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In this review guide of the best tennis ball hoppers, we will show you the 7 best hoppers on the market, and how to choose the right hopper for your needs.
We studied and ranked each product below on several factors, including: Price, Weight, Features like Stands or Lids, Portability, Durability, and more.
Below, you’ll learn everything you need to know about tennis ball hoppers. If you need a hopper for kids, adults, or tennis coaches, you’ll find the perfect hopper below.
Before we dive into the detailed reviews, here is our list of the 7 best tennis ball hoppers.
- Tourna Ballport 80 Tennis Ball Hopper – Best overall
- Wilson Tennis Ball Pick Up Hopper – Best budget hopper
- Tourna Ballport 120 – Best capacity
- Tourna Ballport 85 Ball Pick Up – Best “no-stand” hopper
- Gamma Ballhopper Hi-Rise with Wheels
- Gamma Ballhopper BallTube – Best for kids
- OnCourt OffCourt Tennis Ball Mower – Best for clubs & facilities
Different Features of Tennis Ball Hoppers
Before you purchase a tennis ball hopper, you should know which features to look for, and what they do.
Frame Type and Material
Tennis ball hoppers are usually constructed from steel or graphite. This material is formed into different parts that make up the entire ball hopper.
Parts of a modern tennis ball hopper include:
- The basket, which is a heavy-duty steel cage-looking frame used for holding the tennis balls.
- The handle, or sometimes multiple handlebars that fold together for carrying the basket.
- Legs to elevate the basket making the tennis balls easily accessible for coaches to reach during drills.
- The lid to keep the balls secure when the basket is not in use. Not all hoppers have lids.
- Wheels come on a few of the hoppers below to make it easier to move around the tennis court.
Weight
The weight of a tennis ball hopper typically ranges from two to ten pounds. It really depends on the age range you’re working with. Some kids or senior citizens may not be capable of carrying a big steel hopper, so keep that in mind when you’re looking through the varying selections.
Stand
If a stand is important to you, make sure you find one with this feature. Coaches who need to feed tennis balls to their students will need a stand.
Hoppers without stands are constructed for the sole purpose of emptying balls into larger baskets or tennis ball machines.
Lid
A lot of hoppers built today have lids. These are extremely helpful if you’ll keep the hopper in your car. The lid will keep the balls secure, so they don’t spill if the hopper is knocked over.
If you’re at a tennis club or center, you won’t need the lid feature unless you’d like to lock the balls.
Tennis Ball Capacity
Ball hoppers typically hold anywhere from 50 to 140 balls. The standard ball hopper is around 70 to 80.
For tennis centers, academies, or clubs that have larger baskets the standard size will do. For coaches who keep balls in their car, and travel around town to coach, you may want to consider a capacity of 100 or more.
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Reviews of the 7 Best Tennis Ball Hoppers
When choosing the best tennis ball hopper for you, it is important to consider who will be using it the most often, how many balls you need it to hold, and whether you would like it to be able to feed balls.
Below we’ve reviewed each of the top tennis ball hoppers, including features of each product like:
- Price | Scale from 1 to 3 dollar signs.
- Ball Capacity | How many balls does it hold?
- Stands | Does it stand up for feeding balls?
- Weight | How much does it weigh?
#1 – Tourna Ballport Tennis Ball Hopper (80 Balls)
Tourna’s Ballport has everything you would need in a ball hopper.
Its large, 80 tennis ball capacity, makes it great for tennis centers and clubs running clinics. It also will work well for a tennis player or coach, on the go, since it has sliding bars at the top to secure the tennis balls. This hopper weighs only 4 lbs. making it great for even young teens. It stands at 29.5 inches giving it a “medium profile.”
For around the same price, you can the deluxe version which comes with wheels. This is great for toddlers and young kids who aren’t strong enough to carry the hopper around the tennis court. The deluxe version is slightly different in terms of weight, 4.5 lbs, and standing height, 33.5 inches.
Price | $
Ball Capacity | 80
Stands | Yes. 29.5 inches – Deluxe is 33.5 inches
Weight | 4 lbs – Deluxe is 4.5 lbs
Pros
- Large capacity – 80 balls
- Lightweight – 4lbs
- Locking handles
- Quick and easy assembly
- Easy pickup and transport
- Deluxe version available with wheels
Cons
- Slightly shorter standing height at 29.5 inches. Deluxe is 33.5 inches
#2 – Wilson Tennis Ball Pick Up Hopper (75-90 Balls)
Wilson is a trusted tennis brand, making some of the best tennis racquets, tennis bags, and more. Their Ball Pick Up Hopper is yet another great product.
It has a classic cage basket design and impeccable durability with its plated steel build. The hopper holds 75 or 90 balls, depending on which version you get. It comes with a “no-spill” lid and handles that flip into a stand with locking legs.
This basket is slightly heavier than the Tourna hopper above, but at 4.5 lbs, it can be carried by most junior players and adults.
Price | $
Ball Capacity | 75/90
Stands | Yes. 33 inches
Weight | 4.5 lbs.
Pros
- 2 versions with 75 & 90 ball capacity
- Lightweight enough for most kids
- 33 inch standing height for feeding
- Lightweight graphite easy to carry
- Quick and easy assembly
- No spill lid
- Plated steel is long-lasting and durable
Cons
- Slightly heavier than other options
#3 – Tourna Ballport 120 Ball Pick-Up Tennis Ball Hopper
This is the best ball hopper for tennis players or coaches who need a larger ball capacity.
