Update #4 (as of July 27, 2023) Thank you for the 100K views on this video! When I reviewed the Slinger Bag, I didn't think it would get this many views! I'm glad most of you found this video informative... As for this Slinger Bag I purchased, it still works. However, I ended up giving it away to a student. I didn't really need it anymore since I have a ball machine that I use at the college I work for (Tennis Tutor Plus). Would I still buy the Slinger Bag for my personal use? Yes! Especially now that I see it on sale for $599. That's a great price! During the pandemic (2020-2021), this machine was the perfect tennis companion. I had many hours playing on it and it kept me in good tennis shape. --- Update #3 (as of January 8, 2022)... The base price of the Slinger Bag has now gone up considerably to $759 US Dollars. Although it does include the oscillator and other accessories, the price is getting a bit steep. Part of what made Slinger Bag so great was its original base price of $550. Sad to say but we won't see that price any longer. Let's hope the cost doesn't keep creeping up. If the same exact model reaches $950+, I can no longer recommend it. --- Update #2 (as of August 11, 2021)... My thoughts on the Slinger Bag hasn't really changed much since the recording of this video. Simply put, I like it and I'm glad that I bought it. Its portability is the best. Its usability is good. Its pricing is still affordable (even though they did raise the price by $50). Durability so far has been good... That being said, I do wish Slinger Bag (or perhaps another company?) can come out with a new ball machine that has even better portability and has a few more spin settings. I'm not interested in Slinger Bag's "smartphone app" that the company has recently announced. To me, that is just a gimmick. I want a Slinger Bag that can throw slice and flat balls. I want a Slinger Bag that's a little slimmer in size. And of course, I want a remote that when I press "ON," it doesn't take 20+ seconds to throw a ball... We'll see what happens in the future, but as of now, Slinger Bag is king of ball machines in its price range. --- Update #1: More strengths and weaknesses I found as I continue to use Slinger Bag... Strengths: + The ability to store 72+ balls (zipped up) inside the Slinger Bag makes it super convenient to move it around. You don't have to carry the machine and a separate basket of balls at the same time. Of course, the more balls (and stuff) you put in it will make it heavier, but its portability is simply unmatched by other machines. + Battery is outstanding (so far). In one session, I used Slinger Bag for about 2 1/2 hours straight (in mostly intermediate speed settings) with no problem. Recharging the machine was fast. Weaknesses: -Slinger Bag can get super loud at advanced (fastest) speed settings. The noise would be extremely distracting to neighboring courts and disturb passersby. It's not much of a problem for me because the intermediate setting speed is good enough for my use and the noise is minimal. -At random times (not often), Slinger Bag will suddenly delay throwing a ball in mid-session and you have to wait 10 or more seconds for the next ball to throw. My guess is that it's trying to load a ball into the carousel but this can happen when there's still 30+ balls inside the machine. It's a definite annoyance. --- Slinger Bag Review and Drills Playlist: ruclips.net/p/PL2RMMmJ0TFd6-J0B3cHh9dcx3wEZFZjxz
on the Random Times throws can get delayed I remember dealing with that on the old Lobsters.. normally it happened when more than 1 ball was hovering over the carousel and sometimes they could get temporarily stuck... I at one point mounted some smaller arms ontop of the carousel to take care of that because you could have 80 balls remaining and it would just stop throwing... I ordered a Slingerbag a few weeks ago.. I'm looking forward to it getting here as I feel even with the faults you've listed.. at the price point it is still an improvement over going out and working on your game solo or against a wall.. Frankly for the price point I feel like it sounds like a great entry level ball machine that can help alotta people with their strokes because Repetition is definitely the most important thing when trying to work on muscle memory for strokes/knocking off rust/working on different grips/tweaking your motion... Least in my area of the US I'm finding it so hard to find regular hitting partners that I'm finding myself going to the court alone multiple nights a week and maybe once or twice a month being able to find a real person to hit with. Bout the only thing without a ball machine I can work on is my serve because there's only so much tweaking you can do on your groundstrokes against a backboard or just hitting a basket of balls over the net(really more of a warm up) so I feel like this is gonna be able to help me out greatly..
@@Eliath1984 Thanks for the insight regarding the delay of throwing balls. I'll have to check out what's happening inside the bag when it gets delayed again... I think you will really enjoy the Slinger Bag...it definitely beats playing solo or playing on the wall. Yes, repetition is important...so much of tennis is all about timing. I lose all my timing if I haven't played for just two weeks. With this machine, you won't have an excuse anymore of not being able to find any tennis partners!
@@CoachAdrian lol. I'm getting back into it after about 17 years so I can confirm. My timing right now feels really bad. Seems like the muscle memory on my strokes is still there but my timing and second guessing myself is off big time. Hit with a friend of mine from back in the day that after highschool went d3 then semi pro for awhile and every once in awhile I'd rip a forehand and he'd get excited then back into my brain I'd go hitting horrible shots. Course it almost feels like my old game makes timing even harder on myself because I was an early adopter of the semi western forehand grip. And there's low margin for error with that grip
@@CoachAdrian never did I expect my 1 handed backhand to be my most confident shot.. but it feels like after 17 years it's weathered the storm of time alot better than a SemiWestern forehand...
I received my Slinger bag a few weeks ago, and I used it for the first time today. My experience is similar, but the topspin is not that heavy even for an amateur like me. I think it's not a bug but a feature as of 2021. The long delay of serving is a good feature for me. I just refill the ball, press the button, and walk to the other side of the net. It takes this long because the motor has to accelerate the rubber wheel to high speed. The remote is awesome. This produce is unbeatable in the market comparing to other alternatives.
THANKS for video!! Just curious wrt your forehand - why do you keep your arm so low at the beginning of your stroke - shouldn't it be up high like Federer, Nadal, Kyrgios, etc?
You're welcome! Yes, nowadays a modern forehand should have a higher takeback, but there's nothing necessarily wrong with a lower takeback. I learned tennis back in the 1980's so my forehand was more influenced by a combination of Borg, Connors, McEnroe, and Lendl.
Nice to meet you. Thank you very much for your nice video, from Japan. I bought a slinger machine two months ago, and soon after that, I started to use it. But not easy to develop the method . While I am looking for the slinger web-site, I came across your the slinger web-site. Especially, your video has cover all tennis matters and knowledge indispensable for players. I continue to learn your way of thinking about tennis . 💯
I was a backer for the Slinger, under it’s original specs. But after very, very long delays (a couple of years) and then some drastic changes to the specs, I pulled out and got a refund. Your review just confirms my reasons and I don’t regret backing out. The original intention was to produce a ball machine, cheaper than the cheapest machines on the market at the time, the Spinshot Lite and Tennis Cube, which the Slinger isn’t. It was also supposed to be small enough to be carried on your back, as it would double as a racquet/kit bag. But the complaints from other backers were that the original ball capacity wasn’t big enough, it needed an oscillator and a remote control. The original size wasn’t able to be maintained, so it was made to it’s current size, which kind of defeats the original intentions. I backed out because I have to travel to my Tennis club on public transport and there’s no way I’d be able to take something of that size on a bus very easily. Shame, because as a backer, I would have got it for half the current price, or rather at the original intended RRP.
You're really confusing with the word "backing." Early on, you use the word like you're a big prominent of the machine, then you are not. ????????????? OMG
Can someone do me a favor...I'm contacting the company because they forgot to include the charger with the slinger machine, but in the meantime I want to buy a charger from Walmart (if available) to use the machine...could you please give me the specs off of the label on the charger so i know what volts/amp I would need to buy an aftermarket charger? Thank you so much.
Good vid. My understanding for the 24 second delay is if you don't have a remote- it allows for you to load up machine by hand- press start and walk around to the baseline from bag without having 5 balls launched before you are ready.
