Are Table Tennis Robots Worth It? (7 Features To Consider)
Welcome to the 21st century, where robots can help you play table tennis. That’s cool, right? They can indeed help you train, among other things, but the question you should be asking is, are they worth it? That’s precisely what you will discover below!
In this article, I will guide you through your question about information about table tennis machines, how helpful they actually are, how much you should expect to pay for one, and some additional information that you should know before getting one to yourself. But first, a brief answer, are table tennis robots worth it?
Table tennis robots are worth it if you want to train more than you have company. With table tennis robots, you can practice alone whenever you want, and with them, you can hone your stroke, spin, and receiving skills. The only thing left to consider is the price that ranges from $150-$2000.
If you think the price tag of a specific model that would be best suited for your needs is worth the cost, then you should absolutely invest in a table tennis robot. However, if you always find a company to play with, you probably won’t need one. Often, it’s better to train with another person, especially if one has similar or slightly better skills than you.
Now, if you want to determine whether ping pong robots are worth it fully, I need to explain what features they can be equipped with, among other things. So, let’s get started!
Read also: 11 Best Table Tennis Brands (The Kings Of Table Tennis)
Contents
What does a ping pong robot do
Depending on the quality and price of the robot, it can have only a few or a full set of features. As previously said, the price range is usually between $150-$2000, so there certainly will be differences. Below, I will explain features that can be a part of a ping pong machine.
1. Strikes
The most obvious thing that a table tennis robot does is shoot balls to you so that you can stroke them. Depending on the model, you can determine whether it will strike only in one direction or change direction, making it more fun for you.
2. Capacity
There are big differences between models when it comes to capacity. This means that if the machine’s capacity is 25 balls, it will shoot 25 balls to you, and then you need to gather your balls and reload them again. As you might expect, more expensive models have more capacity, and some models even have an autoloading feature.
This works the way that there is a net behind the robot, and when you stroke your ball, it will find its way to the net, and the robot will reload itself. So, all in all, the desired capacity is something you really need to know before getting a table tennis robot.
3. Spin types
As with strikes, the cheapest models might not have any spin features at all. However, when we see even a few better models, we notice that a robot can have spin options. Proper robots even have topspin, backspin, and spide spin options to choose from. And what’s even crazier is that some robots can combine spins, which gives you a real challenge. The more spin options you have, the more versatile training you will get.
4. Adaptability
Many people overlook adaptability when they are looking for a table tennis robot, but you shouldn’t. This is where you can set everything from the ball frequency and speed to desired spin combinations to where the balls will be shot. This is really where you can create your table tennis drills. Finally, some table tennis robots have an app where you can monitor your progress so you can focus on the right things.
5. Remote Type
There are two kinds of remote types, wireless and cord. Nowadays, most table tennis robots have wireless cords, but there are still ones that use a cord type. You need to think about this because with wireless, you can easily change options and features from where you stand, making the training more efficient, effortless, and fun.
6. Battery or Cord Powered
Another thing to really be considerate about is power. The main differences between a battery and cord-powered robots are that a battery-powered one is more flexible, and it’s more portable; however, it needs to be charged, and it can’t shoot the balls at the same speed and frequency as a cord powered does. So, the question is, is portability more important to you than power?
7. Size, Portability & Storage
The final thing to consider about your robot before the price is the size, how easy it is to move around, and your storage options. Depending on the robot, you can’t carry some of them, whereas some models are super easy to carry. Also, there are big size differences, so that is something to be on the lookout for.
8. Cost
It might be clear that the price differences between table tennis machines are huge, and so are the feature differences. So naturally, a $2000 ping pong machine will have all the treats, whereas a $300 won’t have as many features. So first, you need to decide what features are a must and what are optional. Then, you need to see your budget and determine whether you can get the machine of your dreams, or maybe you need to prioritize some features.
- Recommended entry-level table tennis robot: ZXMOTO Table Tennis Machine
- Recommended mid-tier table tennis robot: Newgy Robo-Pong Eagle Eye
- Recommended professional table tennis robot: Butterfly Amicus Prime
Can a table tennis robot help you improve?
Generally, table tennis robots are the next best thing after practicing with another person. With a table tennis robot, you can easily improve your strokes, spin technique, footwork, reaction times, defense, and more. In addition, most table tennis robots enable you to create your own drills and training.
How much does a ping pong robot cost?
The price range of table tennis robots is from below $100 to over $2000. This is a wide gap between the robots determined by the quality and features it enables for the player. Generally, the average price of a proper table tennis robot is around $700.
My Favorite Table Tennis Equipment
Thanks for reading this article. I hope it brought you great value that you can implement into your own life! Here you can find my preferred table tennis equipment that I believe you could benefit too!
- Racket: My favorite racket choice is the beautiful Killerspin Jet800 because it fits my offensive and speed-focused playstyle. The two carbon layers, 2.1mm sponge, and 190g weight makes this racket powerful.
- Ping Pong Balls: New technology and design have made the JOOLA Flash Seamless 3-Star Balls stand out from the other balls. These balls are seamless, meaning they are more durable than any ball with a seam! Even when these balls come at a higher price, they will pay themselves quickly. As a bonus, the design makes me excited!
- Table Tennis shoes: The famous Butterfly Lezoline Rifones is my choice as it is for many others because they are designed specifically for table tennis standards. I like the excellent support, comfortable cushioning, and lightweight sole with great traction, which gets you exploding fast to whatever direction you need to.
- Fan Equipment: If you’re a fan more than a player, you don’t want to miss Fan Equipment by Fanatics. You can find items from various sports that bear your favorite team’s logo, such as jerseys, gift ideas, or other surprising things.
Conclusion
When you keep these 8 things in mind, I do not doubt that you can find the right table tennis robot perfect for your own purposes. I have trained with different kinds of robots in a couple of table tennis clubs, and I have to say that they are a lot of fun and will improve your skills whether you are a total beginner or a seasoned professional.