This hopper has a capacity of 120 balls, and is constructed with steel wire making it very durable. The legs can fold down to prop up the hopper to about waist height and can be locked into a tall standing position. The lid makes it a great hopper to carry in your car as well.
This hopper is big, so most toddlers and small junior tennis players may have trouble carrying it.
Price | $$
Ball Capacity | 120
Stands | Yes. 33.5 inches
Weight | 10 lbs.
Pros
- Biggest capacity – 120 balls
- Durable, long-lasting steel frame
- Stands at waist-height and adjustable
- Easy assembly
- Great for traveling coaches
- Lid secures the tennis balls
Cons
- Heavy hopper for smaller juniors
- More expensive than other options
#4 – Tourna Ballport 85 Ball Pickup Tennis Hopper
If you coach at a tennis club, center, or academy and need to order 6 or more hoppers to pick up balls only, the Tourna Ballport 85 is for you.
This is a classic style tennis ball hopper, with one fixed handle, a metal frame, and a large 85 ball capacity. This hopper will last you a long time, and as the heavy-duty steel wire and coated finish was built to last.
This hopper is good for regular tennis balls, as well as low-compression stage 1, stage 2, and larger stage 3 red balls. This hopper doesn’t stand but is perfect for picking up balls fast and emptying them into a larger basket.
Price | $
Ball Capacity | 85
Stands | No
Weight | 7 lbs.
Pros
- Large capacity – 85 balls
- Sturdy medium weight – 7 lbs.
- Very basic assembly
- Great for stage 1, 2, and stage 3 red balls
- Plated steel wire is long-lasting and durable
- Strong weather resistant coating
- Available in pack of 6 for discount
Cons
- Does not stand on legs
- Fixed handlebar can get in the way
- No lid
#5 – Gamma Sports Tennis Ballhopper Hi-Rise with Wheels
Gamma is a less popular tennis brand, but they make great products. Gamma’s tennis ball hoppers are constructed with top-of-the-line materials and impeccable design.
The Hi-Rise 75 is a lightweight, heavy-duty ball hopper. It is created with carbon steel wire and Gamma specific premium Diamond Clad weather-resistant coating. The hopper comes with a stand feature, locking handle, and lid to keep balls secure. It also comes in 4 different colors and has a version with wheels making it great for juniors.
Gamma’s ball hoppers are very easy to set up and inexpensive. However, the Hi-Rise is not the most long-lasting hopper. They also offer different size hoppers, from a ball capacity of 50 all the way to 140.
Price | $
Ball Capacity | 75 – 50, 90, 110, & 140 available.
Stands | Yes
Weight | 5.35 lbs.
Pros
- Large capacity – 75 balls
- Sturdy medium weight – 5.35 lbs.
- Foldable & lockable legs create a handle or stand
- Low-cost compared to other hoppers
- Quick and easy assembly
- Durable & weather resistant
- Available with wheels
Cons
- Some reviewers say it only holds 65 balls
- Legs can be unreliable after enough use. Gold version is more durable.
#6 – Gamma Tennis Ballhopper BallTube 18
The Gamma Tennis Ballhopper BallTube 18 is the perfect hopper for juniors just learning to play tennis.
Kids who can’t carry a normal hopper can use the BallTube to help pick up tennis balls, and have fun doing it. It’s very lightweight at less than 2 lbs., and simple to use. The carrying capacity is only 18 balls, but for juniors who can’t yet carry the steel ball hoppers around the tennis court this is the ideal solution.
These are great for tennis coaches who teach clinics to kids under 10 years old.
Price | $
Ball Capacity | 18
Stands | No
Weight | <2.0 lbs.
Pros
- Durable rubber and plastic
- Does not scratch the court
- Fun for kids
Cons
- Small capacity – 18 balls
#7 – OnCourt OffCourt Tennis MultiMower
This is the fastest and most effortless way to pick up tennis balls. The Tennis MultiMower from OnCourt OffCourt is a great product for tennis clubs, centers, or academies.
The mower can be used by adults or kids. Its 300 ball capacity is the best on the market. The upper feeding basket makes it great for tennis coaches teaching a clinic. It works as your ball hopper and feeding cart. To pick up balls, you simply role the mower over the tennis balls. They fall into the lower basket which you can pick up and empty into the top basket.
You should have a place to store the ball mower. For coaches who teach at a permanent location, this tennis MultiMower saves you countless hours.
Price | $$$
Ball Capacity | 300
Stands | Upper basket works as a feeding cart
Weight | 44 lbs.
Pros
- Works as a hopper & feeding cart
- Great for tennis clubs & facilities
- Fastest way to pick up balls
- Picks up regular, green, orange, & red balls
- Easy to use for juniors & adults
Cons
- Indoor or covered storage required
- Not very portable
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Conclusion: Our Pick for the Best Tennis Ball Hopper
After reviewing dozens of tennis ball hoppers, and a number of different brands, we’ve found the top products on the market.
Tourna’s Ballport Hopper is the best lightweight hopper in tennis. It has a well-designed, durable, yet lightweight construction. For coaches who need to feed tennis balls, it can stand with locking legs. The Deluxe version also has wheels making it great for smaller juniors.
For tennis clubs, academies, or other large facilities, the MultiMower from OnCourt OffCourt is a must-have ball hopper. Since it works as a feeding basket as well, you don’t have to buy extra gear.
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