| What is a Table Tennis Robot? | | | | A robot can help your reflexes and coordination |
| A table tennis robot is basically a machine that feeds | | | | enormously, which will likely pay off even if you do not |
| you balls on the table, attempting to simulate the balls | | | | get any coaching. |
| you receive from a real opponent. The robot can | | | | Robots are also ideal for practicing a routine or |
| shoot balls at you with a variety of speeds and spins, | | | | footwork, or even for improving your speed, reflexes |
| on a single or multiple locations on the table. Many will | | | | and coordination. You can setup a certain footwork or |
| come with a net that catches the balls, and some can | | | | stroke routine, and practice it over and over again. As |
| feed these back into the robot, for continuous | | | | you learn the basics, you can speed it up, as high |
| operation. | | | | speed action will be required at higher levels. Higher |
| How much room does it take up? | | | | level players do have a lot of "set-plays", where they |
| If you wish to use one at home, you obviously need a | | | | serve or play a certain ball to receive a certain return |
| table and sufficient room both for the table and robot, | | | | which they can attack. Robots are fantastic for |
| and also for you to play and move around in. Luckily | | | | practicing such routines so that if your opponents |
| the robots tend to take up little room behind the table, | | | | returns this type of ball, you are in the best position to |
| so in areas with restricted room, where playing with 2 | | | | take advantage of it. |
| people may be not be viable, there is usually still be | | | | Finally a robot can be great for exercise and improving |
| enough room to play against a robot. A robot is usually | | | | your fitness level. You can set the speed at which it |
| fixed to the end of the table, or sits on top of it, so you | | | | feeds you balls on 'random' positions on he table, |
| can push that end of the table right to the wall. Since | | | | encouraging to move you feet, and using a wide range |
| you have full control over where the robot projects | | | | of muscles. This can not only help you lose weight or |
| the balls, you can make it fit into even the tightest | | | | improve your fitness, but it can also help your |
| areas and still make it usable. | | | | technique and footwork in table tennis as an added |
| What CAN they do, and what CANNOT they do? | | | | bonus! |
| No doubt everyone can benefit from the use of a | | | | Although many robots have a oscillating head allow it |
| robot, if they use it sensibly. However do not be fooled | | | | to feel the balls from one side on the table to another, |
| into thinking that a robot can be used as a complete | | | | and some even have programmable features allowing |
| substitute for an opponent or a coach, as it cannot do | | | | you to change the spin and speed/placement from |
| this. Robots are ideal for practicing a specific stroke or | | | | one ball to another, the balls will also be predictable |
| routine, as it can give you the same ball with the same | | | | (once you are used it), which is the major difference |
| spin over and over again. It will allow you to master a | | | | compared to a real opponent. Smart opponents will |
| stroke much more quickly and efficiently, but it is | | | | adjust their game and vary their returns, which is |
| important that you get the stroke right first, or you will | | | | something a robot simply cannot do. |
| be practicing and re-enforcing a bad habit, that can be | | | | In conclusion, as long as you understand the limitations |
| very tough to un-learn! This is where a few lessons | | | | of a robot, and take advantage of the features that it |
| with a coach can come in very handy, and the use of | | | | does offer, it can be a great asset or investment to |
| the robot is ideal for practicing what you have learned! | | | | improve you game or fitness! |