Meet the Partner Lite: The Lightest AI Ball Machine on the Market
Same AI. Same app. Same drills. The Partner Lite is the stationary member of the Partner family. Here is exactly what it keeps, what it does differently, and which of the two belongs on your court.
Today we are opening orders for the newest member of the Partner family: the Partner Lite.
It runs the same artificial intelligence, the same custom drills and the same app as our flagship Partner V2. At 25 lbs it is the lightest AI ball machine on the market, roughly half the weight of most machines, which run 45 to 55 lbs. It starts at $1,495, and the first units ship in late September.
The short version: the Partner Lite is a Partner V2 that stays where you put it.
What the Partner Lite Is
The Partner Lite is a stationary AI ball machine. You carry it out in one hand, set it down where you want the feed to come from, open the Partner app, and train. It holds its position for the whole session instead of moving around the court.
What that design decision does not change is the software. The Lite runs the same intelligence that powers every Partner, complete and unchanged.
What It Keeps From the Partner V2
Everything you interact with:
- AI custom drills → ask for the drill you want in plain language and the machine builds it. No preset menus to work around.
- The Partner app → the same control surface, the same drill library, the same over-the-air updates that keep adding to it.
- Spin and placement control → topspin, backspin, depth and direction, set shot by shot inside a drill.
- The 140-ball hopper → not a reduced-capacity model. It holds exactly what the V2 holds.
- Sub-1.5-second shot transitions → upgraded braking motors switch cleanly between shot types, so mixed drills feel like drills rather than pauses.
- The 3-year warranty and 60-day trial → identical coverage, and the trial starts the day the machine arrives.
There is no subscription on either machine. The app, the AI drills and the software updates are included with the hardware.
What It Gives Up
One thing: court movement.
The Partner V2 carries a drive base. It moves along the court while it feeds, changing the angle the ball comes from the way a live opponent does, and it uses its cameras to track where you are while doing it. That is the feature the Lite does not have, and it is a real one. If your training is about reading a ball that arrives from somewhere new each time, the V2 is the machine that does that.
Holding its position does not mean hitting the same ball to the same spot. The Lite still sends balls all around the court, deep, short, wide and down the middle, at the spin and pace you set. The machine stays put. The ball does not.
For repetition work, that is everything you need. A cross-court backhand drilled 200 times is a cross-court backhand drilled 200 times, whether the feed comes from a machine that moves between shots or one that holds its spot.
Partner Lite vs Partner V2
| Partner Lite | Partner V2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1,495 | $2,275 |
| Weight | 25 lbs | 35.4 lbs |
| Moves around the court | No | Yes |
| AI custom drills | Yes | Yes |
| Partner app control | Yes | Yes |
| Spin & placement | Yes | Yes |
| 140-ball hopper | Yes | Yes |
| Works with the Rover | Yes | Yes |
| Warranty | 3 years | 3 years |
One row differs on capability. The rest is the same machine.
Which One Is Right for You?
- You carry your machine to a public court → Partner Lite. 25 lbs in one hand, no cart, no second trip.
- You want match realism → Partner V2. Feeds that arrive from a changing position are the closest thing to an opponent.
- You coach or run a program → either, and often both. Coaches pair a V2 on one court with Lites on the others.
- You want the full Partner software in the lightest package → Partner Lite. AI drills, app control, spin and placement all work exactly as they do on the flagship.
Pair It With the Rover
The Partner feeds balls. The Rover ball collector collects them, autonomously, while you keep hitting. Together they remove the part of solo practice everyone dislikes: the five minutes of picking up after every ten minutes of hitting.
The Lite Bundle pairs both for $3,245, which is $525 less than buying the two separately.
Tennis, Pickleball and Padel
Tennis and padel are the same unit. Pickleball is its own dedicated unit, built around the different ball and the different court. Pick your sport when you order:
- Tennis → Partner Lite for tennis
- Pickleball → Partner Lite for pickleball
- Padel → Partner Lite for padel
The Partner Lite is available at introductory pricing through September 24. Ordering before then locks in today's price.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Partner Lite have the same app and AI drills as the Partner V2?
Yes. The Lite runs the same Partner app, the same AI custom drills and the same spin and placement control. The only feature it leaves out is court movement.
How much does the Partner Lite weigh?
25 lbs, which makes it the lightest AI ball machine on the market and about half the weight of most machines, which run 45 to 55 lbs. You can carry it to the court in one hand.
Is there a subscription?
No. The app, the AI custom drills and over-the-air software updates are all included with the machine.
Does the Partner Lite work with the Rover?
Yes. The Lite feeds and the Rover collects, so practice never stops for ball pickup. The Lite Bundle includes both for $3,245.
How does the 60-day trial work on a machine that ships later?
The 60-day risk-free trial starts the day the machine arrives, not the day you order. Returns are free, and every Partner carries a 3-year warranty.
Should I buy the Lite or the V2?
Both machines run the same software, so either one gives you the full Partner experience: AI custom drills, app control, spin and placement. Choose the Lite for the lightest setup to carry and a machine that drills you from a fixed position. Choose the V2 when you also want it to move around the court and feed you on the run. It comes down to how you like to train, and both are good answers.