Click on Your Patient Below For Answers to Frequently Asked Repair Questions

Lobster

Lobster Elite

Tutor

Tutor Plus

Wilson

Silent Partner

Sam

Sam Coach

Tower

Prince

Shotmaker

E-mail us for information on how to obtain our prepackaged instruction kits including tools for any repair. Even If you’ve never picked up a screwdriver you’ll be able to follow these step by step manuals.

Prince Models 1-4/Sam Sp Models 1-4/Lobster Elite 1-2-3/Tutor/Tutor Plus/Wilson/Silent Partner

The most common issues with these ball machines are either a battery problem or a throwing wheel problem.

EVERYTHING SEEMS FINE BUT THE MACHINE WON’T THROW BALLS

Symptom: The machine will not throw balls. When you initially turn the machine on it seems like everything is working fine. Both throwing wheels are spinning, the carousel is turning and dropping balls into the feeding chute, but they never get thrown out. In some cases the throwing wheels will stop turning altogether.

Turn the machine off and remove all of the balls from the ball chute. Turn the machine back on and turn the speed up to 10. Very carefully hold either a file or heavy grit sandpaper against the surface of the throwing wheels. You need to texture the surface of the throwing wheels so they will be able to grab the balls and pitch them out. Put balls back into the ball machine and see if they feed out.

MACHINE ONLY LASTS A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME OR WON’T GO ON AT ALL.

Symptom: Even after charging machine for 8 hours or more the machine won’t go on at all or it will run for a very short period of time.

The battery needs to be replaced. Email if you need instructions

Most other problems will require some form of parts replacement and service. Email specific issues and problems.

Lobster 401

The most common failures on this machine are either the détente or the compression flap.

MACHINE SEEMS TO FUNCTION PROPERLY BUT THE BALLS WON’T SHOOT OUT.

Symptom : The machine turns on, the air compression motor comes on and the carousel turns dropping balls into the canister. The compression flap snaps shut with a bang but no ball fires out.

The metal sleeve that the barrel attaches to needs to be replaced. It is called the detent. Inside that sleeve is a rubber diaphragm that wears out over time. Once it has a hole or a rip in it there will never be enough air pressure built up to actually throw the ball out. Email for replacement instructions.

Symptom: The machine turns on, the air compression motor comes on and the carousel turns dropping balls into the canister. After that nothing happens. The flap doesn’t shut and no balls shoot out.

The compression flap is stuck open. With the ball machine turned off try and pry the flap up a little bit with a small flathead screwdriver or your finger. If the flap is loose and can be manipulated freely than the problem should be resolved.

Most other problems will need some form of parts replacement and service. Email with specific problems

Playmate All Models

The most common service issue with Playmate ball machines is the pitching wheels.

MACHINE IS JUST SO MUCH LOUDER THAN IT USED TO BE

Symptom: Machine sounds like its tearing itself apart. As the speed is turned up the machine vibrates more and gets louder.

The pitching wheels are out of balance. Excess dirt, dust, ball fuzz, and court material has collected on the sides of the throwing wheels adding additional weight. Spin each wheel in your hand and rub either your finger or a rag along the inside of both sides of each throwing wheel and remove the excess material .

THE ELEVATION IS VERY ERRATIC

Symptom: The balls are very inconsistent. None of the elevations or depths are the same.

The urethane on one of or both of the pitching wheels has worn away enough to need replacement. The gap between the wheels is now too big to consistently throw the balls to the same place.

EVERYTHING SEEMS TO BE WORKING WHEN I TURN THE MACHINE ON BUT NO BALLS COME OUT AND THE CAROUSEL STOPPED TURNING.

Symptom: You turn the machine on and the carousel started feeding balls right away. The balls never fire out and eventually the carousel stops turning. Now nothing works.

One of two things have happened. The balls are wet and the urethane on the pitching wheels cannot grab wet tennis balls and they have backed up in the ball chute all they way back up to the carousel, stopping it from turning. Make sure the machine is turned off. Take all of the balls out of the hopper. See if you can see any balls stuck underneath the feeding disk or in the ball chute. Also Look into the front of the machine and see if there are any balls visible. Email with questions on removal techniques depending on model and year.

If you don’t have the remote control for your machine and you consistently have the remote toggle switch in either the “OFF” or “BYPASS” position it is quite possible that the balls have fed into the machine before the pitching wheels are spinning fast enough to throw them out. So the carousel will still feed balls into the chute until they back up all the way to the black feeding disk. Email with questions on removal techniques depending on model and year.

Most other repair issues will probably require replacement parts and service. Email with problems and questions.