Thanks! I just don’t buy the logic of having time to load balls after pressing the remote. Imagine pressing ON on a TV remote, waiting 20+ seconds to have TV turn on, and the explanation for this is so that you have time to get popcorn and drinks before your movie starts. Remotes shouldn’t have such a crazy delay.
@@CoachAdrian Can someone do me a favor...I'm contacting the company because they forgot to include the charger with the slinger machine, but in the meantime I want to buy a charger from Walmart (if available) to use the machine...could you please give me the specs off of the label on the charger so i know what volts/amp I would need to buy an aftermarket charger? Thank you so much.
Great review i overall agree, however i Play padel tennis and all that topspin it generates is unrealistic in padel and therefore i Think its better used to tennis than padel
I was wondering if constantly hitting against a heavy top spin ball will mess with you timing when you go play against someone who doesn't use top spin. Any thoughts? Thanks for the review!
Hello. I'm thinking of buying this slinger machine. I'm a beginner. Is it still working good for you after 2 yrs? The battery still good? Can it throw the ball from base line to base line? Thank you very much.
Yes, it still works. Haven't needed to replace battery. I've never set it to throw from baseline and have it bounce on baseline (if that's what you mean), but I'm pretty sure it can do it.
Good review! I'm looking to purchase a ball machine. Slinger machine is attracting me in terms of price. Good to know that it takes such a time for the machine to launch. Not sure if it will be annoying me.
The year is 2022. My kid wants to make a tennis machine fear not just her covid mask but her tennis skills. Beginnner to intermediate. After almost 2 years with this machine can you recommend?
To me, it doesn't. I can do alternating shots by simply moving my feet. If I was coaching a group of people on it, then yes, you would need a oscillator, but for personal use, I don't need it.
No. I have it and barely use it. It's an extra thing to carry and set up (and another drain on the battery). Just alternate strokes or run to the middle then to the corner to hit the ball. Lots of ways to do drills on this.
What's not covered by the otherwise excellent video: is it easy to collect and reload the balls in the zipper compartment? What do u use to efficiently collect the balls?
Slinger bag is great from everything you said. Except, when they break. Customer service is non-existence. I bought a Slinger less than a year ago and now the motor makes a grinding sound, the lights flicker at times but it flat out won't turn on. Customer service doesn't respond, neither online nor phone. I've never encounter a company with such a blatant disregard to their customers. Still trying to get this resolved.
Sorry to hear this. I haven’t dealt with customer service before, but I’ve heard from others it’s mostly good. Hopefully things get better. Keep us updated.
@@CoachAdrian The scary part is that no department at their phone number picks up. Not customer service, not operations, not marketing. The customer service email person keeps telling me its the charger. I did everything she asked me on how to fix it and it doesn't work. I even did a video showing how its not working and they ignore the email and still telling me its the charger. I've never dealt with a company like this before. Unreal!
Doesn't seem like the maximum speed is less than I've seen with other machines. Like the looping topspin ball but sometimes I'd like a faster, flatter ball....
Major flaw is for more advanced players who need a faster ball. My brother got this and it is exactly as shown in your video - heavy topspin BUT SLOW. Good for beginners and intermediate but for any 4.0+ player you'll need another machine to get heavy / fast / variable balls to train with.
I wouldn't call Slinger Bag slow. I'm a 4.5 player and if I set this at advanced (fastest) setting, it throws harder and faster than most 4.5 and 5.0 players that I've hit with. Even many college players don't hit this type of ball. Granted, speed perception is subjective, so if you're really looking for a machine that throws "fast," I would just get a Playmate ball machine - these machines can throw ridiculously fast but you will sacrifice portability, battery operation, and cost just to use it.
@@CoachAdrian playmate ball machines are everything but portable, also look like a trash bin. I know the spin is adjustable on them which is their biggest advantage. This tiny bag will be club players best friend however really not sure about the durability. Which type/brand do you think is the fastest ball machine on the market?
@@mocskoskukorica Playmate probably has the fastest ball machine. They have a model called "Grand Slam" that supposedly shoots out 120 MPH serves. I can attest that Playmate machines can be set to insanely fast speeds and spins that no real human can realistically hit off a typical groundstroke. They may not be portable and look like a trash bin, but if you want speed, their machines are more than capable.
I have the sp lite. When the battery went out after a year or so, i just put in a bigger battery. Even with the small battery i was never even close to using it fully in one or even two sessions.
It probably depends on the airline's checked baggage policy. Most do allow for sporting equipment but I'm not sure about ball machines. Check with the airlines or Slinger Bag themselves.
Hey thanks for the review! Thinking about getting one. I am an intermediate player who needs to build more consistency on my ground strikers. Would you say that without the oscillator, will the machine only feed to the one side it’s pointing at or is there any room for variety to feed them to BH and FH? Within reason without a machine to move it side to side
Thanks for watching! Without the oscillator, the machine will only feed one direction. You will have to stop the machine to point it differently or you can simply move your feet (turn the other way) to hit a different stroke. My personal preference is to go without an oscillator because I don't see the extra cost of it helping my game significantly.
Hey ,that was the best review I saw about the slinger , thank you! Planning to buy one... first machine pretty scared. How is the battery after 6 months ? Did it get worse - do you think it’ll keep up for 2 years? How long does one charge last for? And how long is the charging itself? Thank you!
Hey Eyal, thanks, I appreciate the kind words! 👍 Battery is holding up well. I haven't had any problems with it. I think it will still be good in 2 years. I actually haven't timed the charging nor have tested how long a charge will last. I use my Slinger Bag usually for about 1-2 hours, then recharge when I get home and let it be. When I recharge, it seems to get fully charged within an hour, so I think it's pretty quick. I was somewhat apprehensive buying this machine at first too, but I'm glad I bought it. Hopefully it works out for you!
The 20 second delay is designed for single user in mind. You’re supposed to load the balls and press the on button straight away, this then gives you 20 seconds to get to the other side of the court. Then another beep and 5 seconds before the balls come out. You’re loading the balls and then getting into position and then pressing the on button, this is for sure going to get frustrating.
I don't buy that reasoning. If you're "supposed" to press the on button on the remote right after loading the balls, why have a remote to begin with? The point of a remote is to easily turn on the machine from a long distance and expect that when you press on, it'll turn on right away.
When you've got 75 balls in the Slinger maybe you want to stop it to explain something to your student.. or stop what you're doing... That's the purpose of the Remote... Not everyone wants or needs to be in a 75 ball ralley. But good review anyway.
I'm not using as much, but it's holding up well. I have a new machine (Tennis Tutor Plus) that I use at the college (where I work) that has much more variety of spin and speed selections. I still recommend the Slinger Bag as a personal machine. It's still inexpensive and very portable.
@@CoachAdrian Hey Adrian, what do you think of this racket for me for $70 OFF www.sportsexperts.ca/en-CA/p-blade-101l-v70-mens-tennis-racquet/88292/88292-2
Thanks for assume & practical review. How long have you had the machine for now? Still going strong? I want one but I live in Australia, not sure where to get them.
About 10 months now. Still running strong. It does make some more odd noises and not all balls filter through, but I can live with that. You should be able to get one in Australia. Contact Slinger Bag and they'll let you know how to get one.
Battery still works. It hasn’t “malfunctioned” but ball jams do occur mostly because of the old balls I have in there. It’s probably recommended to replenish machine with new balls frequently.
@@CoachAdrian okay cool, your reviews have been very helpful. How do you feel about the slinger bag compared to say the tennis tutor, spin shot or lobster?
@@cqntialstarco From what you mentioned, I only have experience with Tennis Tutor. To me, Tennis Tutor is a good machine but not very portable which is a deal breaker for me. I do have a Tennis Tutor Plus where I work at, and I use it mainly for my students. It’s a great machine, but I would never buy it for personal use because it’s too expensive and not very portable.
