I have a Slinger myself. I'd only add that the range of my remote control has been a little disappointing. I love the design of the bag that allows easy transport and, like you said, nice spaces for all of the required gear. It has really helped me build up my 2H backhand from basically zero to a fairly reliable stroke (I'm an NTRP 3.5, learned as an adult). I really need to add video analysis to the mix and I think there's a lot more improvement to be had. IMO the ~$700 I spent total for the machine and 75 Triniti balls has been way more impactful (and fun) than spending that money on lessons.
Glad you have had a positive experience! Yes i think if you combine online instruction, from channels like Top Tennis Training, or Intuitive tennis (my 2 favorites), with video analysis and a ball machine you can find great results. If you are missing one of the three though, it will be hard haha.
@@cqntialstarco It is working great, aside from the remote range issue I mentioned in the other comment (still the same). I use it probably once a week or maybe a little less. Battery has held up fine so far. I do still struggle with getting the settings right for the shots I want to hit. I think you'd actually have to take photos of your settings and machine position to get it right. I often have to run back to machine to adjust it based on what I'm trying to do. Good value overall but I can understand why people might pay up for something less manual.
I love the Slingerbag but you must do the following to really enjoy it. For the ball feeding from the Slinger machine to not get stuck I applied the "Professional-Grade Moldable Plastic Pellets by Polly Plastics" from amazon. I applied it on top of the rotating cross panel. I shaped the mold to have four vertically crossed mold then placed it on top of the crossed panel and have placed a glue to adhere permanently. This will help fix the issue of the ball sometimes not launching and instead will keep a regular steady feed flow. On the dial section for adjusting the ball height from the launch pad I applied a white "Fine Paint Marker for Rock Painting-Stone, Ceramic, Metal, Glass, Wood,Set of 6 Paint Pens High Volume Ink High Volume Ink for DIY Craft" from Amazon. I applied the white marker on the etched black line marker for better visibility, even from a distance. On the opening of the bag from the top entrance to place the racket I placed an elastic fiber string crosswise (made two holes on each side with a heated pointy metal) and that is where I hang my towel. There's more but this is enough for now. Thanks for letting me share.
Still love my Slingerbag. I agree with your take about focused practice. I find that playing matches is the best way to improve I'm at the 3.5 level and relatively new. I figure out what I'm struggling with in matches and practice it with the slingerbag. Also, I don't put it on the base line but I do find it nice to put it on the service line on the other side of the net and have it put up sitters in the mid court so I can practice my put away shots or hit shots that put a lot of pressure on the opponent.
I totally agree! Playing matches is THE BEST way to improve your game. You cannot improve if you don’t play matches. The ball machine is only a supplement to match play. I love the putt away shot practice! Super important
@@natestenniscomeback1486 just curious what practice ball are you using these days? I'm using some really old Trinitis and finding them hard to replace. I bought a box in the 80 dollar range and they are almost double that now for a case. Ugh.
@@Tennis_Fan2022 i use Wilson Practice Balls. They are pressurized and make my practice as “Match like” as possible. I normally buy one case at a time,
@@anthonybrandenburg4411 yeah i agree! I think my channel is still too small. I saw they sent one to the “tennis spin” channel. Good move on their part. Maybe I’ll reach out again.
Hi Jan! Glad it was helpful! The link to the guide is in the description of the video. If you have any issues send me an email at natestenniscomeback@gmail.com
My Slinger’s On/Off switch died just after about 14 months. I called Slinger customer service and sent them photos. They shipped me a new one the next day. Make sure you register your Slinger online when you get it. You get six extra months of warranty (total 2 1/2 years, but only in the U.S.). I am a very happy customer 🎉. But will NOT buy again. Lobster machine is much better, they cost twice as much but you can program top or back spin and flat shot to 65 miles per hour.
Thanks for the review! Which balls do you use? How many sessions / time do they usually last? I heard Wilson Trinity balls are good for the Slinger but they are heavy and more prone to injury.
