GRIND Machine vs Dr. Dish Home: which should you buy?

Compare the GRIND Machine and the Dr. Dish Home on app control, membership, shot tracking, storage and returns before you buy a home shooting machine.

The GRIND Machine does not operate on an app and does not require a monthly subscription. Dr. Dish Home is $3,495 list (the store currently displays $2,995 on sale). The Dr. Dish Home works without a membership but only gets 7 drills; custom drills and the full Player App need a membership from $39/mo.

Pick the GRIND Machine if your player wants simple passes from a few spots with no phone in the loop. Pick the Dr. Dish Home if your player wants drills built in an app and saved shot stats, and you plan to keep the membership on. Read on for the questions that should settle it for your family.

How do you control each machine?

Start with how your player will run a session.

The GRIND Machine does not keep track of made and missed shots. There is a small lever on the base that is used to change spots. Ask yourself whether your player will mind walking back to the GRIND Machine to move that lever between sets.

The Dr. Dish Home Machine is controlled by the Dr. Dish Player App. Since there is no screen on the Home machine, your phone acts as a remote where you'll build shooting drills and workouts tailored to your needs. You'll need this app and a profile in the app on your smartphone or tablet to operate the machine.

Edit Your Court allows you to select the usable areas of your court, so you only build drills where you can receive passes. If your driveway is narrow or slopes away on one side, ask the Dr. Dish store how to set those limits before your first session.

Ask yourself a few questions here:

Does your player like to train with a phone nearby, or would a phone become a distraction?
Who in the house will set up drills in the Dr. Dish Player App during a busy season?
Does your player want to see shot data after a session, or just get up reps?

If the answers point away from screens, look at the GRIND Machine first. If the answers point toward drills built in an app, look at the Dr. Dish Home first.

What does a GRIND Machine or a Dr. Dish Home cost to own?

Think of the Dr. Dish Home as a machine plus a training plan you pay for over time. Think of the GRIND Machine as a one time purchase, plus any warranty and delivery choice you add in the cart.

Your membership becomes active and your billing cycle starts when you first use your Dr. Dish Home. The Dr. Dish Home Player App Membership can be easily paused or canceled within the online Member Portal throughout the year when you're not getting frequent use out of the machine.

Check the Dr. Dish Home price at checkout on the day you order, since the sale price on the Dr. Dish Home changes. Check the GRIND Machine price, the GRIND Machine warranty plan and the GRIND Machine delivery method in the cart before you pay, and write each total down. Add the Dr. Dish Home membership for the months you expect your player to train to the Dr. Dish Home price, then compare that total with the GRIND Machine total.

Read the Dr. Dish Home worth it post for the full Dr. Dish Home cost walk through.

What do you get without a membership or app?

You can still use a selection of Sample Drills provided by Dr. Dish, but you won't be able to program the machine yourself.

Read how the Dr. Dish support page sums up what the Dr. Dish Home membership adds:

Create custom drills, adjust shooting locations, and track your progress over time. Ask the Dr. Dish store which of those features the Dr. Dish Home keeps for a player without a membership.

Keep a written plan for each GRIND Machine session, or ask a coach for one.

Read the GRIND Machine warranty page before you pick a GRIND Machine coverage plan.

Which machine fits your space and storage?

Measure your court, your storage spot and the path between them before you pick a machine.

The GRIND Machine is designed to fold down into a compact size for easy transportation and storage. Its built-in wheels make it easy to move and store in spaces like garages or storage rooms. Does the GRIND Machine need assembly? Yes, some assembly is required when you first receive your GRIND Machine. The Machine works best with basketball goals that have space between the goal and the pole that holds the backboard up. Look at your hoop and check that gap before you order a GRIND Machine.

The Dr. Dish Home can be set up in just a few minutes, meaning it is easy to move and set up across smooth surface. Dr. Dish Home is versatile and suitable for both indoor and outdoor use and can fit through any standard doorway. It must be stored safely from any wet weather conditions that will cause damage to the electrical components.

Use this short checklist for the GRIND Machine and the Dr. Dish Home:

Find a dry garage, shed or basement where the machine can live between sessions.
Walk the path from storage to the hoop and look for steps, gravel or a steep slope.
Check that an outlet is close to the spot where the machine will sit.
Decide who will roll the machine out and back on a school night.

What about shipping and returns?

Start with the Dr. Dish Home shipping note from the Dr. Dish blog. Shipping timelines may vary, but they'll be communicated on the product page and in your confirmation email.

Read the GRIND Machine shipping page and the GRIND Machine return policy before you order a GRIND Machine. Note this line from the GRIND help center on GRIND Machine returns. All returns and exchanges require packaging for the carrier. Keep the shipping boxes until you are sure your player will use the machine.

When should you pick something else?

The Dr. Dish Home3 does not require a membership, all features are immediately and permanently available to all users. Compare the Dr. Dish Home membership over the years you expect to train with the higher price of the Dr. Dish model that skips the membership, and pick the machine that comes out lower over that stretch. See Dr. Dish vs The Gun if a larger machine is on your list.

If your player mostly needs the ball back and not a pass to a new spot, look at a manual rebounder first: see rebounder nets.

No brand pays for rank. Compare every home machine side by side in the shooting machine rankings before you order.

FAQ

Does the GRIND Machine need an app or a subscription?

The GRIND Machine does not operate on an app and does not require a monthly subscription.

Does the Dr. Dish Home work without a membership?

The Dr. Dish Home works without a membership but only gets 7 drills; custom drills and the full Player App need a membership from $39/mo.

Does the GRIND Machine count makes and misses?

The GRIND Machine does not keep track of made and missed shots.

Is the GRIND Machine vulnerable to weather?

Yes, the GRIND machine is built with electrical components that should be kept out of the rain/sleet/snow etc. Bring the machine inside after every session.