LOBSTER the pickle champion User manual

owner’s manual
the pickle champion
play more. win more.
®
®

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7340 Fulton Avenue
North Hollywood, A 91605
phone [phone]
www.lobstersports.com
[email protected]
customerser[email protected]
TO AVOID INJURY:
• Keep face out of ball path - balls can shoot out from opening at any time.
• Use only for pickleball practice with conventional pickleballs.
• Turn off the machine when leaving it unattended or before performing any
maintenance tasks.
• Never place body parts or objects into machine.
• Never operate with parts removed.
• Never add balls while machine is running.
• Never operate machine in the rain or when wet.
• Never put wet balls in machine.
WARNINGS
TO OUR CUSTOMERS
Thank you for purchasing a Lobster ball machine. Please read this owner’s
manual in its entirety before operating your machine. These instructions
are to ensure your safety and to protect the machine from misuse.
CHECK FOR DAMAGE
Inspect your machine for damage. Test all of the machine functions.
Occasionally, internal parts can be damaged in shipping. If any problems
are found, contact ustomer Service immediately for a replacement.
SAVE THE OR G NAL SH PP NG BOX
The original box and inserts should always be used if it is necessary
to ship the machine back to the factory.
All right re erved. PLAY MORE. WIN MORE. & the di tinctive product configuration of the Lob ter ELITE are regi tered tradem ark of Lob- ter, Inc.
n the US, if you have questions about your ball machine, DO NOT contact your
dealer; please contact Lobster Sports at [e-mail]
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CONTROL PANEL
A. Power Button – Push and hold the POWER button to turn the machine on.
Battery level is shown at startup. Both the horizontal and vertical motors will
perform functional checks to calibrate the machine when it is turned on or off .
B. Remote – Push this button to turn on/off the remote control receiver.
C. Menu Buttons – Used to scroll through the menu options to be selected and
adjusted. A cursor on the L D will highlight the current selection.
D.Settings
– Used to adjust a highlighted option on L D screen.
E. Presets –
The eight buttons in the center of the control panel are used to select the play
mode. MENU and SETTINGS buttons are used to select and adjust shot
parameters. After the parameters are satisfactory, press play to start.
F. Play/Pause – Press to begin the play of a selected function and/or to pause
the feed.
G. Manual – Machine will continuously throw a certain shot to a specific location.
H. Test – Used to align your machine for proper ball placement on the court.
. Charger Connector – Located on the red case and u sed to charge your battery.
J.Main Power Switch – Located on the left side of the metal box directly below the
control panel at the bottom of the machine as shown to the right. If you plan to not
use your machine for one month or longer, we recommend that you turn this switch
off. See page 3 for diagram of location.
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MACH NE SETUP
ntended Use
The machine is intended for use on a pickleball court. For safety reasons, players
should stand on the opposite side of the net at a minimum of 22 feet away from the
machine. This ball machine is designed to throw pickleballs only. Never use the
machine in the rain or if the machine is wet.
Unpack and Keep Shipping Box
Remove the machine from the box. Keep the shipping box along with the custom
packing materials in case the machine needs to be shipped back to the factory.
Assemble Machine
• Raise the metal handle by lifting up until a click is heard.
• Detach the hopper by lifting it up off the red base. Flip the hopper and reattach
by pushing the hopper on to the red base knobs, starting with the front knob
(side furthest from handle), then push down to attach the to the back knob.
• Do not remove the wire deflectors.
• Turn the Main Power Switch ON.
Ball machines ship with the main power
off. The switch is located at the base of
the machine, directly below the control
panel on the left side of the metal box.
( If you plan to not use your machine for one
month or longer, we recommend that you
turn this switch off.)
Handle Operation
To raise the handle, simply lift up on the handle until you hear the lock buttons click
into place. To fold the handle down, stand behind the machine and place hands on
each of the plastic handle hinges. Simultaneously press up on the hinge lock buttons
and gently push the top section of the handle forward over your machine. The handle
is provided to push or pull the machine. The machine is not designed to be pulled up
and down stairs. If the handle is damaged or breaks in this manner, please be
advised it is not covered under the warranty.
Transporting the Machine
To prepare the machine for transport in your vehicle, invert the hopper to cover the
machine and fold the handle. The machine weighs approximately 44 pounds
depending on the model purchased and may be lifted into a vehicle by one or two
people. Use the molded handholds on the underside of the machine to lift and carry
the machine. When moving the machine, avoid rough or uneven surfaces that may
bend or damage the underside of the machine.
MAIN POWER SWIT H LO ATION

