A real low and short
no-spin serve can give you some easy points in matches, as they are
difficult to flip hard, and they require good timing to push hard.
Mix it up with a heavy backspin in the same spot. Remember to get it
short, the ball should bounce short on your side close to the net...
Table tennis
Robots - The Ultimate Guide!
This
guide has been written to try and help you decide what robot is suitable
for you, and includes a large number of robot reviews. The information is from my own experiences, and the experience
of others as described in many reviews and articles on the net. A
special thanks goes to Marco Borillo and Rich215, who have
shared their great knowledge of robots on the internet, and have written many
robot reviews and comments, that have helped a lot in generating this
guide!
Information in this guide
will continue to be added as the table tennis community shares their
experiences with others, and allow us to include it in this guide. So if
you've used a robot, please share your experience and allow us to add
your comments into this guide, so that others can benefit from your
experience.
What is a Table Tennis
Robot?
A table tennis robot is basically a machine that feeds you balls on the
table, attempting to simulate the balls you receive from a real opponent.
The robot can shoot balls at you with a variety of speeds and spins, on a
single or multiple locations on the table. Many will come with a net that
catches the balls, and some can feed these back into the robot, for
continuous operation.
How much room does it take up?
If you wish to use one at home, you obviously need a table and
sufficient room both for the table and robot, and also for you to play and
move around in. Luckily the robots tend to take up little room behind the
table, so in areas with restricted room, where playing with 2 people may be
not be viable, there is usually still be enough room to play against a robot. A
robot is usually fixed to the end of the table, or sits on top of it, so you
can push that end of the table right to the wall. Since you have full
control over where the robot projects the balls, you can make it fit into
even the tightest areas and still make it usable.
What CAN they do, and what CAN'T they do? No doubt everyone can benefit from the use of a robot, if they use it
sensibly. However don't be fooled into thinking that a robot can be used as a
complete substitute for an opponent or a coach, as it cannot do this. Robot are ideal
for practicing an specific stroke or routine, as it can give you the same ball with the
same spin over and over again. It will allow you to master a stroke much
more quickly and efficiently, but it is important that you get the
stroke right first, or you'll be practicing and re-enforcing a bad habit,
that can be very tough to un-learn! This is where a few lessons with a coach
can come in very handy, and the use of the robot is ideal for practicing
what you've learned! Still it will help your reflexes and coordination
enormously, which will likely pay off even if you don't get any coaching.
Robots are also ideal for practicing a routine or footwork, or even for
improving your speed, reflexes and coordination. You can setup a certain footwork or
stroke routine, and practice it over and over again. As you learn the
basics, you can speed it up, as high speed ation will be required at higher
levels. Higher level players do
have a lot of "set-plays", where they serve or play a certain ball to
receive a certain return which they can attack. Robots are fantastic for
practicing such routines so that if your opponents returns this type of
ball, you're in the best position to take advantage of it.
Finally a robot can be great for exercise and improving
your fitness level. You can set the speed at which it feeds you balls on
'random' positions on he table, encouraging to move you feet, and using a
wide range of muscles. This can not only help you lose weight or improve
your fitness, but it can also help your technique and footwork in table
tennis as an added bonus!
Although many robots have a oscillating head allow it to feel the balls from
one side on the table to another, and some even have programmable features
allowing you to change the spin and speed/placement from one ball to
another, the balls will also be predictable (once you're used it), which is
the major difference compared to a real opponent. Smart opponents will
adjust their game and vary their returns, which is something a robot simply
cannot do.
As long as you understand the limitations of a robot, and take advantage
of the features that it does offer, it can be a great asset or investment to
improve you game or fitness! If you need more convincing (or you need to
convince a partner, parent or coach!), read the section on
Robots - the greatest benefits. If
you're already convinced and need some information on the features that are
important for robots, read on to
Choosing a table tennis Robot.
OOAK
Online Shop:
OOAK Table
Tennis Shop Brands: TSP, Butterfly,
JUIC, Avalox, Darker, Donic, 729, DHS,
Globe. Australian based
Ships Worldwide!
This
guide has been written to try and help you decide what robot is suitable
for you, and includes a large number of robot reviews. The information is from my own experiences, and the experience
of others as described in many reviews and articles on the net. A
special thanks goes to Marco Borillo and Rich215, who have
shared their great knowledge of robots on the internet, and have written many
robot reviews and comments, that have helped a lot in generating this
guide!
What is a Table Tennis
Robot? 
