I've had my Slinger Bag for over 2 years now and I'm just finally getting around to shooting
a video about it.
I actually got it off Kickstarter and when I initially saw it, this was something I couldn't
pass up!
The kit I got is now what's called the Slinger Slam Pack which comes with a bunch of accessories.
But they do have an option to just get the bag on it's own.
The Slinger Bag is a tennis ball launcher and it's unlike anything on the market.
It's almost completely self-contained and in this video I'll go through all the features
and accessories to help you decide if you should own one yourself!
But let's get this opened up and so you can see how it works.
Unzipping the bottom panel will expose the main controls as well as the chute that launches
the tennis balls.
And there's a handy clip to keep this flap out of the way.
On the upper front is the compartment where the tennis balls are stored.
And I'll show you this more later.
As you can see, I've used my Slinger Bag alot from all the fuzz stuck to the machine.
But on the main controls you can set the ball launch speed and also the interval at which
they're fed.
On the bottom of this panel is the charging port, power switch and the connector for the
oscillating base.
And that's really all you need to know to start using it.
Oh, and there's one more thing on the side.
Under this cover is the height adjustment control.
Just loosen the knob and the launch wheel can easily be set from 10 to 40 degrees depending
on the height you want the balls to shoot out.
But let's get the Slinger loaded up!
Balls are stored in the upper compartment and it can hold up to 144 tennis balls which
should be plenty.
And you can keep the balls inside the the hopper when transporting or storing the launcher.
It's really handy to be able to be able to roll this around with everything inside!
That's one of the things I really liked about the Slinger Bag when I first learned about
it.
It's almost all self-contained and easy to transport!
It also comes with a small wireless remote for starting and stopping the motor.
But definitely keep track of this because you can't run the launcher without it.
The good thing is that Slinger does sell replacement remotes but it'll cost you $25!
This ball machine runs pretty quiet but you do hear the balls shooting out the front.
I do enjoy playing tennis but I'm not always able to get on court as much as I like.
So having the Slinger Bag allows me to hit balls whenever I want without having to find
a partner.
I'm definitely not that good of a tennis player but this ball machine is helping me get more
practice in.
On a full charge I'm able to get about four to five 90 minute sessions.
But I don't have the machine constantly running.
This time includes me taking breaks and reloading the balls.
Ok so enough of watching me hit balls!
I need to show you a few more things about the Slinger Slam Pack.
One of the accessories it comes with is a ball pick up tube and I've actually used this
on several occasions.
It works great when I don't have a regular ball basket around.
It'll take a bit longer using this tube but it's definitely better than having to pick
up by hand!
And the cool thing is that there's a spot right on the Slinger Bag to store it when
it's not in use.
I can tell they put a lot of thought into the convenience for users like me.
In addition to the pick up tube, it comes with a tennis bag that can hold 2 to 3 rackets.
And there's an oscillating base which can be nice to have.
This is the front of the oscillator and the bag's wheels fit in slots in the back.
To me this base looks a little cheap but it's molded to fit the bag just right.
And to be honest, I almost forgot I had this thing sitting in my garage because I've never
used it until now.
The great thing is that it's powered right off the accessory port on the front of the
control panel.
To start the oscillator, use the bottom button on the remote.
It only has one speed but it'll effectively launch balls into both corners of the tennis
court.
It's actually a nice option to have and gives me a different type of workout rather than
having balls launch to one spot.
Ok so here's a closer look at the mechanism that feeds the tennis balls.
There's a rotating platter that cues balls into the chute.
But occasionally, balls will get stuck between the plastic shield right above the drop point.
When that happens the machine will automatically stop.
It doesn't happen often but a ball will get stuck at least once whenever I use my Slinger.
When it does, just reach in and wedge the ball loose.
For me, it's been really nice owning a Slinger Bag!
I can get out early in the morning and get a nice little workout on my own.
Ok so there's still a few more things I need to cover so you'll know what you're getting
into.
In the back compartment it can easily hold 2 tennis rackets.
There's also a phone mount included that attaches to the handle but I'm not sure I'd put my
phone here since I often hit the Slinger with tennis balls.
A nice surprise I found in one of the side pockets is a USB charging cable.
This way I can charge my phone or use other USB devices on the court.
In regards to transporting the Slinger Bag around, it's kinda big but I'm able to fit
it into the backseat of my C300 no problem.
My car doesn't have a lot of room and it definitely won't fit in the trunk.
But with the seats folded down, it fits perfectly!
Finally, I just can't help this but there are so many Slinger logos with this product
it's almost crazy!
I always feel like a walking advertisement when I'm on the court.
Of course I'm sure that's what they intended!
I've had many people come up and ask questions about the Slinger Bag.
But I don't really mind.
I'm always happy to show people how it works!
As mentioned before, it's a bit heavy and bulky but with most of the accessories stored
in or on the bag, it makes it very easy to move from place to place.
Alright, so I don't really have any kind of practice routine but I am able to get a lot
of repetitions on my strokes.
Again I'm not really great on the court but using the Slinger Bag, I've definitely made
improvements.
Even after over 2 years it's working great!
The Slinger Slam Pack is currently priced at $799.
But if you only get the ball machine on it's own it's only $699.
And honestly, if you just got the machine, it's really all you need!
The additional accessories are great but I've found that I hardly ever use them.
So here are some final notes before I go.
It would've been nice if Slinger added some handles on the bag.
I find it's a bit awkward whenever I have to pick it up by the straps.
And sometimes I have to press the button on the remote several times before I can turn
it off.
I haven't been able to figure out if it's a range issue or a weak remote battery.
And depending on the speed I set, there is some vibration noise coming from inside the
case.
But a slight adjustment will eliminate the buzz.
And lastly, the Slinger website says the battery lasts 3.5 hours and I think that's fairly
accurate.
But it's reassuring that there is an official replacement battery available whenever my
current battery stops holding a long enough charge.
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