CHARG NG NSTRUCT ONS
Basic Charging nstructions
Before the first use, charge the machine until the battery is fully charged.
For optimal battery life, fully charge machine after each use. If you do not fully charge
the battery after each use, the battery life will be shortened. All chargers have t rickle
charge technology which ensures the battery will not be overcharged.
Use the LED indicator on the charger for battery charging status. A blinking
orange/red light indicates the battery is very depleted.
Charging the Battery with the Standard Charger
• Plug charger into an A outlet then plug the connector into charger port.
• The LED on charger is red when charging, turning green when fully charged.
• A depleted battery may take up to 12-18 hours to fully charge.
If you purchased a premium fast charger with the machine, you will not receive a standard charger.
Charging the Battery with the Premium Charger
• Plug the charger into an A outlet then plug the connector into the charger port.
• The LED on the charger is red while charging and turns green when fully charged.
• A depleted battery will be fully charged in 3-6 hours.
Extending Run Time of Battery with the Premium Charger
The premium charger can extend run time up to 2 hours. To use this feature:
• Ensure the battery is mostly charged, connect the charger to the machine, turn
the machine on and play.
• The premium charger will NOT fully charge the battery and power the machine
at the same time. It will not power the machine if the battery is dead.
Using an Export (240v) Machine with the Premium Charger
F or ball machines used outside the US, you must charge the machine with the
appropriate premium charger to fit your country’s voltage requirements. Using a
110v charger outside the US will damage the ball machine and void the warranty.
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BATTERY L FE & MA NTENANCE
Battery Life and Maintenance
For optimal battery life, fully charge the machine after each use. The most common
reason for shortened battery capacity and battery life is chronically undercharging
the machine. Never let the machine go uncharged for more than one month.
Before storing the machine, fully charge the battery and then recharge
monthly. During the winter season or when the ball machine is not in use, the
battery should be charged every month, otherwise the battery life will be reduced.
Similar to a car battery, the battery in your ball machine will need to be replaced
depending on use and care. Replacement batteries are available on our website
and can be installed by the owner or the machine can be sent to Lobster for
maintenance. A battery replacement video tutorial is available on the support
section of our website or on the Lobster Sports YouTube channel. PLEASE NOTE:
a non-approved battery purchased other than from Lobster may void the warranty.
OPERAT NG NSTRUCT ONS
Court Placement / Test Button
Your the pickle champion by Lobster has been designed to keep
the ball in the full court.
• Ensure that the main power switch is in the up or on position.
• Start by placing the machine with the white line marker
positioned over the baseline, at the court’s center mark as
depicted in the circle on the diagram to the right.
• Press button and allow machine to go through a self test.
• Place balls in the hopper. Push the TEST button. One ball
will be thrown over the net to land within a 2 foot radius of
the opposite side of the court where the non-volley line and
center lines converge, as depicted by the TEST button and
the diagram to the right.
- If the test ball lands outside of the 2 foot radius, long or short, use the
and SETTINGS buttons to adjust the distance in .5 foot
increments. If the ball should fall outside of the area left or right, nudge
the front of the machine slightly to the left or right, as needed. Retest
and make adjustments as necessary.
• Once the test is complete, press the manual button or one of the eight preset
buttons in the center of the control panel to choose mode of play, then press the
play button.
NOTE: Ball throw consistency may vary due to altitude, wind or other environmental conditions.
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OPERAT NG NSTRUCT ONS
Manual
Press the MANUAL button to practice a single shot repetitively. The machine will
pause while you make your adjustments. Use the / buttons to select
location and shot parameters. To increase or decrease value of the selected menu
option, use the / buttons.
•Speed – hoose from 20 to 65 MPH in 5 mph increments.
•Elevation – Adjust elevation between 2 and 80 degrees in 1 degree increments to
change depth of the ball thrown on the court.
•Spin – Increase and decrease top and back spin up to three levels.
•Angle – hoose position along baseline. 0 is center court with positive numbers
moving to the right and negative numbers moving to the left.
•Feed – Adjust between 2-9 second intervals, or scroll down to random setting.
When satisfied with your settings, press the play/pause button to start your session.
Preset Buttons
When selecting one of the eight main presets, the machine will pause while you make
your adjustments. Use the / buttons to select location and shot parameters.
Use the / buttons to increase or decrease value of the selected shot option.
To begin play, press the play/pause button. PLEASE NOTE: To keep all shots in the
court, some combinations are not available in conjunction with each other.
2-Line
Narrow – P ractice forehand and backhand strokes at the center of the court.
Wide – Practice forehand and backhand strokes at the sidelines.
Within each 2-Line option, you can adjust:
• Speed – hoose from 35 to 65 MPH in 5 mph increments.
• Spin – Increase and decrease top and back spin up to three levels.
• Depth – hoose from Row A (Deep), Row B (Mid), Row (Short) or Random.
• Feed –
Adjust between 4 - 9 second intervals, or scroll down to random.
Oscillation
Sweep throws balls randomly across the width of the court. You can adjust:
• Depth – Short, Mid, Deep or Random.
• Speed – hoose from 45 to 65 MPH in 5 mph increments.
• Spin – Increase and decrease top and back spin up to three levels.
• Feed – Adjust between 4-9 second intervals, or scroll down to random.
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OPERAT NG NSTRUCT ONS CONT NUED +DR LLS
Depth – balls are thrown randomly from short to deep.
• Position – hoose balls to be thrown on court to the Left, enter, or Right.
• Speed – hoose from 35 to 65 MPH in 5 mph increments.
• Spin – Increase and decrease top and back spin up to three levels.
• Feed – Adjust between 4-9 second intervals, or scroll down to random.
Random – machine will randomly throw balls on the court using
variations of speed, spin and trajectory.
• Feed – Adjust between 4-9 second intervals, or scroll down to random.
Pre-Loaded Drills
Each of the six custom designed court drills consists of six sequential shots in a
designated pattern combining court location, ball speed, and spin. To adjust the
difficulty, the feed rate can be set to a fixed 4 - 9 seconds or a random setting that
will constantly change the feed rate. Use the / SETTINGS buttons. The
higher the feed rate is set, the lower the difficulty of the drills.
There are two drills programmed per button. To select a drill, press the button as
described below.
– ONE Press button once for DRIVE TO THE KIT HEN
–TWO Press twice to select GREEN LIGHT RED LIGHT
– THREE Press button once for DEFUSE THE BANGER
– FOUR Press twice to select FLYING ERNE
– F VE Press button once for AROUND THE LO K
– S X Press twice to select STOP DROP AND LOB
Drill Descriptions
With the push of a button, you can quickly train against six challenging drills that
will help you improve your overall game.
DRILL ONE: DRIVE TO THE KIT HEN
Train to work from the baseline to the kitchen.
When serving, getting to the kitchen line takes time. As you move
forward in stages, this drill throws balls higher and higher and you
must put them away! Starting from the baseline, you will have an
assortment of drives and pop-ups to control and conquer.