I just wanted your thoughts, I currently have an older ball machine that still works great, it oscillates (no remote) and has options for top-spin and back-spin (I don't notice much of a difference between the two though). The one big factor for me that limits my use of the machine is that it requires a power cord and there are only one set of courts near me that have access to a power outlet.I can convert the machine to battery powered for a cost between $250-$350. Would you say that this machine is worth it if you were in my position?
If you can convert your existing machine to battery powered and you're already happy with how it runs, I would stick with that. Slinger Bag's main advantage is its portability so if you're not too impressed with this and want to save money, I think your existing machine is good enough.
@@CoachAdrian Thanks for your input. My current machine does lack the portability, I didn't think much about that but definitely something to consider. Do you know how wide and tall the bag is by chance? Also have you had any issues with the machine jamming?
I would love to see an option to condense the size for transport/use with half the ball capacity (ie just big enough to accommodate one case of 72 balls when ball well compartment is zipped down to the smaller size... this would also make it more easily transportable and stored in small spaces, and accommodate carrying it in backpack mode of covering uneven terrain or snow getting it to the court. Also, as a beginner, I’d love the option to narrow the osolatation pattern
The original specs were for a much smaller machine that could be carried on your back. I’ve messaged the company about going back to those specs and producing the original version as the Slinger Junior, but they’ve not replied. I was one of the backers, but pulled out when the specs were changed.
Great review ! ⚠Thank you. Seeing your video was posted 2 years ago, I wonder how your Slinger is working today, July of 2023. BTW, I was on RUclips last night and see there's a guy that was reviewing a Slinger Bag Version 2. Interesting.... supposedly the changed the inside of the bag so not so many balls get stuck in the corners of the inside of the bag where they enter the machine.... and I wonder if they have changed any other things, like remote delay time. Slinger has zero info on their website about it. Their Facebook page is bad, I noticed people asking questions, and there are no replies, even to people asking good questions a month earlier, it's like they don't want to answer questions or are almost out of business. It's strange they don't answer questions that wouldn't be deemed as "confrontational" Anyway, great review. Thank you ! The only thing that is pointing me towards the Slinger is the pricing..... the Lobster tennis balls machines are so expensive.... 3x more expensive which is scary. P.S. I did a search for parts for the Slinger, they are non-existent - I'm talking about the main panel of the Slinger.... that computer part... there's nothing available, so if you have a problem, it looks like you're in big trouble. I notice that Lobster Sports has these parts, and there are lots of videos, really bad quality ones that show how to replace things. Lobster Sports - they sell machines but put zero effort into their online manuals, they are so low quality and look like they were made back in the 1980s. Their videos are just plain bad also. So 2 companies that just don't seem to know how to run businesses. I've read many complaints about Slinger not even answering people's emails on many different places including Reddit. It's not a comforting feeling when you're looking for a new ball machine.
Still works! It does look like Slinger has updated their machine to a “V2” but can’t comment on it since I don’t have it. I’ve heard their support is good but can’t comment on that as well since I never needed it. Hope you find the machine that works for you!
Hi Adrian, thanks for the reply ! much appreciated ! I'm glad to hear your machine is still working ! On a side-note, I watched another video where the person was talking about the 2 guard rails or "protection rods" that are located where the knobs are on the Slinger. I now wonder if you and others have hit the front of your Slinger in that area. Thank goodness they thought of putting those bars there to protect the knobs. In another video there was close up of a guy attaching the bottom osculating pad that is optional, but that portion is not protected at all, so one ball hitting that and it's toast. I'm thinking if I get the Slinger I'm going to use something to cover that whole area just in-case of any ball hitting it hard. Anyway thank you for your time I do appreciate it ! @@CoachAdrian
Very nice review. I'm considering a first ball machine. I don't think this one will fit in my small trunk, but it should fit in the front seat of my car, no? The other thing that worries me-throw speed. In this video as in the others i've seen, the balls look like they're sorta 'looped' up, with a pronounced arc, but then they kick off the ground with topspin that probably makes it 'play' effectively like a faster ball. Is that accurate? Do you feel like an intermediate player would benefit from a faster throw? Maybe you just didn't have it set up that way and it actually *can* pitch with higher velocity?
It can fit in a front seat of a car but you'll definitely have to move and lean the seat back. Yes, the Slinger Bag can have a "pronounced arc" and "kicks off the ground" with topspin as you say. I feel it's a hittable ball by any intermediate player but if you're really put off by the topspin, then this machine is not for you. I personally enjoy the challenge of hitting against a heavy topspin.
@@CoachAdrian Hey. Thanks for the reply, but i guess i wasn't clear. I *do* want topspin, and when i used to hit with a rented machine, i would always shoot a lower-just above the net-trajectory. Not nearly as much arc as seen in this video. So, i was wondering if the Slinger had enough power to fire *low and hard,* with that topspin.
@@CentaurusRelax314 Oh I see. Short answer is yes, Slinger Bag can fire low and hard. However, I'm not sure how low you want it to go. At the lowest incline setting with an advanced speed setting and new balls, it can fire off low (right above the net) but it could still bounce high enough to your hip (depending on how tall you are). With older balls or lower speed settings, you can definitely get the ball to bounce lower.
@@CoachAdrian Thanks again. I'm 6'3". It's just that when i used to hit with a friend, we both tend to hit pretty close to net height, with pretty good pace, and because my main problem is with 'laziness' with footwork, i was concerned that a machine that could only toss 'soft' wouldn't help me to develop the right kind of timing to go back to hitting with people.
@@CentaurusRelax314 I wouldn't be too concerned then. I feel the Slinger Bag definitely has some "pop" and you being 6'3, you can set low and hard balls to your knees.
Tennis Tutor has the 20 some seconds delay too. It is for the player to walk back to the other side of the court. It is not configurable to reduce yet another piece in the puzzle. I am OK with it. Take the 20 seconds to rest, after 100 some balls practice. LOL
I suppose you can trick yourself into justifying that a 20+ second remote delay is there for you to "walk back to the other side of the court." I don't buy that reasoning. Look, I like Slinger Bag too but a flaw is a flaw. I use a Tennis Tutor Plus and it does not have a 20+ second remote delay.
@@CoachAdrian Really? Well I have a Tennis Tutor and it has a 20 seconds delay. When it starts spinning, it won't shoot out balls right away but gives me time to walk back to the other side of the court. I thought that was per design. But anyway, to each his own.
The reason the machine takes so long to begin launching balls again is because it's battery powered, not so much the machine's fault but rather that of something that's battery powered. To get the launching mechanism up to the required RPMs requires a big power draw, something that corded machines don't have a problem with.
Saying that it's not the machine's "fault" is quite a fallacy when the battery itself is part of the machine and can't work without it. Also, I've had experience with other battery operated ball machines (like Tennis Tutor) and their wait time is closer to around 10 seconds. Perhaps the long wait time of Slingerbag is due to the heavy topspin (I don't know as I'm not an engineer) but I thought the wait time definitely needed to be pointed out. Hopefully it gets improved in a future version.
I always doubt durability when I’m buying something new, but so far mine is holding up. Yes, it looks like it went up to $590 US but still a reasonable price.
@@CoachAdrian What are the flaws in you don't mind me asking. I'm an advanced level player. Very interesting in buying the machine. Hope it has a decent amount of pace for me. That's what I'm after mainly with top spin on it as well.
@@sexyminh I talked about all the flaws in the video. If you're mainly looking for pace, Slinger Bag might not be for you. For me, it's fast enough and with the heavy topspin, it's more than capable. I'm okay putting it at medium (intermediate) setting most of the time. However if you want a machine that blasts balls, look elsewhere.