I personally use Wilson practice balls. They are pressurized. All tennis balls will work in the slingerbag, it’s just up to your preference. Here is a video where i dive into this more. ua-cam.com/video/a0vU5EDGZQo/v-deo.html
Hello from Germany, I am currently also looking for a ball machine and the Slinger Bag is currently the hottest on the market. Unfortunately, there is hardly anything to read about the Spinshot Plus / Pro in Germany and no one has reported experiences anywhere. The Slinger costs 949€ and the Spinshot Plus 1335€ without Remote Watch. Is the extra price worth it?
Hi Steven sorry for the late reply. It’s hard for me to answer your question since i don’t know what you are really looking for in a machine. If you can afford a more expense machine you will not be disappointed but i do believe the slinger bag has most of the functionally needed to make the majority of players very happy
The silent partner does have more functionality then the slingerbag. But depending on the model, the silent partner could be MUCH more expensive. So it’s going to depend on the model you are looking at and your budget. I made ball machine buyers guide where i rank all the main machines available by price point. Feel free to check it out
@@natestenniscomeback1486 thanks mate, did check it out. The Edge Star is about $250 more… Slinger keeps edging their prices up and up. I remember when people were getting them for less than $600! My heart wants a Hydrogen Sports proton, but there’s so little out there about them. Very few videos, very little advertisements, and as a relatively new company, I’m not sure about their service/ longevity.
@@Jack-er6wi thanks Jack! Yes i am one of those lucky ppl haha! Ver fortunate. I also want a Proton! I have talked with the founder of that company and I’ve loved everything I’ve heard/ seen. I’ve asked if i could get my hands on one to do a review but so far no luck.
I don’t like my Slinger Bag and going to sell it. The Exaggerated topspin prevents to get in aMatchlike rhythm. Budget: a cheaper machine you don’t use is more expansive than buying one you use for more money.
I would agree….if you buy something you don’t like, it’s for sure more expensive than just buying something you like in the first place. 😂 sorry you didn’t like the slinger bag.
As a tennis trainer i can say that a machine that can only shoot topspin balls like the Slingerbag, is bad for beginners, children and mainly people that want to learn tennis, also the slow speed of the Slingerbag doesn't make it suitable for higher level players. The argument that the Slingerbag is shooting slow speed balls and that this is good for training is bullshit in my opinion. It is good when a ball machine can be set at different speeds but the limitation of the Slingerbag is just that it can't shoot high speed balls. So you need to put the ball machine at the net position, how can you then say that it is a good ball machine? As ball machine specialist, I can say that there are several ballmachines of a Slingerbag price, that can shoot normal, topspin or slice balls with a speed so that it easily could be positioned at the opposite baseline. The Slingerbag concept is nice, ball bag, charger for phone and ball picker in one. But the Slingerbag is really a bad kind of ball machine. The people that bought it didn't know that there are also easy to use and cheap ball machines that can shoot normal balls at normal speeds with not only topspin.
@@tigerfan3462 We have the Smart 1 (€ 822,- excl vat) and Smart 2 (€ 1070,- excl vat). This is sales in Europe so, if selling there, an extra vat is included. For outside Europe an extra shipment is necessary. Sure I want to sell but if you are outside Europe, there might be a seller in your country without the necessary plane shipment cost (about € 250,- to most parts of the world from Europe).
Nothing wrong with that. Then find a machine that can replicate that play style best. I’m not saying the Slingerbag is the best machine on the market. It’s not. But it’s the best machine at its price point and a little Above.
Here's a con. Lousy company. My original slinger bag broke in about a year. the machine started to make grinding noises and it won't turn on consistently until it finally just died. Took months of back and fourth emails and videos until they finally got me a replacement. After having it for less than 4 months. the battery will not hold charge for more than 40 minutes. Slinger says the battery is not under warranty and wants me to buy one for $60. Kicker is that their batteries are all sold out and its on back order. Who needs extra batteries if the battery would hold charge for 3.5 hours like they said in the ad. My first machine held charge for over 2 hours. This one holds for 40 minutes. Unreal. Decent machine. crappy company.
