Lobster the Pickle Review
Consensus score
Ask around about sub-$1,300 ball machines and one name keeps coming up before you finish the sentence. The Lobster the pickle is the machine reviewers recommend when someone says "just tell me which one." A hundred twenty-five balls, 20 to 60 mph, real topspin dialed all the way to real backspin, random oscillation, and a 10-function remote in the box. At $1,139 it costs twenty dollars more than the Tutor Spin and embarrasses it on the spec sheet. Cool beans.
We may earn a commission when you buy through links on this page. Our rankings are never influenced by commissions or brand partnerships. Consensus score 88/100 (Excellent) — aggregated Oct 2026 from expert and owner reviews — how we rank.
The consensus verdict
Best for
The "just tell me which one" buyer. Players who want real spin practice, a remote, and oscillation without studying a comparison chart. If you want the safest recommendation in the tier, this is it.
Not for
Portability maximalists: it is heavier and bulkier than the 24-pound Tutor Mini. Also not for app-drill devotees. Programmable drills live on the pickle champion and the Titan, at twice the price.
Consensus 88/100 · Excellent
Weighted from comparison reviews (including a detailed Oct 2026 roundup that names it the pick for most players), long-term owner reports from Lobster's decades in ball machines, and retailer listings. Spin range and included remote are the consensus standouts; weight and battery life are the caveats.
Specs
| MSRP | $1,139 |
|---|---|
| Weight | Heavier class (folding handle, large wheels); trades portability for capacity |
| Ball capacity | 125 pickleballs |
| Ball speed | 20–60 mph |
| Ball feed | Adjustable feed rate |
| Spin | Fully adjustable: heavy topspin through flat to heavy backspin |
| Oscillation | Random horizontal oscillation |
| Elevation | Adjustable (manual) |
| Battery | Rechargeable, 2–4 hours per charge |
| Remote | 10-function remote included (speed, spin, oscillation from court) |
| Origin | Made in USA; drop-ships from manufacturer |
| Warranty | 2 years |
Specs from Lobster Sports and retailer listings; owner forums note real-world battery at the lower end under heavy use.
What reviewers agree on
Strengths
- The spin dial is the whole game. Heavy topspin drops the ball in and drags you forward; heavy backspin sits it up and pushes you back. Reviewers call this the reason to buy: practicing one spin trains half a stroke. No other machine near this price does both ends this well.
- Remote in the box. Ten functions from your side of the court: speed, spin, oscillation, all without the walk of shame back to the machine. The Tutor line charges $200 for this privilege. Lobster just includes it.
- The default recommendation. The most recent detailed comparison roundup names it the pick for most players, explicitly over the Tutor Spin. When reviewers who have seen everything keep landing here, that is consensus.
- Decades of company behind it. Lobster has built ball machines since before pickleball had a pro tour. Owner forums are full of machines running for years, and the company's service reputation is the industry's benchmark.
Weaknesses & caveats
- Not a carry machine. Next to the 24-pound Tutor Mini this is furniture. The folding handle and big wheels help, but trunk-to-court is a two-handed job and older players notice.
- Battery is the shortest in the tier. Two to four hours, and owners report the low end under hard use. The pickle two exists largely to fix this, at $460 more.
- Throwing wheels want cleaning. The resin wheels pick up ball residue and need regular wipedowns; access is a bit fiddly. It is maintenance, not a flaw, but it is real.
- No app, no drills. This is a knob-and-remote machine. If you want programmed drills and phone control, that is the champion or the Titan, and a different budget.
Synthesized from comparison reviews, long-term owner forum reports, and retailer listings. How we rank →
Who it's for
Who it's for
- You want the safest, most-recommended machine under $1,300
- Spin practice matters: topspin drives and backspin resets both
- You want a remote without paying a $200 ransom for it
Who should skip it
- Portability is everything. The Tutor Mini is half the hassle
- You run 6-hour sessions. The battery will tap out first
- You want app drills. Step up a tier
The value question
Twenty dollars. That is the gap between the Tutor Spin and this machine, and it buys you topspin, backspin, and a remote. Reviewers do this math in every comparison and the Lobster wins it every time. The only honest case for the Spin over the pickle is a deep sale or a sidespin obsession. At list price, this page is the answer to the tier.
Where to buy
Buying through this link supports our work at no extra cost to you.
← Best ball machines by price tier · Tutor Spin review · Slinger review · Tutor Mini review
Lobster the Pickle FAQs
Pickle vs pickle two: which one?
The two adds 6 to 8 hour battery, 2-line oscillation, and electronic elevation for about $460 more. The base pickle covers spin, remote, and random oscillation.
Real topspin and backspin?
Yes. Adjustable from heavy topspin through flat to heavy backspin. The defining feature at this price.
Where does it ship from?
Made in the USA and drop-shipped from the manufacturer, usually within days. Two-year warranty.