Being a tennis player requires a lot of effort and energy. Whether you’re practicing or in the middle of a game, you have to constantly move to score higher and higher.
This is why you need to choose the best tennis ball hopper. Because after wearing out every muscle in your body during practice, you can’t waste more energy on picking up tennis balls to load them in a tennis ball machine or prepare for the next round of serve practice.
In this article, we’ll recommend the top 5 tennis ball hoppers so you can find what best suits your needs.
Our Top 5 Tennis Ball Hoppers
A tennis ball hopper depends on basic physics to help you collect all your balls. After a long day of practice, claiming back your tennis balls might seem like a hard chore.
This is why these following hoppers might come in handy and save you time and energy.
Our first recommendation is this amazing Gamma hopper. Not only should it grant you effortlessness, but it’s also a great choice for small budgets. What makes it great is that it can take up to 75 balls. You can choose from other products with more capacity if you use more than 75 tennis balls in your practice. Another feature we liked about this hopper is that it’s equipped with a firm lid. This makes sure that the balls you’ve already collected won’t fall back into the ground. The Gamma tennis ball hopper is lightweight, which makes it easy to carry around the tennis court. Also, you can adjust the handle to set the hopper in a standing position. The best thing about this product is that it combines high-quality materials and a good price.
PROS
- 75-ball capacity
- Easy to assemble and use
- Made of carbon steel wire
- Diamond Clad weather-resistant coating
- Available with a lid
- Adjustable handle
CONS
- The handles might separate after heavy use
- Not a long-lasting choice
Here’s another budget-friendly option with a better build and durability. The Wilson ball hopper can be your best bet if you want the best of both worlds. With its convertible handles, you can make this tennis ball hopper stand for better access. This way you can use it throughout your training to contain your tennis balls before you use them. The height at which the basket should stand is about 33 inches, which is suitable for an adult of average height. This hopper comes with a lid, too, which should keep you from chasing after spilling tennis balls. Made of plated steel construction, you can depend on it to last for a while without falling apart. If you’re looking for quality, performance and an affordable price, you should consider buying this product.
PROS
- Made of durable steel
- Comes with convertible handles
- Equipped with a no-spillage lid
- Firm construction
- Affordable price
CONS
- You’ll need extra tools to assemble it
- Locking the legs might require some extra effort
If you’re looking for a hopper with a bit more space, you can try this Tourna hopper. Not only can it contain 80 tennis balls, but it also has a more durable body. With its polypropylene body, you can say goodbye to all the problems that come with wire baskets. No more rust issues, welds breaking, or peeling paint. Another noteworthy feature is that it has strong handles that you can lock to keep it in a standing position. The basket stands at a height of 29.5 inches, which is suitable for adults and children alike. What we also find interesting about this hopper is that it has sliding bars on top. So that when you’re carrying it around, your tennis balls should be safe from falling over. When it’s time to take out a ball, you can simply push a bar to the side and pick it up. There are other versions of this hopper, they are the Tourna Deluxe Ballport and the Tourna Ballport Mini. The former comes with wheels. The latter has all the nice features of the original Tourna Ballport in a smaller size.
PROS
- Durable polypropylene body
- Adjustable and lockable handles
- Comes with sliding bars on the top
- Lightweight
- Moderately-price
- Two extra versions are available
CONS
- A bit challenging to put together
- The screws that come with it might need a replacement for being too short
Here’s another Tourna hopper if you’re looking for a hopper that takes 120 tennis balls. Of course, if you’re a beginner in tennis chances are you won’t need that number of balls during practice. If you’re a serious tennis player, then you’ll most definitely fall in love with this hopper. This Tourna hopper is made of extra durable steel. Although many wire hoppers come with issues, this one should stand firm against them. The adjustable handles can be transformed into legs to better aid you in practice. Also, they have a locking feature to keep from falling over. As for the weight, this hopper only weighs about 10 lbs, which isn’t heavy even with the added weight of the tennis balls. The price is only a bit higher than our previous suggestion. But if you look at all the extra features and ball capacity, the price is justified. If you’re searching for a combination of a midrange price, big size, and a strong build, you can count on this buddy.