The remote is unreliable. The zippered front is unnecessary. The battery box/battery plugin design is awkward. The ball trough needs tweaking for reliable ball drop into loader. Great machine for aspiring highschool players. Not necessary for rec players who see very little topspin from opponents. ONE serious negative: $50/month in balls. Why? To create topspin machine pinches each ball and after a month brown bald spots appear where all the green has been worn off. Pay a coach or pay Amazon for new balls. I sold mine after 3 months of tweaking my form. No regrets.
@@markelovett I got the basic slinger, modified the ball trough for ball feed and battery box for easy removal. Permanently removed zippered cover and modified carry/lift straps. Sold it for $400 after 3 months when I found my form. No regrets, except for the remote, which is really just an on-off switch you gotta use standing next to the machine.
Hahaha working on it man! It’s winter where i am and court time is $$$$ got somethings in the works through. What do you want to see?? Appreciate the love!
Check out the description for more ways to improve your game, and learn about which ball machine is best for you!!
I have a Slinger myself. I'd only add that the range of my remote control has been a little disappointing. I love the design of the bag that allows easy transport and, like you said, nice spaces for all of the required gear. It has really helped me build up my 2H backhand from basically zero to a fairly reliable stroke (I'm an NTRP 3.5, learned as an adult). I really need to add video analysis to the mix and I think there's a lot more improvement to be had. IMO the ~$700 I spent total for the machine and 75 Triniti balls has been way more impactful (and fun) than spending that money on lessons.
Glad you have had a positive experience! Yes i think if you combine online instruction, from channels like Top Tennis Training, or Intuitive tennis (my 2 favorites), with video analysis and a ball machine you can find great results. If you are missing one of the three though, it will be hard haha.
Hello, I was looking for an update on your slinger bag. How has it been holding up? Any malfunctions?
@@cqntialstarco It is working great, aside from the remote range issue I mentioned in the other comment (still the same). I use it probably once a week or maybe a little less. Battery has held up fine so far. I do still struggle with getting the settings right for the shots I want to hit. I think you'd actually have to take photos of your settings and machine position to get it right. I often have to run back to machine to adjust it based on what I'm trying to do. Good value overall but I can understand why people might pay up for something less manual.
I love the Slingerbag but you must do the following to really enjoy it. For the ball feeding from the Slinger machine to not get stuck I applied the "Professional-Grade Moldable Plastic Pellets by Polly Plastics" from amazon. I applied it on top of the rotating cross panel. I shaped the mold to have four vertically crossed mold then placed it on top of the crossed panel and have placed a glue to adhere permanently. This will help fix the issue of the ball sometimes not launching and instead will keep a regular steady feed flow. On the dial section for adjusting the ball height from the launch pad I applied a white "Fine Paint Marker for Rock Painting-Stone, Ceramic, Metal, Glass, Wood,Set of 6 Paint Pens High Volume Ink High Volume Ink for DIY Craft" from Amazon. I applied the white marker on the etched black line marker for better visibility, even from a distance. On the opening of the bag from the top entrance to place the racket I placed an elastic fiber string crosswise (made two holes on each side with a heated pointy metal) and that is where I hang my towel. There's more but this is enough for now. Thanks for letting me share.
Great to have a one year review. Nothing quite like spending considerable time with something to move past the honeymoon period. Thanks Nate.
Haha that’s a great way to put it!
Haha, you sir seem to have had something we call the red pill 😄👍🏼
Still love my Slingerbag. I agree with your take about focused practice. I find that playing matches is the best way to improve I'm at the 3.5 level and relatively new. I figure out what I'm struggling with in matches and practice it with the slingerbag. Also, I don't put it on the base line but I do find it nice to put it on the service line on the other side of the net and have it put up sitters in the mid court so I can practice my put away shots or hit shots that put a lot of pressure on the opponent.
I totally agree! Playing matches is THE BEST way to improve your game. You cannot improve if you don’t play matches. The ball machine is only a supplement to match play.
I love the putt away shot practice! Super important
@@natestenniscomeback1486 just curious what practice ball are you using these days? I'm using some really old Trinitis and finding them hard to replace. I bought a box in the 80 dollar range and they are almost double that now for a case. Ugh.