After months of email exchanges including videos they finally replaced my broken machine. but after less than 4 months, the battery won't hold charge for more than 40 minutes. They said the warranty doesn't cover battery. It costs $60 but its all sold out! why? defective battery perhaps? I like the machine but the company's customer service is just awful.
I wouldn't be very worried about the longevity, and I'll tell you why: If you look at the machine closely, you can CLEARLY tell the engineers were making decisions with longevity in mind, and NOT cost reduction. Also, it's simplicity in design, just ONE fly wheel & a manual "crank" track, will definitely help in prolonging the function of it's mechanics. The oscillator, however, (it's a separate unit you attach to the Slinger) seems like an after-thought of design. You were smart in not buying it, as you can, YOU KNOW, just move your feet :)
@@CoachAdrian As long as you prevent water damage & avoid extreme jarring impacts, I'd bet you're going to be happy with the longevity. Sure, maybe a zipper will get broken after a couple thousand uses, the nylon will thin a little bit as it stretches, expands, contracts, but the mechanics and function of this machine should remain sound for a long time. Also, I somehow forgot to mention, great review. Concise. Most people forego precision and efficiency in their reviews, and personally, I find most reviews just dragggggg. You covered nearly EVERYTHING in less than 5 minutes.
@@mycommentpwnz I hope you're right. I'm not too concerned with the zippers or nylon. I'm mostly satisfied when its main function (ball throwing) continues to work. Glad you enjoyed the review!
Since you seem to know what you're talking about: How well do you think this machine will hold up when used on a clay court? I would imagine that the dust might clog the insides after a few months. I'm really considering buying this machine, but I wouldn't want to invest almost 500€ in something that might break down after a year.
@@SomeoneYouKnow2671 I'm honestly not the person to ask when it comes to clay courts. I live in the US and I probably only played on a clay court 4 times in my life. Slinger Bag does say in their website that it should work perfectly fine on clay courts.
This machine is a non-starter. The topspin is excessively unrealistic. I suggest spending a few more bucks and get a machine with two pitching wheels so you can control the amount of topspin, and even select backspin to learn to deal with slices.
Don't buy unless you try it. The top-spin is beyond human. I'm a 4.0 player. I tried it one time and tried to return it, but Slinger wouldn't take it back at any price.
I have seen 3 different people using the Slinger Bag and all 3 times the topspin was excessive. If they turned up the speed the ball was bouncing like Rafa Nadal's forehand. If the speed was lower, it still had excessive topspin that jumped at the player. I've been playing 45 years. Owned and used a ball machine for over 5 years and played at a reasonably high level. I would not recommend this machine. The topspin is not what you'll see in a real match unless you play advanced tennis and are playing the 5% of the advanced players who generate tremendous spin. It just isn't a good bounce to work on fundamentals or even for advanced players as the spin isn't what you'll see in 98% of the players you'll play.
You seem to have posted an incomplete thought. FYI, base model of Slinger Bag is $550. The $850 option includes all accessories and 2 cases of tennis balls.
@@CoachAdrian ok, i saw in the video that the machine has some flaws, in throwing the ball. I know the machines are about 2,000 e and more. so I'm surprised this machine is $ 850
This machine is garbage. I tried it. It has only one ejection wheel that is why the ball comes to u with a ton of heavy topspin and the ball skids a lot. u have to set it really slow and still the ball shoots forward.
Well, as the saying goes, "one person's trash is another person's treasure." I do understand why the topspin can be off-putting. It's not for everyone.
He is the real deal. It is cheap, very slow, and launches balls a very slow (beginner) speeds - NOT for an intermediate or advanced player. Look at Silent Partner for a real ball machine that can do it all. Just saying.
Update #4 (as of July 27, 2023)
Thank you for the 100K views on this video! When I reviewed the Slinger Bag, I didn't think it would get this many views! I'm glad most of you found this video informative...
As for this Slinger Bag I purchased, it still works. However, I ended up giving it away to a student. I didn't really need it anymore since I have a ball machine that I use at the college I work for (Tennis Tutor Plus). Would I still buy the Slinger Bag for my personal use? Yes! Especially now that I see it on sale for $599. That's a great price! During the pandemic (2020-2021), this machine was the perfect tennis companion. I had many hours playing on it and it kept me in good tennis shape.
---
Update #3 (as of January 8, 2022)...
The base price of the Slinger Bag has now gone up considerably to $759 US Dollars. Although it does include the oscillator and other accessories, the price is getting a bit steep. Part of what made Slinger Bag so great was its original base price of $550. Sad to say but we won't see that price any longer. Let's hope the cost doesn't keep creeping up. If the same exact model reaches $950+, I can no longer recommend it.
---
Update #2 (as of August 11, 2021)...
My thoughts on the Slinger Bag hasn't really changed much since the recording of this video. Simply put, I like it and I'm glad that I bought it. Its portability is the best. Its usability is good. Its pricing is still affordable (even though they did raise the price by $50). Durability so far has been good...
That being said, I do wish Slinger Bag (or perhaps another company?) can come out with a new ball machine that has even better portability and has a few more spin settings. I'm not interested in Slinger Bag's "smartphone app" that the company has recently announced. To me, that is just a gimmick. I want a Slinger Bag that can throw slice and flat balls. I want a Slinger Bag that's a little slimmer in size. And of course, I want a remote that when I press "ON," it doesn't take 20+ seconds to throw a ball...
We'll see what happens in the future, but as of now, Slinger Bag is king of ball machines in its price range.
---
Update #1: More strengths and weaknesses I found as I continue to use Slinger Bag...
Strengths:
+ The ability to store 72+ balls (zipped up) inside the Slinger Bag makes it super convenient to move it around. You don't have to carry the machine and a separate basket of balls at the same time. Of course, the more balls (and stuff) you put in it will make it heavier, but its portability is simply unmatched by other machines.
+ Battery is outstanding (so far). In one session, I used Slinger Bag for about 2 1/2 hours straight (in mostly intermediate speed settings) with no problem. Recharging the machine was fast.
Weaknesses:
-Slinger Bag can get super loud at advanced (fastest) speed settings. The noise would be extremely distracting to neighboring courts and disturb passersby. It's not much of a problem for me because the intermediate setting speed is good enough for my use and the noise is minimal.
-At random times (not often), Slinger Bag will suddenly delay throwing a ball in mid-session and you have to wait 10 or more seconds for the next ball to throw. My guess is that it's trying to load a ball into the carousel but this can happen when there's still 30+ balls inside the machine. It's a definite annoyance.
---
Slinger Bag Review and Drills Playlist:
ruclips.net/p/PL2RMMmJ0TFd6-J0B3cHh9dcx3wEZFZjxz
on the Random Times throws can get delayed I remember dealing with that on the old Lobsters.. normally it happened when more than 1 ball was hovering over the carousel and sometimes they could get temporarily stuck... I at one point mounted some smaller arms ontop of the carousel to take care of that because you could have 80 balls remaining and it would just stop throwing...
I ordered a Slingerbag a few weeks ago.. I'm looking forward to it getting here as I feel even with the faults you've listed.. at the price point it is still an improvement over going out and working on your game solo or against a wall.. Frankly for the price point I feel like it sounds like a great entry level ball machine that can help alotta people with their strokes because Repetition is definitely the most important thing when trying to work on muscle memory for strokes/knocking off rust/working on different grips/tweaking your motion...
Least in my area of the US I'm finding it so hard to find regular hitting partners that I'm finding myself going to the court alone multiple nights a week and maybe once or twice a month being able to find a real person to hit with. Bout the only thing without a ball machine I can work on is my serve because there's only so much tweaking you can do on your groundstrokes against a backboard or just hitting a basket of balls over the net(really more of a warm up) so I feel like this is gonna be able to help me out greatly..