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DR LL DESCR PT ONS CONT NUED
DRILL TWO: GREEN LIGHT RED LIGHT
Don’t let the bangers keep you back.
The game is getting faster and bangers want to keep you back
with their speed and strength. This drill trains you to battle
drive after drive as you take a stop-and-hit approach while
moving up to the kitchen.
DRILL THREE: DEFUSE THE BANGER
Hold your ground, deal with drives at the net.
Repetition gives you confidence. With this drill, the balls will be
coming at you fast and furious as you learn to stand your ground
and hold the kitchen line. Balls will be moving left, right, and up
and down. There may even be balls you should let go!
DRILL FOUR: FLYING ERNE
Left-handed players will no longer intimidate.
It’s always impressive to watch players who can jump the
kitchen line and put a ball away. How do they do it? Practice,
practice, practice. This drill is designed to give you the shots to
work on perfecting your Erne.
DRILL FIVE: AROUND THE LO K
Get comfortable moving about the court.
The pickleball court isn’t huge, but those who move around it
best have an advantage. With this drill, you will be hitting
from all areas of the court. As a bonus, the cardio workout will
improve your overall fitness too.
DRILL SIX: STOP DROP AND LOB
Lobs don’t bother me!
You’ll be confident running down lobs to get back into the
point after mastering this drill. Starting at the kitchen, you
run back to defend one lob and then another, and then return
to the kitchen to do it all over again.

REMOTE CONTROL OPERAT NG NSTRUCT ONS
Remote Controls (optional)
The optional handheld remote or the smart phone remote allows you to operate many
of the functions on the pickle champion by Lobster from a distance.
To activate your remote, press the button located on the control panel. When the
LED is lit the machine will accept commands from your controller.
• PLAY/PAUSE button will start and stop the machine at any time.
• TEST - Allows you to calibrate your machine.
• RANDOM - Press button to activate the fully random function.
• 2-L NE - Press button multiple times to scroll through the narrow and wide
settings for the 2-line functions.
• DR LLS - Press button to scroll though the pre-programmed drills.
• SWEEP - Press multiple times to scroll through the short, mid, deep and
random settings for the sweep function.
• DEPTH - Press button multiple times to scroll through short, mid, deep and
random settings for the depth function.
•
The 8 black buttons are used to change shot parameters on the fly for the presets.
• Speed – Adjust the ball speed for 2-line, sweep, depth, and manual presets.
• Spin – Adjust the top or bottom spin for 2-line, sweep, depth, and manual.
• Feed – Adjust the ball interval for all settings.
• Elevation – Adjust the elevation for 2-line, manual, and test function.
Using the remote while a drill is running will cause the next shots parameters to
change temporarily. Doing so may cause shots to land in unplayable areas.
PLEASE NOTE: Settings on the control panel will always override the remote control.
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