@@Tennis_Fan2022 i use Wilson Practice Balls. They are pressurized and make my practice as “Match like” as possible. I normally buy one case at a time,
Review nailed it. My experience as well. I’m curious about Proton. Not a lot of reviews yet on UA-cam.
Yeah not a ton. I’ve reached out to them about that to see if I could help out with that but….they were not interested haha!
@@natestenniscomeback1486 you should see if you can demo it for them and do a video about it. I’m sure that would generate some business for them
@@anthonybrandenburg4411 yeah i agree! I think my channel is still too small. I saw they sent one to the “tennis spin” channel. Good move on their part. Maybe I’ll reach out again.
I heard the Proton is too light and moves while using it. I have a spinshot Player and love it. The program ability is outstanding.
Nate, Just saw your review. I'm considering buying a ballmachine and like to receive your buyingguide. Hope to hear from you soon.
Hi Jan! Glad it was helpful! The link to the guide is in the description of the video. If you have any issues send me an email at natestenniscomeback@gmail.com
My Slinger’s On/Off switch died just after about 14 months. I called Slinger customer service and sent them photos. They shipped me a new one the next day. Make sure you register your Slinger online when you get it. You get six extra months of warranty (total 2 1/2 years, but only in the U.S.). I am a very happy customer 🎉. But will NOT buy again. Lobster machine is much better, they cost twice as much but you can program top or back spin and flat shot to 65 miles per hour.
Thanks for the review! Which balls do you use? How many sessions / time do they usually last? I heard Wilson Trinity balls are good for the Slinger but they are heavy and more prone to injury.
I personally use Wilson practice balls. They are pressurized. All tennis balls will work in the slingerbag, it’s just up to your preference.
Here is a video where i dive into this more.
ua-cam.com/video/a0vU5EDGZQo/v-deo.html
What is the lowest and highest speed of this machine? 😊
As an advanced player I think the speed is important...and this machine seems too slow?
If the most important thing to you is speed then make sure you pick a machine that has the capacity to hit the speed you need.
Hello from Germany, I am currently also looking for a ball machine and the Slinger Bag is currently the hottest on the market. Unfortunately, there is hardly anything to read about the Spinshot Plus / Pro in Germany and no one has reported experiences anywhere.
The Slinger costs 949€ and the Spinshot Plus 1335€ without Remote Watch.
Is the extra price worth it?
Hi Steven sorry for the late reply. It’s hard for me to answer your question since i don’t know what you are really looking for in a machine. If you can afford a more expense machine you will not be disappointed but i do believe the slinger bag has most of the functionally needed to make the majority of players very happy
You have no choice but to keep it or sell it since they won't take it back if yer not satisfied with it , what company does that?
What do you think of the tutor ball machine?
Solid machine for sure. Check out my ball machine buyers guide for my break down of other machines. It’s linked in my first review video
Considering a Slinger or a Silent Partner Edge Star…. Think the Silent Partner is that much better?
The silent partner does have more functionality then the slingerbag. But depending on the model, the silent partner could be MUCH more expensive.
So it’s going to depend on the model you are looking at and your budget. I made ball machine buyers guide where i rank all the main machines available by price point. Feel free to check it out
@@natestenniscomeback1486 thanks mate, did check it out. The Edge Star is about $250 more… Slinger keeps edging their prices up and up. I remember when people were getting them for less than $600!
My heart wants a Hydrogen Sports proton, but there’s so little out there about them. Very few videos, very little advertisements, and as a relatively new company, I’m not sure about their service/ longevity.
@@Jack-er6wi thanks Jack! Yes i am one of those lucky ppl haha! Ver fortunate.
I also want a Proton! I have talked with the founder of that company and I’ve loved everything I’ve heard/ seen. I’ve asked if i could get my hands on one to do a review but so far no luck.
@@natestenniscomeback1486 awesome. Good to know that!
Despite not owning it, are you under the perception that it’s pretty durable?
I was going to buy one until I found a hitting wall near me. Way better.
😂😂😂 well that’s for sure less expensive! Not sure it’s the same thing….🤦♂️
@@natestenniscomeback1486 because it’s better than a suck wad ball machine.