@@Eliath1984 Thanks for the insight regarding the delay of throwing balls. I'll have to check out what's happening inside the bag when it gets delayed again...
I think you will really enjoy the Slinger Bag...it definitely beats playing solo or playing on the wall. Yes, repetition is important...so much of tennis is all about timing. I lose all my timing if I haven't played for just two weeks. With this machine, you won't have an excuse anymore of not being able to find any tennis partners!
@@CoachAdrian lol. I'm getting back into it after about 17 years so I can confirm. My timing right now feels really bad. Seems like the muscle memory on my strokes is still there but my timing and second guessing myself is off big time. Hit with a friend of mine from back in the day that after highschool went d3 then semi pro for awhile and every once in awhile I'd rip a forehand and he'd get excited then back into my brain I'd go hitting horrible shots. Course it almost feels like my old game makes timing even harder on myself because I was an early adopter of the semi western forehand grip. And there's low margin for error with that grip
@@CoachAdrian never did I expect my 1 handed backhand to be my most confident shot.. but it feels like after 17 years it's weathered the storm of time alot better than a SemiWestern forehand...
@@Eliath1984 So how do you like the Slinger bag?
I received my Slinger bag a few weeks ago, and I used it for the first time today. My experience is similar, but the topspin is not that heavy even for an amateur like me. I think it's not a bug but a feature as of 2021. The long delay of serving is a good feature for me. I just refill the ball, press the button, and walk to the other side of the net. It takes this long because the motor has to accelerate the rubber wheel to high speed. The remote is awesome. This produce is unbeatable in the market comparing to other alternatives.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts 👍
@@CoachAdrian Thank you, your video helped me made the decision!
After three years how late the durability is it good Adrian
THANKS for video!! Just curious wrt your forehand - why do you keep your arm so low at the beginning of your stroke - shouldn't it be up high like Federer, Nadal, Kyrgios, etc?
You're welcome! Yes, nowadays a modern forehand should have a higher takeback, but there's nothing necessarily wrong with a lower takeback. I learned tennis back in the 1980's so my forehand was more influenced by a combination of Borg, Connors, McEnroe, and Lendl.
@@CoachAdrian ah OK, me also, but i like Kyrgios form, so changed to that... LOL
@@Crazy-Roland-vDrums Kyrgios has an awesome forehand!
Nice to meet you. Thank you very much for your nice video, from Japan. I bought a slinger machine two months ago, and soon after that, I started to use it. But not easy to develop the method . While I am looking for the slinger web-site, I came across your the slinger web-site. Especially, your video has cover all tennis matters and knowledge indispensable for players. I continue to learn your way of thinking about tennis . 💯
Nice to meet you too! Really appreciate the kind words, thank you! 👍🙏
I was a backer for the Slinger, under it’s original specs. But after very, very long delays (a couple of years) and then some drastic changes to the specs, I pulled out and got a refund. Your review just confirms my reasons and I don’t regret backing out. The original intention was to produce a ball machine, cheaper than the cheapest machines on the market at the time, the Spinshot Lite and Tennis Cube, which the Slinger isn’t. It was also supposed to be small enough to be carried on your back, as it would double as a racquet/kit bag. But the complaints from other backers were that the original ball capacity wasn’t big enough, it needed an oscillator and a remote control. The original size wasn’t able to be maintained, so it was made to it’s current size, which kind of defeats the original intentions. I backed out because I have to travel to my Tennis club on public transport and there’s no way I’d be able to take something of that size on a bus very easily. Shame, because as a backer, I would have got it for half the current price, or rather at the original intended RRP.
It would’ve great if it could be carried like a backpack. I suppose it was just too ambitious of a goal.
Too ambitious.. its a ball machine... wheel it on the court, set it up and play... its great for hitting and beats banging balls against a wall!
You're really confusing with the word "backing." Early on, you use the word like you're a big prominent of the machine, then you are not.
????????????? OMG
Thanks for sharing @CoachAdrian . Any thoughts on using it in a clay court? Wondering if due to clay the machine would not jam easily
@@diegomoretto9637 Should be ok on clay
Can you adjust the time between balls shooting?
Yes, that's the feed rate
Can someone do me a favor...I'm contacting the company because they forgot to include the charger with the slinger machine, but in the meantime I want to buy a charger from Walmart (if available) to use the machine...could you please give me the specs off of the label on the charger so i know what volts/amp I would need to buy an aftermarket charger? Thank you so much.
Good vid. My understanding for the 24 second delay is if you don't have a remote- it allows for you to load up machine by hand- press start and walk around to the baseline from bag without having 5 balls launched before you are ready.
Thanks! I just don’t buy the logic of having time to load balls after pressing the remote. Imagine pressing ON on a TV remote, waiting 20+ seconds to have TV turn on, and the explanation for this is so that you have time to get popcorn and drinks before your movie starts. Remotes shouldn’t have such a crazy delay.
@@CoachAdrian Can someone do me a favor...I'm contacting the company because they forgot to include the charger with the slinger machine, but in the meantime I want to buy a charger from Walmart (if available) to use the machine...could you please give me the specs off of the label on the charger so i know what volts/amp I would need to buy an aftermarket charger? Thank you so much.
Hi Adrian, its been a year since you did the review for the slinger bag, is it holding up well ?
Holding up well. Still works!
Great review i overall agree, however i Play padel tennis and all that topspin it generates is unrealistic in padel and therefore i Think its better used to tennis than padel
I was wondering if constantly hitting against a heavy top spin ball will mess with you timing when you go play against someone who doesn't use top spin. Any thoughts? Thanks for the review!
I don’t it will. In fact, it should make playing against someone using topspin or no topspin much easier.
Long wait isn’t too bad if you fill the machine and start it before walking across the net
True, that's a great way of masking the delay
I wonder if that's not how it's meant to work without the remote. If so, they'd just need to adjust the timing for signaling coming from the remote.
The model you're using, dimensions and weight?
2020 version. You can google rest of the information.
Hello. I'm thinking of buying this slinger machine. I'm a beginner. Is it still working good for you after 2 yrs? The battery still good? Can it throw the ball from base line to base line? Thank you very much.
Yes, it still works. Haven't needed to replace battery. I've never set it to throw from baseline and have it bounce on baseline (if that's what you mean), but I'm pretty sure it can do it.
Can it shoot lobs ? Thanks
Yes
Please advise where can buy it?
Slingerbag.com
I’ve seen on Amazon that some reviews say that the battery dies after a few weeks of use. Was that there case for you?
No, battery still works now
Good review! I'm looking to purchase a ball machine. Slinger machine is attracting me in terms of price. Good to know that it takes such a time for the machine to launch. Not sure if it will be annoying me.
The year is 2022. My kid wants to make a tennis machine fear not just her covid mask but her tennis skills. Beginnner to intermediate. After almost 2 years with this machine can you recommend?
I definitely do still recommend 👍
Does the oscillator make sense to add on?
To me, it doesn't. I can do alternating shots by simply moving my feet. If I was coaching a group of people on it, then yes, you would need a oscillator, but for personal use, I don't need it.
No. I have it and barely use it. It's an extra thing to carry and set up (and another drain on the battery). Just alternate strokes or run to the middle then to the corner to hit the ball. Lots of ways to do drills on this.
What's not covered by the otherwise excellent video: is it easy to collect and reload the balls in the zipper compartment? What do u use to efficiently collect the balls?
Just use a ball tube, pick balls with your racquet, or just use your hands and throw it back into the machine. It’s easy
Hi. How much time it took to arrive?
For me, it took about 45 days.
@@CoachAdrian Thanks Adrian
@@denniskaparunakis3155 You're welcome!
