If you want to develop your table tennis skills or merely have fun, a table tennis robot is the perfect device for you. A ping pong ball dispenser, as it sometimes also called, is useful in the absence of a playing partner or a partner to match your level of training.
The basic role of this table tennis gadget is to replicate a real opponent by launching ping pong balls at you, at different locations on the table using various speeds and spins. Some models have nets to catch the balls you return to them. They mechanically feed these balls back for a non-stop match.
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Things to Consider When Buying a Table Tennis Robot
Before spending all your cash on one of these gadgets, it is important that you determine why you want to get one, what you will use it for, and the features and functionalities you might need.
Single or Dual Wheel Robot Heads
The robot head is important because it dispenses the balls and determines their speeds and spins. The single wheel heads are simpler and cheaper, as they contact only one side of the ball – so the spins are limited. The dual wheel heads make contact on both sides of the ball so the spins and speeds vary.
Fixed or Free-standing Robots
The fixed robots are positioned on a fixed spot either at the end of the table or standing behind it. They have an attached net and a recycling system. The free-standing machines are attached to the other end of the table and can be placed at different angles. They are portable and cheaper.
Programmable or Non-programmable Robots
With programmable robots, you can set the spin, location and speed that you want. This is best when you want to do a particular technique over and over again. A non-programmable robot does not have these capabilities, but its rotating head will let you receive balls at different spots on the table, with the same speed and spin.
Focus on features and capabilities when choosing a table tennis robot. You also have to take into consideration the price value, durability, ease of use, and the general quality of the product.
Why Buy a Ping Pong Robot?
A robot will help you ace any stroke or footwork by performing the same routine repeatedly. The machine launches the ping pong balls at the same frequency, speed and spin with which you have programmed it. This will make every practice day convenient, and you will become skilled at various techniques quickly and accurately.
It also helps improve your performance by doing a specific routine at a faster pace, with the proper body coordination and reflexes required for certain spins. Having a strong foundation on these table tennis methods will help you advance skills with ease and comfort.
You can set breaks and rests anytime you want to. Gone are the days when your game is interrupted continuously because your playing partner wants to rest or is bored. Since it’s a robot, you can continue with training without distractions.
A table tennis robot is also an excellent alternative to your daily exercise like jogging or going to fitness gyms. You can work your muscles and shed off excess weights, all while having fun and becoming better at a fun sport.
It is also a fun gadget to play with children. Children generally love cool gadgets and a ping pong robot is just such a thing. So if you want your kids to have a passion for sports, this device could help them going.
One piece of advice, especially to those who are just starting: don’t treat a table tennis robot as a complete replacement for a good ping pong coach or a worthy living opponent. But with all the benefits stated above, this useful gadget should become a part of your future sport improvement plans.
It will boost your skills, give you a sound mind and body, and create a lasting passion and love for table tennis. You may be interested in learning how you can sharpen up your skill with table tennis robots.
Table Tennis Robots are Excellent Trainers, With One Drawback
Table tennis or ping pong robots provide a rare challenge to a player’s skill and stamina. Serve speed usually adjusts between 10 and 75 miles per hour, and drills can be set on a timer from one minute on up as a player’s endurance level increases.
Today’s table tennis robots is that they feature a netting system that retrieves and reloads balls automatically. The robot eliminates the hassle of gathering up all the returned serves after around with a human partner. With this improvement over older generation robots, these devices have become very handy tools.
On the whole, there are several benefits to having a ping pong robot – with one drawback.
The Benefits
A Cardio Workout
For any serious table tennis player without a regular practice partner, the table tennis robot has become essential for high-level training. It can serve faster and more efficiently than its human counterpart, and a robot does not get fatigued. It will keep going as long as you can.
A robot is a valuable tool for both ping pong beginners and table tennis professionals. For beginners, it offers repetition drills to develop their skills. A robot presents a cardiovascular challenge at the ping pong table for the professional athlete that a human opponent cannot match because a robot can serve continuously.
Solves Scheduling Problems
Managing time and coordinating schedules can make practicing with other players difficult at times. A robot is ready when you are. Also, today’s advanced table tennis robots allow you to choose among varying levels of difficulty to prepare for different levels of competition.
The Drawback
A robot should not be your only training tool. A robot cannot match the pace of a match between two players, nor does the robot compete on a mental level. Ping pong’s social aspect is also compromised with a robot, so it’s best to mix things up.
Which Brands Make the Best Table Tennis Robots?
There are few brands of ping pong ball launchers or robots you can choose from in the market. Among the most popular ones include Newgy and iPong.
Newgy
Newgy remains one of the leaders of ping pong robots, with their ever-improving and innovative machines. The company has released five models to cater to different players’ needs. The model ranges from Robo-Pong 540, 1040, 1050, 2040, and 2050. For more details on the different models, refer to our table tennis robot reviews guide on Newgy Robo-Pong robots.
iPong
Another big name in the table tennis robot niche is iPong. The company has come out with a range of iPong series that appeals to ping pong players worldwide. One reason people love iPong table tennis robots is their affordable price range.
They are certainly cheaper when compared to other brands. The machines range from entry-level to professional, including the Mini, Original, Expert, Pro, Topspin, V100, V200, and V300. You can check them out in our list of iPong table tennis robots.
The Best Table Tennis Robots are Worth It
It wasn’t long ago that table tennis equipment consisted of a table, a net, some paddles, and a ball. Table tennis shoes and clothing changed things somewhat for several players. In the late 1970s, a futuristic idea became a reality and truly changed the way top-level table tennis players trained.
Back then, the word “robot” was used loosely to describe the first automatic table tennis ball serving machines. Today, the name is more true to the idea of a “robot”. Early machines were cumbersome and repetitive though they gave players the ability to practice alone.
Today’s table tennis robots are much better and more affordable than those available twenty-five years ago. They intelligently mix up serve speeds and spins and can place the ball anywhere on the table. They are a proper replacement for a human practice partner to serve return drills.
If you’re looking to take your game to the next level, a table tennis robot may be the answer. Regular use of a table tennis robot is sure to sharpen your game and develop your stamina. It may not be the home robot people had in mind a few decades ago, but you won’t complain when you see the advances in your game.
Read also: DIY Ping Pong Ball Launcher
