Reliability update: I've had the Proton for just over 6 months now. I had one pretty serious ball jam that I managed to fix on my workbench about 3 months ago. Then a few days back, the front foot wouldn't elevate on start up. I've tried different things to fix it but without success. I've contact Hydrogen Sports to get it fixed. Let's see how this goes.

Thanks for your review

I just tested the range of two newer Apple Watches; the Series 7 that was launched in 2021 and the Ultra 2 Launched about 8 months ago. Both watches connected and worked fine not just anywhere within the court but also outside the fence. I went about 20 feet beyond the fence line - diagonally across from the ball machine that was placed on the baseline on the opposite court and the connection was solid. I could start and stop the machine with no problems. I'm now wondering if the older watch I tested with originally was faulty in some way.

Do you have some advices to fix some of the mentioned issues, please? I need to buy the Apple Watch. Which one is the good one to work with? Are the Generation 9 watch good for the use of the ball machine? Thanks

@DVReviews2024

2 ай бұрын

The older watch I had worked reasonably well so long as I used it no further than the service line on the opposite side of the court. I should be able to get my hands on an Ultra in about 3 weeks from now. I'll test it and let you know if it works better.

Thank you for your review. May I ask why you're giving the machine 3 stars out of 5? is there another machine you'd recommend around the same price point?

@DVReviews2024

Ай бұрын

There are two main reasons for the rating. The first is the left-right drift of the machine. In a typical session, I run about 7 or 8 baskets of balls through the machine. In that time, I have to adjust it at least 3 times to keep it aimed correctly. I just want to focus on tennis and not have to keep adjusting the machine. Calibration can sometimes help a little but that is yet another thing to do and it doesn't totally solve the problem. The second is the lack of a high ball capability so I can practice overhead smashes.

@jasonwee7580

Ай бұрын

Doesn’t the lob riser raise the machine up more? Also, How does the machine calibrate , is the drift happening from the back wheel slipping?

@DVReviews2024

Ай бұрын

@@jasonwee7580 The lob riser does allow it to launch balls at a higher angle but not high enough to do a proper lob. There is a calibration process run from the phone app that allows you to launch one ball at a time at a specific part of the court. You then dial in the machine by using the appropriate arrow keys. For left to right drift, you just specify how far the machine drifts left/right over time and the machine attempts to compensate for it. It's an open loop design - so the drift is to be expected. It's probably from a combination of the small, rear driven wheel slipping or just the (lack of) repeatability of movement inherent in the design.

Is this machine good in regards to return of ball when you hit it to make it realistic like hitting with a person?

@DVReviews2024

Ай бұрын

In general, the answer is yes. The machine certainly has the capability to do so. It can be programmed to deliver the ball in different parts of the court with different speeds/spin. You do need to take the time to set it up appropriately. It took me a while to get it tweaked so that I could get comfortable doing drills.

Do we have an app for Android users?

@DVReviews2024

Ай бұрын

It's in the Google Play store

@samar_khan_94

Ай бұрын

@@DVReviews2024 thank you. Can you please comment on the durability of the machine? Since when have you been using it/tentatively how many balls fired so far? I'm planning to buy a ball machine, and this seems to be the only machine which has custom drills capability at this price point (spinshot player cost upwards of $2200). Is my understanding correct?

@DVReviews2024

14 күн бұрын

@@samar_khan_94 I've put in excess of 14,000 balls thru the machine in the 7+ months that I've had it. I've had two problems so far. The first was a messy ball jam that required disassembling part of the carousel to fix. The second was more serious - the machine stopped elevating. I had to send it back to Hydrogen Sports for it to be fixed. So, the reliability hasn't been great.