@Coach Adrian i'd like to SELL my SlingerBag Oscillator & ball Pickup Tube. Any ideas? thanks!!
Try Facebook group: facebook.com/groups/336169403615147
@@CoachAdrian wow thanks!!
Hi! Do you remember roughly what speed you had it for the overheads at the end of the video? Was that max speed / height? Thanks!
I think it was 40 degree incline with intermediate/medium setting
Slinger bag is great from everything you said. Except, when they break. Customer service is non-existence. I bought a Slinger less than a year ago and now the motor makes a grinding sound, the lights flicker at times but it flat out won't turn on. Customer service doesn't respond, neither online nor phone. I've never encounter a company with such a blatant disregard to their customers. Still trying to get this resolved.
Sorry to hear this. I haven’t dealt with customer service before, but I’ve heard from others it’s mostly good. Hopefully things get better. Keep us updated.
@@CoachAdrian The scary part is that no department at their phone number picks up. Not customer service, not operations, not marketing. The customer service email person keeps telling me its the charger. I did everything she asked me on how to fix it and it doesn't work. I even did a video showing how its not working and they ignore the email and still telling me its the charger. I've never dealt with a company like this before. Unreal!
Can it handle being hit🤷?
Hey Liam, it can! I’ve pummeled it many times! 👍
Thanks for this video! Is it possible to let it randomize Speed and left-right position, so I can do my cardio as well?
There's no randomizer but there is an oscillator you can purchase
@@CoachAdrian ah thanks! Found it!
Doesn't seem like the maximum speed is less than I've seen with other machines. Like the looping topspin ball but sometimes I'd like a faster, flatter ball....
You definitely won’t get a fast flat ball with this machine...it’s all topspin
Thanks for the review. I purchased one and still waiting for it.
They said I should have mine in about a couple of weeks.
Nice! It can be a long wait but once you get it, I think you'll enjoy it.
Can you use the green dot balls in this machine?
@@mrscrystalschwartz Yes. According to their website, all tennis ball types will work with exception of Stage 3 Foam balls.
omg, i didnt notice. this is running on BATTERIES? how many lessons will they last?
500 USD is ok against machines that cost 4 times more. Maintenance is also necessary for any mechanical device. I have a Slinger and it’s great so far
Nice! 👍
whats the speed like? can you adjust the velocity of the ball ?
Yes you can adjust. I think it’s like max 80 km/h. Plenty
does it still work after a year? what about battery etc? thanks
Can you use while plugged in?
Yes, you can use it while plugged in.
I need to just get one of these and stop thinking about it. Good review! 😊👍
Thanks!
Major flaw is for more advanced players who need a faster ball. My brother got this and it is exactly as shown in your video - heavy topspin BUT SLOW. Good for beginners and intermediate but for any 4.0+ player you'll need another machine to get heavy / fast / variable balls to train with.
I wouldn't call Slinger Bag slow. I'm a 4.5 player and if I set this at advanced (fastest) setting, it throws harder and faster than most 4.5 and 5.0 players that I've hit with. Even many college players don't hit this type of ball. Granted, speed perception is subjective, so if you're really looking for a machine that throws "fast," I would just get a Playmate ball machine - these machines can throw ridiculously fast but you will sacrifice portability, battery operation, and cost just to use it.
@@CoachAdrian playmate ball machines are everything but portable, also look like a trash bin. I know the spin is adjustable on them which is their biggest advantage. This tiny bag will be club players best friend however really not sure about the durability. Which type/brand do you think is the fastest ball machine on the market?
@@mocskoskukorica Playmate probably has the fastest ball machine. They have a model called "Grand Slam" that supposedly shoots out 120 MPH serves. I can attest that Playmate machines can be set to insanely fast speeds and spins that no real human can realistically hit off a typical groundstroke. They may not be portable and look like a trash bin, but if you want speed, their machines are more than capable.
Thanks for the helpful review! I am trying to choose between this and the SP-lite which is a little more, but less battery.
You're welcome! Can't comment much on the SP-lite (since I have no experience with it), but so far Slinger Bag has been a great purchase for me.
I have the sp lite. When the battery went out after a year or so, i just put in a bigger battery. Even with the small battery i was never even close to using it fully in one or even two sessions.
@@slimsim22 what kind of battery does the silent partner edge lite use? I hope it's not proprietary.
Great, comprehensive video review, coach! Makes me wonder what other tennis-product reviews you could do.
Thanks! Maybe I will review other things!
Can you use different balls? Like pickleballs
Other tennis balls, sure. Pickleballs, I don't think so
I wonder if this can be carried for air travelling.. checked-in as a luggage since it’s designed to look like a luggage
It probably depends on the airline's checked baggage policy. Most do allow for sporting equipment but I'm not sure about ball machines. Check with the airlines or Slinger Bag themselves.
Hey thanks for the review! Thinking about getting one. I am an intermediate player who needs to build more consistency on my ground strikers. Would you say that without the oscillator, will the machine only feed to the one side it’s pointing at or is there any room for variety to feed them to BH and FH? Within reason without a machine to move it side to side
Thanks for watching! Without the oscillator, the machine will only feed one direction. You will have to stop the machine to point it differently or you can simply move your feet (turn the other way) to hit a different stroke. My personal preference is to go without an oscillator because I don't see the extra cost of it helping my game significantly.
Hey ,that was the best review I saw about the slinger , thank you!
Planning to buy one... first machine pretty scared.
How is the battery after 6 months ?
Did it get worse - do you think it’ll keep up for 2 years?
How long does one charge last for?
And how long is the charging itself?
Thank you!
Hey Eyal, thanks, I appreciate the kind words! 👍
Battery is holding up well. I haven't had any problems with it. I think it will still be good in 2 years. I actually haven't timed the charging nor have tested how long a charge will last. I use my Slinger Bag usually for about 1-2 hours, then recharge when I get home and let it be. When I recharge, it seems to get fully charged within an hour, so I think it's pretty quick.
I was somewhat apprehensive buying this machine at first too, but I'm glad I bought it. Hopefully it works out for you!
Sorry off topic question what shoes are you wearing?
Prince T22 Mids
@@CoachAdrian Thanks for your prompt response much appreciated.
@@VikrantLudhra Sure. It's a great shoe
The 20 second delay is designed for single user in mind. You’re supposed to load the balls and press the on button straight away, this then gives you 20 seconds to get to the other side of the court. Then another beep and 5 seconds before the balls come out. You’re loading the balls and then getting into position and then pressing the on button, this is for sure going to get frustrating.
I don't buy that reasoning. If you're "supposed" to press the on button on the remote right after loading the balls, why have a remote to begin with? The point of a remote is to easily turn on the machine from a long distance and expect that when you press on, it'll turn on right away.
@@CoachAdrian This makes sense. Imo should be 10 seconds or less with remote.
duh
When you've got 75 balls in the Slinger maybe you want to stop it to explain something to your student.. or stop what you're doing... That's the purpose of the Remote... Not everyone wants or needs to be in a 75 ball ralley. But good review anyway.
The slinger bag is awesomeeeeeeee!! So reliable! 🎾
It is!
You Bought it at $550? Did they raise the price or am i looking in the wrong place?
Yes, it was originally $550. Was a great deal. I see the base price is now $645.
Does it work on pickleballs?
I doubt it. It's not designed for it. I have read they are making a specific pickleball machine.
Coach thank you for your unbiased review, waiting for mine. How frequently do you use it? and how it holding up right now?
I'm not using as much, but it's holding up well. I have a new machine (Tennis Tutor Plus) that I use at the college (where I work) that has much more variety of spin and speed selections. I still recommend the Slinger Bag as a personal machine. It's still inexpensive and very portable.
@@CoachAdrian again thank you so much for your reply, cant wait😊
wish you all the best coach
Thanks for the review Adrian!!! Great job!!
