional backup battery for four to eight hours of extra playing time or the external AC power unit for unlimited playtime, as mentioned above.
Weight
At 42 pounds, the Lobster Elite 2 is very portable. However, some players may find it challenging or a bit awkward to lift in and out of a car trunk. Also, if it’s necessary to go upstairs to get to a court, then most players will appreciate having a friend on hand to help get it to the court.
To make the machine easier to move around, use a separate bucket with a handle to carry the tennis balls rather than keeping them in the machine at all times.
Basic Charger
The basic charger comes standard with the Lobster Elite 2. With this charger, it will take anywhere between 12 and 15 hours to charge your battery.
One of the biggest complaints about the basic charger is that you can’t just hook it up and forget about it. Once the battery completes charging and the green indicator light turns on, you need to disconnect it, and you can’t leave the battery charging for more than 24 hours because you risk killing the battery. The Elite 2’s two-year warranty doesn’t cover the battery.
Fast Charger
The fast charger is an optional accessory and will bring the charging time down to three to nine hours, depending on the usage of the machine.
Perhaps one of the best benefits of the fast charger is that you don’t have to worry about overcharging with its “trickle charge” feature. That way, you can plug it in and forget about it – a convenience that’s well worth the extra cost.
Remote
The Elite 2 does not come standard with a remote, but you can buy the Elite remote or the newer Elite10 remote.
The Elite remote gives you very basic on/off control over the feed and the sweep or back-and-forth motion, while the Elite10 remote gives you control over the feed, sweep, speed, spin, and elevation.
Warranty
Last but not least, the Lobster Elite 2 comes with a two-year warranty that excludes the battery and server wheels (the rotating wheels that feed the tennis balls), which the warranty covers for only six months.
However, a new battery or server wheels are reasonably priced. You can extend the two-year warranty one, two, or three years, but you must purchase the extended warranty within 60 days of buying your machine.
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