@@masha1980 😂
I don’t like my Slinger Bag and going to sell it. The Exaggerated topspin prevents to get in aMatchlike rhythm. Budget: a cheaper machine you don’t use is more expansive than buying one you use for more money.
I would agree….if you buy something you don’t like, it’s for sure more expensive than just buying something you like in the first place. 😂 sorry you didn’t like the slinger bag.
I don't see a place to sign up for your email
Hi Susan! This link will add you to the list! mailchi.mp/049be703b574/the-ultimate-ball-machine-buyers-guide
As a tennis trainer i can say that a machine that can only shoot topspin balls like the Slingerbag, is bad for beginners, children and mainly people that want to learn tennis, also the slow speed of the Slingerbag doesn't make it suitable for higher level players. The argument that the Slingerbag is shooting slow speed balls and that this is good for training is bullshit in my opinion. It is good when a ball machine can be set at different speeds but the limitation of the Slingerbag is just that it can't shoot high speed balls. So you need to put the ball machine at the net position, how can you then say that it is a good ball machine? As ball machine specialist, I can say that there are several ballmachines of a Slingerbag price, that can shoot normal, topspin or slice balls with a speed so that it easily could be positioned at the opposite baseline. The Slingerbag concept is nice, ball bag, charger for phone and ball picker in one. But the Slingerbag is really a bad kind of ball machine. The people that bought it didn't know that there are also easy to use and cheap ball machines that can shoot normal balls at normal speeds with not only topspin.
What is your recommendation for a machine in this price range? I’d love to get your input as a tennis trainer.
@@tigerfan3462 We have the Smart 1 (€ 822,- excl vat) and Smart 2 (€ 1070,- excl vat). This is sales in Europe so, if selling there, an extra vat is included. For outside Europe an extra shipment is necessary. Sure I want to sell but if you are outside Europe, there might be a seller in your country without the necessary plane shipment cost (about € 250,- to most parts of the world from Europe).
Top spin only tied to speed of the ball? No thanks
Nate ...I just think a machine that has more speed is too slow...the players I pray hit hard and i want to simulate
Nothing wrong with that. Then find a machine that can replicate that play style best. I’m not saying the Slingerbag is the best machine on the market. It’s not. But it’s the best machine at its price point and a little
Above.
Here's a con. Lousy company. My original slinger bag broke in about a year. the machine started to make grinding noises and it won't turn on consistently until it finally just died. Took months of back and fourth emails and videos until they finally got me a replacement. After having it for less than 4 months. the battery will not hold charge for more than 40 minutes. Slinger says the battery is not under warranty and wants me to buy one for $60. Kicker is that their batteries are all sold out and its on back order. Who needs extra batteries if the battery would hold charge for 3.5 hours like they said in the ad. My first machine held charge for over 2 hours. This one holds for 40 minutes. Unreal. Decent machine. crappy company.
The remote is unreliable. The zippered front is unnecessary. The battery box/battery plugin design is awkward. The ball trough needs tweaking for reliable ball drop into loader. Great machine for aspiring highschool players. Not necessary for rec players who see very little topspin from opponents. ONE serious negative: $50/month in balls. Why? To create topspin machine pinches each ball and after a month brown bald spots appear where all the green has been worn off. Pay a coach or pay Amazon for new balls. I sold mine after 3 months of tweaking my form. No regrets.
What did you get?
@@markelovett I got the basic slinger, modified the ball trough for ball feed and battery box for easy removal. Permanently removed zippered cover and modified carry/lift straps. Sold it for $400 after 3 months when I found my form. No regrets, except for the remote, which is really just an on-off switch you gotta use standing next to the machine.
@@markelovett I purchased mine in early 2021. Surely they've made improvements.
make more vids bruh
Hahaha working on it man! It’s winter where i am and court time is $$$$ got somethings in the works through.
What do you want to see??
Appreciate the love!
Hey man I emailed you back
Hey! Thank you! I do keep forgetting to check that email address my bad. Just shot you an email back. Hopefully we can connect!