You're welcome! 👍
@@CoachAdrian Hey Adrian, what do you think of this racket for me for $70 OFF www.sportsexperts.ca/en-CA/p-blade-101l-v70-mens-tennis-racquet/88292/88292-2
@@olegyamleq7796 Haven't tested it before, but looks like a good deal
Thanks for assume & practical review. How long have you had the machine for now? Still going strong? I want one but I live in Australia, not sure where to get them.
About 10 months now. Still running strong. It does make some more odd noises and not all balls filter through, but I can live with that. You should be able to get one in Australia. Contact Slinger Bag and they'll let you know how to get one.
Where did you buy it ?
Slingerbag.com
Hey bro, just wanted to do a durability update. Is the battery still holding up? Has the machine malfunctioned at all?
Battery still works. It hasn’t “malfunctioned” but ball jams do occur mostly because of the old balls I have in there. It’s probably recommended to replenish machine with new balls frequently.
@@CoachAdrian okay cool, your reviews have been very helpful. How do you feel about the slinger bag compared to say the tennis tutor, spin shot or lobster?
@@cqntialstarco From what you mentioned, I only have experience with Tennis Tutor. To me, Tennis Tutor is a good machine but not very portable which is a deal breaker for me. I do have a Tennis Tutor Plus where I work at, and I use it mainly for my students. It’s a great machine, but I would never buy it for personal use because it’s too expensive and not very portable.
@@CoachAdrian okay thanks. Sounds like its going to be the slinger bag for me 😂
Thinking of getting this but I ride 5 minutes on my bike to get the courts. Would this be too heavy to carry around like a backpack?
It's definitely too big and heavy to be carried like a backpack
Great review! Thank you for your unbiased review. It is really valuable.
Glad it was helpful!
I just wanted your thoughts, I currently have an older ball machine that still works great, it oscillates (no remote) and has options for top-spin and back-spin (I don't notice much of a difference between the two though). The one big factor for me that limits my use of the machine is that it requires a power cord and there are only one set of courts near me that have access to a power outlet.I can convert the machine to battery powered for a cost between $250-$350. Would you say that this machine is worth it if you were in my position?
If you can convert your existing machine to battery powered and you're already happy with how it runs, I would stick with that. Slinger Bag's main advantage is its portability so if you're not too impressed with this and want to save money, I think your existing machine is good enough.
@@CoachAdrian Thanks for your input. My current machine does lack the portability, I didn't think much about that but definitely something to consider. Do you know how wide and tall the bag is by chance? Also have you had any issues with the machine jamming?
@@incognitoninja101 Dimensions: Height: 33 in (83 cm) Length: 20 in (51 cm) Width: 18 in (45 cm). Haven't had any issues with machine jamming (yet).
I really, really appreciate your thorough review of this machine. I'm very close to buying it and now I'm really excited!
Thanks! Hope you enjoy it!
I would love to see an option to condense the size for transport/use with half the ball capacity
(ie just big enough to accommodate one case of 72 balls when ball well compartment is zipped down to the smaller size... this would also make it more easily transportable and stored in small spaces, and accommodate carrying it in backpack mode of covering uneven terrain or snow getting it to the court.
Also, as a beginner, I’d love the option to narrow the osolatation pattern
Great ideas! 👍
The original specs were for a much smaller machine that could be carried on your back. I’ve messaged the company about going back to those specs and producing the original version as the Slinger Junior, but they’ve not replied. I was one of the backers, but pulled out when the specs were changed.
Great review ! ⚠Thank you. Seeing your video was posted 2 years ago, I wonder how your Slinger is working today, July of 2023. BTW, I was on RUclips last night and see there's a guy that was reviewing a Slinger Bag Version 2. Interesting.... supposedly the changed the inside of the bag so not so many balls get stuck in the corners of the inside of the bag where they enter the machine.... and I wonder if they have changed any other things, like remote delay time. Slinger has zero info on their website about it. Their Facebook page is bad, I noticed people asking questions, and there are no replies, even to people asking good questions a month earlier, it's like they don't want to answer questions or are almost out of business. It's strange they don't answer questions that wouldn't be deemed as "confrontational" Anyway, great review. Thank you ! The only thing that is pointing me towards the Slinger is the pricing..... the Lobster tennis balls machines are so expensive.... 3x more expensive which is scary. P.S. I did a search for parts for the Slinger, they are non-existent - I'm talking about the main panel of the Slinger.... that computer part... there's nothing available, so if you have a problem, it looks like you're in big trouble. I notice that Lobster Sports has these parts, and there are lots of videos, really bad quality ones that show how to replace things. Lobster Sports - they sell machines but put zero effort into their online manuals, they are so low quality and look like they were made back in the 1980s. Their videos are just plain bad also. So 2 companies that just don't seem to know how to run businesses. I've read many complaints about Slinger not even answering people's emails on many different places including Reddit. It's not a comforting feeling when you're looking for a new ball machine.
Still works! It does look like Slinger has updated their machine to a “V2” but can’t comment on it since I don’t have it. I’ve heard their support is good but can’t comment on that as well since I never needed it. Hope you find the machine that works for you!
Hi Adrian, thanks for the reply ! much appreciated ! I'm glad to hear your machine is still working ! On a side-note, I watched another video where the person was talking about the 2 guard rails or "protection rods" that are located where the knobs are on the Slinger. I now wonder if you and others have hit the front of your Slinger in that area. Thank goodness they thought of putting those bars there to protect the knobs. In another video there was close up of a guy attaching the bottom osculating pad that is optional, but that portion is not protected at all, so one ball hitting that and it's toast. I'm thinking if I get the Slinger I'm going to use something to cover that whole area just in-case of any ball hitting it hard. Anyway thank you for your time I do appreciate it ! @@CoachAdrian
Very nice review. I'm considering a first ball machine. I don't think this one will fit in my small trunk, but it should fit in the front seat of my car, no? The other thing that worries me-throw speed. In this video as in the others i've seen, the balls look like they're sorta 'looped' up, with a pronounced arc, but then they kick off the ground with topspin that probably makes it 'play' effectively like a faster ball. Is that accurate? Do you feel like an intermediate player would benefit from a faster throw? Maybe you just didn't have it set up that way and it actually *can* pitch with higher velocity?
It can fit in a front seat of a car but you'll definitely have to move and lean the seat back. Yes, the Slinger Bag can have a "pronounced arc" and "kicks off the ground" with topspin as you say. I feel it's a hittable ball by any intermediate player but if you're really put off by the topspin, then this machine is not for you. I personally enjoy the challenge of hitting against a heavy topspin.
@@CoachAdrian Hey. Thanks for the reply, but i guess i wasn't clear. I *do* want topspin, and when i used to hit with a rented machine, i would always shoot a lower-just above the net-trajectory. Not nearly as much arc as seen in this video. So, i was wondering if the Slinger had enough power to fire *low and hard,* with that topspin.
@@CentaurusRelax314 Oh I see. Short answer is yes, Slinger Bag can fire low and hard. However, I'm not sure how low you want it to go. At the lowest incline setting with an advanced speed setting and new balls, it can fire off low (right above the net) but it could still bounce high enough to your hip (depending on how tall you are). With older balls or lower speed settings, you can definitely get the ball to bounce lower.
@@CoachAdrian Thanks again. I'm 6'3". It's just that when i used to hit with a friend, we both tend to hit pretty close to net height, with pretty good pace, and because my main problem is with 'laziness' with footwork, i was concerned that a machine that could only toss 'soft' wouldn't help me to develop the right kind of timing to go back to hitting with people.
@@CentaurusRelax314 I wouldn't be too concerned then. I feel the Slinger Bag definitely has some "pop" and you being 6'3, you can set low and hard balls to your knees.