PROS
- Strong steel build
- Perfect for a skilled tennis player
- The price range is medium
- Comes with sturdy and adjustable handles
- Equipped with a lid to prevent spillage
CONS
- Hard to use with 120 balls
- Works comfortably with only 100 balls
Here’s our final candidate. This hopper by HOPARAZZI can be your best companion if you’re into tennis. But not so much that you’d call yourself a serious player. This hopper can take up 65 tennis balls, which is a good number for occasional tennis games with your family or friends. What captured our attention is that this ball hopper is available in 17 vibrant colors. So it can be fun for children to pick their favorite color. However, its weight may be heavy for a kid to carry around, which is 9 lbs. Another helpful feature is the attached wheels. They make it easier for you to pull it behind when you walk from your car to the tennis court. Also, it makes up for its relatively heavy weight. As with all the good tennis ball hoppers out there, it’s equipped with a lid. Also, its body is solidly welded and made of durable steel. If you’re worried about the assembly, then you should know that it’s simple. You won’t need additional tools to build up this beauty.
PROS
- A solid build
- Comes in various colors
- Simple and convenient design
- No extra tools for assembly
- Comes with wheels
CONS
- Might be on the expensive end
- Heavy weight for a child
Factors to Consider When Buying a Tennis Ball Hopper
Getting the perfect tennis ball hopper depends on several factors that you should keep in mind. To get the best out of it, you should think about the following points.
Capacity
The bigger the hopper, the more tennis balls it’ll be able to pick up. That’s why the first thing you should think about is the size of your hopper.
Of course, this depends on how many balls you usually use in practice. Not only does the hopper pick them up, but it also keeps them stored and organized for later use.
Design
The second thing you should think about is how useful the design is. Wheels mean easier mobility. Features like sliding bars or a lid keep the balls from falling to the ground.
To reduce the overall effort, you should look for these additional features.
Weight
Because you’ll need to carry it around, a good tennis ball hopper shouldn’t weigh so much.
Also, if you take your younger siblings or your children to play tennis, they’ll need a lightweight hopper to pick up the balls effortlessly.
Handles
You need to make sure that the adjustable handles are the right size. Because if you get a hopper with short handles, you’ll have to bend to pick it up.
This eliminates the whole point of getting a tennis ball hopper.
Materials
You should look for durable materials that will last you a while. Flimsy welds and easily breaking handles mean a waste of money and time.
Of course, most hoppers aren’t that expensive compared to other sports equipment. Nevertheless, it’s best that you look for a long-term product.
Assembly
The best products are the ones that have clear assembly instructions. That’s why you should look for a hopper that doesn’t take time to put together.
Some hoppers come assembled, which is even better.
Stability
Most tennis ball hoppers have handles that can be turned into legs. But you can’t always rely on this feature if these legs can’t keep the basket upright.
Before buying a hopper, make sure its legs are firm and lockable. You don’t want to collect 70 tennis balls only to have them all fall back to the ground because of weak legs.
Benefits of a Tennis Ball Hopper
Now that you know what to look for in a hopper, let’s find out why you should own one if you play tennis.
Fast Cleaning Up
During practice, the last thing on your mind should be picking up all these tennis balls. Having a ball hopper should allow you a quick clean up.
So you can reload your machine and go back to practice without further delay.
Storage
It’s nice to have a reliable place to store all your tennis balls. Most tennis ball hoppers come with lids, so you can carry the basket to your car as soon as you’ve picked up all the balls.
Effortless
As you’ve pointed out before, you won’t need to bend over and work out your already-spent muscle.
Also, when converted into a standing position, you’ll be able to take the balls again from the hopper by just extending your hand.
Keeps You Encouraged
If you’re already fatigued from practice, then the chore of picking up all your fallen tennis balls can discourage you. It might make you shorten the length of your practice time.
The more this happens, the more tired you’ll feel. Who knows, it might lead you to skip tennis practice eventually.
This is how getting the best tennis ball hopper should keep you focused solely on the sport.
Fun For Children
Kids can find it fun to pick up every tennis ball using a hopper. As long as it’s easy to carry or wheel around.
Your children should be pleased to clean up the tennis court all on their own.
Also, as there are some products with eye-catching colors and designs, you can give one as a gift to your child.
Conclusion
Our little journey has come to an end, and it’s time that we crowned the best tennis ball hopper.
We recommend you get the Tourna Ballport Tennis Ball Hopper for obvious reasons!
First of all, it’s made of polypropylene which is a heavy-duty material. Also, it comes with reliable handles that you can lock in both up and down positions.
It’s also worth mentioning that this hopper is lightweight. It weighs only 4 lbs, which is about 50% less weight than other hoppers of similar capacity.
As for the price, we find it quite impressive combined with all these great features.
Now, if you’re looking for something at a lower price, you can go ahead and get the Wilson Tennis Ball Hopper.
You can rely on its solid build and firm construction. Also, it works well with a tight budget.