Are Table Tennis Robots Worth It? – Why People Really Buy? In 2023

When you need to practice more often than you have company, table tennis robots are definitely worth the cost.

Using a table tennis robot, you can improve your skills in strokes, spins, and reception on your own whenever you want.

There is still a price, which ranges from $150 to $2000.

The first table tennis robot was developed in the late 1980s and has only been offered on the market since then.

These days, though, numerous companies are designing and selling their robots, some of which resemble the conventional robot image and others that do not.

What are table tennis robots, and what can they do for you? You might have learned about them but don’t know how they work.

You will receive all your questions answered here, like how helpful table tennis machines are, how much one costs, and other factors you should consider before purchasing.

You should seriously examine investing in a table tennis robot if you think the price tag of a specific model will meet your needs.

If you always find a friend to play with, you probably won’t need one.

Training with another person is always beneficial, particularly if he has comparable or even better skills than you.

What is a Table Tennis Robot?

Table tennis robots are programmed to throw balls accurately from one side of the table to the other side of the table.

A table tennis robot is usually composed of three main parts.

1. Table tennis balls are loaded and fired by a mechanism.
2. A control box fires the balls.
3. Nets catch returning balls.

Nevertheless, some simpler models will not have nets and may only have limited settings. Table tennis balls must also be bought individually.

Electricity is required to power most robots, so an electric supply must also be nearby when they are being used.

How do table tennis robots work?

Due to the wide selection of robots today, each one will function differently,

But they will all work according to the same principles.

The firing system will be attached to or placed at one end of the tennis table, aiming in the opposing direction.

The firing mechanism will then be equipped with a supply of table tennis balls (each robot will hold various numbers of balls).

Remote Control

An attached control box or a free-standing control box will be used if the robot is programmable.

It will operate similarly to a TV remote. Various positions, speeds, and spins can be programmed into the firing mechanism.

In addition to throwing left-side spin, right-side spin, or even a mix of spins, the robot is programmed to throw topspin and backspin balls as well.

This is something that a robot should be able to do:

1. To catch the balls that are hit back, include nets attached to the sides and ends of the table.
2. They should be designed to feedback the returned balls into the firing mechanism. They can be used for extended periods before they run out of balls.
3. The firing mechanism of the robot should be fully customizable so that if you want it to “serve” you, it can be angled downward. You can angle the firing mechanism upward when you want the robot to “play” with you.

It is a good strategy to stand behind the firing mechanism when the player is facing the firing mechanism from the opposite end of the table.

The robot is programmed (if applicable), at which point the firing mechanism fires balls to a specific position on the table.

Each time a ball is hit over the net, the player can throw it back at the robot.

It will be possible for you to choose what kind of shots and spins you want to practice- for instance, topspin, backspin, sidespin, etc.

Depending on the model, you can also adjust the speed and frequency of firing.

Can a table tennis robot help you improve?

Table tennis robots can help you in the following areas: Topspin and backspin on the forehand and backhand.

In general, this is one of the weak points of players’ games (it’s always a work in progress).

By using the robot, players can improve these shots for an extended time. It is conceivable to play backspin continuously and focus on getting the technique right.

Your brain has been drilled with stroke action through a tremendous amount of repetition.

That is all you need to remember. You have used it in competitive matches, and it feels much more natural and automatic.

Some Techniques You Can Improve With The Help Of Robot:

1. Service

A robot cannot serve you back. Due to the fact that players no longer have to pick up balls from the floor, having a robot to collect the balls has encouraged more practice with their serves.

2. Flicking

There is an acceptable robot serve for short backspins. The game is great for practicing both forehand and backhand flicks.

It is now just as comfortable for the club players to flick to push short serves during matches after the robot was introduced.

3. Footwork

Using the robot to perform various footwork drills can help players who are sometimes a bit lax with their feet.

Moving your feet can be helpful when transitioning from backhand to forehand strokes.

4. Reading spin

You can choose how many times the robot spins the ball when it starts throwing balls.

By doing so, you can see how much spin the ball has. Table Tennis requires you to adjust your stroke according to the level of spin coming at you.

Bat angle, body movements, ball flight, rotation, and sound of the ball influence your decisions.

5. Receiving

The ball shoots downward when it hits the robot head, resulting in a bouncing effect that’s high-ish.

The professional player does not serve like this. It is also essential to read your opponent’s body language contact point and follow through when returning serves.

How much is a table tennis robot?

From under $100 to over $2000, you can find table tennis robots on the market.

There is a massive gap between them based on the quality and features that the robots enable for the player.

In general, the price of a properly functioning table tennis robot ranges from $700 to $1000.

Topspin, backspin, sidespin, or no spin at all should be able to be generated by the best ping pong training robots.

A basic model may be limited to one or two spins, so you’ll likely have to modify the settings to adjust it.

The more sophisticated ones can randomize the spin on the ball to make the game more challenging.

Conclusion

Ping pong Robot is an excellent alternative if you do not have someone to play against or do not have a return board.

It’s ideal for practicing your footwork to program robots to fireballs to specific locations.

Make sure you use the robot practice sessions to work on your specific weaknesses, not aimless hitting.

Robots won’t transform you into the next Ma Long, but they can help you improve in certain areas.

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