Great review. How is it holding up after almost one year from this review? Thanks!
Still holding up very well! 👍
Great review, thanks so much for doing this.
You’re welcome!
Thanks for the review!
My pleasure!
Tennis Tutor has the 20 some seconds delay too. It is for the player to walk back to the other side of the court. It is not configurable to reduce yet another piece in the puzzle. I am OK with it. Take the 20 seconds to rest, after 100 some balls practice. LOL
I suppose you can trick yourself into justifying that a 20+ second remote delay is there for you to "walk back to the other side of the court." I don't buy that reasoning. Look, I like Slinger Bag too but a flaw is a flaw. I use a Tennis Tutor Plus and it does not have a 20+ second remote delay.
@@CoachAdrian Really? Well I have a Tennis Tutor and it has a 20 seconds delay. When it starts spinning, it won't shoot out balls right away but gives me time to walk back to the other side of the court. I thought that was per design. But anyway, to each his own.
Thank you for the review
Great honest review 💪🎾 Battery powered delay 😩 Can’t go wrong for the price.
Price is hard to beat!
what's the warranty? Lobster and another the spin, now silent partner, lasted 2 years then broke
Warranty information can be found here: slingerbag.com/support/
Thx for the honest review. Am buying a Slingerbag next month.
Hey Mart, you're very welcome...hope you enjoy it!
The reason the machine takes so long to begin launching balls again is because it's battery powered, not so much the machine's fault but rather that of something that's battery powered. To get the launching mechanism up to the required RPMs requires a big power draw, something that corded machines don't have a problem with.
Saying that it's not the machine's "fault" is quite a fallacy when the battery itself is part of the machine and can't work without it. Also, I've had experience with other battery operated ball machines (like Tennis Tutor) and their wait time is closer to around 10 seconds. Perhaps the long wait time of Slingerbag is due to the heavy topspin (I don't know as I'm not an engineer) but I thought the wait time definitely needed to be pointed out. Hopefully it gets improved in a future version.
Coach Adrian, how is the battery holding up now that you have had this machine for nearly 18 months?
Hey Aaron, it's holding up well. It can still hold a full charge.
Why doubting the durability? I'm about the pull the trigger. looks like price went up.
I always doubt durability when I’m buying something new, but so far mine is holding up. Yes, it looks like it went up to $590 US but still a reasonable price.
Do you still love the slinger bag? How has it held up?
I like the Slinger Bag. It has its flaws, but I'd buy it again.
@@CoachAdrian What are the flaws in you don't mind me asking. I'm an advanced level player. Very interesting in buying the machine. Hope it has a decent amount of pace for me. That's what I'm after mainly with top spin on it as well.
@@sexyminh I talked about all the flaws in the video. If you're mainly looking for pace, Slinger Bag might not be for you. For me, it's fast enough and with the heavy topspin, it's more than capable. I'm okay putting it at medium (intermediate) setting most of the time. However if you want a machine that blasts balls, look elsewhere.
Any one bought refurbished slingerbag ？If you did，how was quality？Thanks！
After months of email exchanges including videos they finally replaced my broken machine. but after less than 4 months, the battery won't hold charge for more than 40 minutes. They said the warranty doesn't cover battery. It costs $60 but its all sold out! why? defective battery perhaps? I like the machine but the company's customer service is just awful.
Sorry to hear that. Hope your issues get fixed.
£950 in the UK.... not happy
Perfect for practice and drills.
It is!
Good review, I’ll stick with my tennis tutor ball machine
👍
Thanks, I almost bought this but then I was able to get a used Tennis Tutor plus w/ 2 line and random oscillation for 750.00
Tutor is a good machine, although I like Slinger Bag better. Good luck with the Tutor.
I wouldn't be very worried about the longevity, and I'll tell you why: If you look at the machine closely, you can CLEARLY tell the engineers were making decisions with longevity in mind, and NOT cost reduction.
Also, it's simplicity in design, just ONE fly wheel & a manual "crank" track, will definitely help in prolonging the function of it's mechanics.
The oscillator, however, (it's a separate unit you attach to the Slinger) seems like an after-thought of design. You were smart in not buying it, as you can, YOU KNOW, just move your feet :)
If engineers were primarily thinking about longevity, then that's promising. I hope to use this machine for many years.
@@CoachAdrian As long as you prevent water damage & avoid extreme jarring impacts, I'd bet you're going to be happy with the longevity.
Sure, maybe a zipper will get broken after a couple thousand uses, the nylon will thin a little bit as it stretches, expands, contracts, but the mechanics and function of this machine should remain sound for a long time.
Also, I somehow forgot to mention, great review.
Concise.
Most people forego precision and efficiency in their reviews, and personally, I find most reviews just dragggggg.
You covered nearly EVERYTHING in less than 5 minutes.
@@mycommentpwnz I hope you're right. I'm not too concerned with the zippers or nylon. I'm mostly satisfied when its main function (ball throwing) continues to work. Glad you enjoyed the review!
Since you seem to know what you're talking about:
How well do you think this machine will hold up when used on a clay court? I would imagine that the dust might clog the insides after a few months.
I'm really considering buying this machine, but I wouldn't want to invest almost 500€ in something that might break down after a year.
@@SomeoneYouKnow2671 I'm honestly not the person to ask when it comes to clay courts. I live in the US and I probably only played on a clay court 4 times in my life. Slinger Bag does say in their website that it should work perfectly fine on clay courts.
Battery will need replacing annually
I never heard of this. Source?
This machine is a non-starter. The topspin is excessively unrealistic. I suggest spending a few more bucks and get a machine with two pitching wheels so you can control the amount of topspin, and even select backspin to learn to deal with slices.
Slinger Bag Review and Drills Playlist:
ruclips.net/p/PL2RMMmJ0TFd6-J0B3cHh9dcx3wEZFZjxz
Don't buy unless you try it. The top-spin is beyond human. I'm a 4.0 player. I tried it one time and tried to return it, but Slinger wouldn't take it back at any price.
I have seen 3 different people using the Slinger Bag and all 3 times the topspin was excessive. If they turned up the speed the ball was bouncing like Rafa Nadal's forehand. If the speed was lower, it still had excessive topspin that jumped at the player. I've been playing 45 years. Owned and used a ball machine for over 5 years and played at a reasonably high level. I would not recommend this machine. The topspin is not what you'll see in a real match unless you play advanced tennis and are playing the 5% of the advanced players who generate tremendous spin. It just isn't a good bounce to work on fundamentals or even for advanced players as the spin isn't what you'll see in 98% of the players you'll play.
675 US DOLLARS WITH THE OSCILLATOR ROUGHLY 600 EUROS, IN EUROPE PRICE IS 900 EUROS !!!!!!!
Yes looks like the price went up
because it is 850 dollars
You seem to have posted an incomplete thought. FYI, base model of Slinger Bag is $550. The $850 option includes all accessories and 2 cases of tennis balls.
@@CoachAdrian
ok, i saw in the video that the machine has some flaws, in throwing the ball.
I know the machines are about 2,000 e and more.
so I'm surprised this machine is $ 850
Slinger Bag is definitely one of the most competitively priced ball machines out there.
45mph w top spin = weak practice toy
This machine is garbage. I tried it. It has only one ejection wheel that is why the ball comes to u with a ton of heavy topspin and the ball skids a lot. u have to set it really slow and still the ball shoots forward.
Well, as the saying goes, "one person's trash is another person's treasure." I do understand why the topspin can be off-putting. It's not for everyone.
LOL - You must be a beginner
He is the real deal.
It is cheap, very slow, and launches balls a very slow (beginner) speeds - NOT for an intermediate or advanced player.
Look at Silent Partner for a real ball machine that can do it all.
Just saying.