Practicing with a TT robot

Table Tennis Training and Drills

Last updated 7 years ago

Steve Billmire

Steve Billmire Asked 8 years ago

Hello Alois and Jeff and all you Pingskills members,

Just wanted to tell you that I received my IPONG Master V300 the other day. It has been a great practice partner when I don't have someone else around. The robot has good topspin and backspin so I can practice my drills all day long. For the cost I would highly recommend it. 


Alois Rosario

Alois Rosario Answered 8 years ago

Thanks for that feedback Steve.


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Steve Billmire

Steve Billmire Posted 8 years ago

Thank you Alois,

If you remember, I bought a collection net, custom made bats, and now the robot. I can now do my drills by myself as long as I want. So yea, I'm really getting into it and have been practicing a couple of hours a day!!! I know a robot can't replicate the human reaction, but it is still very fun. And I can load 100 balls at a time, and with the collection I don't have to be picking up ball's.

So for all you that want to know, the robot only cost me $65.00 US and it is IPONG's top of the line model. The only reason I was able to get it at that price is I had talked to Joola about there products and they sent me the Master V300 for the price of there Original model. A lot of people say that IPONG robots are not good, but I think they started making them better. The one I have has not jammed and after doing some testing before actually playing agents it. I found that it can continually put the ball on the table at the same place every time!!! Very predictable but easy to use with the wireless remote control. 

I have watched all your blog videos and searched about this subject and couldn't find anything on playing and or practicing with robots. Maybe you guys can address this on one of your blog video's??? Have you guys ever played or practice with a robot??? If so what did you think about it??? I would like to hear from anyone who has a TT robot and there experience with it.

Oh yea, no more sore shoulder!!! Can you say that 10 times fast. LoL


Alois Rosario

Alois Rosario from PingSkills Posted 8 years ago

Hi Steve,

We feel that the Training Drills download can transfer to practicing with a robot.  Maybe we need to develop this further.

Sore shoulder, sore shoulder, sore shoulder, shore solder… darn… can’t even type it


D K

D K Posted 8 years ago

haha


Steve Billmire

Steve Billmire Posted 8 years ago

Hello Alois,

Yes I agree, many of the drills that we practice can be done with a robot. Of course there are limitations with a robot that can't be duplicated with the human reaction. There is no variables with a robot to an extent and they can't launch a ball to your side of the table like a human can.

But still, I highly recommend that of someone can afford one (there not that expensive). To get one as they are going to be a good practice partner when you don't have another person to do multi-ball and drills. Like foot work, looping, blocking, working on your stroke ect.

I still think you guys should mention this subject on one of your blogs. So us Pingskills members can get a idea of how to use them and any benefit that might come from it.


Steve Billmire

Steve Billmire Posted 8 years ago

I wish you guys had a "Edit" feature when we want to add something that is an after thought!!!

It tells us how to use a robot so we can get the best benefit from it. Check it out when yah,all have time.


Alois Rosario

Alois Rosario from PingSkills Posted 8 years ago

Jeff is thinking about this one… see how he can work his magic.


Steve Billmire

Steve Billmire Posted 8 years ago

Hey Alois,

If you guys need a robot to check out. I have 3 of them and I'm more than willing to ship one out if you don't have one. For some reason when I was talking to both Megaspin and Joola about the robot's. They must have been confused and sent me 3 for the price of one. Just don't tell them, LoL

Also, if anyone is interested in a robot. Let me know because I have 2 of them that I don't know what to do with. Other than talking to my local TT club and see if they would want them.


Dieter Verhofstadt

Dieter Verhofstadt Posted 8 years ago

We won't tell them but it might be too late already.


Steve Billmire

Steve Billmire Posted 8 years ago

Thank you Alois and Jeff,

For talked about robot's on the Pingskills blog. Short and sweet, I was expecting a little more about the subject. Alois, you did mention what I said here, that robot's can't replicate the human reaction. But what I really wanted to know was if you or Jeff have ever played against a robot? Also, as you might know, robot's have come a long way since they first came out. With programmable interface for topspin, backspin, sidespin, frequency, and oscillation.

This makes them more useful for practicing drill's. Mine has a wireless remote that I can program 3 different particular setting's. When I want to practice different types of spins and or how many balls I want to launch at me (frequency) up to 90 balls a minute can get pretty fun!!! It is a lot like having someone serving you multi-ball, but you can adjust all of a above mentioned with the wireless remote while you are practicing.

Trust me, you can build up a good sweat when you have 90 balls a minute coming at you with different spins and oscillating balls all over the table!!! After a couple of hours of doing this, then going to a practice partner. I really notice a difference in the way I play against them!!!

I guess what I'll do with the other 2 robot's I have is to see if my club could use them. 

Thanks again, you guys are the best!!!


Steve Billmire

Steve Billmire Posted 8 years ago

Alois and Jeff, and all the Pingskills members of course.

Well, here I go again. When I received my robot it came with little plastic target's. They are the same shape as the robot but much smaller and very in size. So last night I put them in different places on the table and tried to hit them. What fun that is, not only can I practice my drills but now with the targets I can use them to help me with ball placement!!! I have read about putting some sort of targets on the table before but never tried it. So Pingskills members get some targets and put them on the other side of the table and try and hit them!!! Its more fun than you might think!!!


Alois Rosario

Alois Rosario from PingSkills Posted 8 years ago

Nice one Steve.  I used some target today for one of the training sessions and the young kids loved them too.


Josef Novy

Josef Novy Posted 8 years ago

Interesting, this robot is sold in Europe as Joola TT-Buddy (or TT-Buddy Pro). I wonder what made the marketing people thing of such a change ?


Ilia Minkin

Ilia Minkin Posted 8 years ago

One thing that bothers me a bit is the difference between new and old balls. We play matches and practice with polyballs, while the robot in our club is loaded with the old ones. Can it be detrimental to the main game to practice a lot with the old balls?


Steve Billmire

Steve Billmire Posted 8 years ago

Ilia,

I'm pretty sure that most robots can use thepolyballs. I know mine can and use them all the time with no problems.

Josef,

Joola is the importer of the IPONG robot. Even though it says designed in the USA they are made in China and imported through out different parts of the world. But you are right the Joola TT-Buddy is called the IPONG Original and the TT-Buddy Pro is called the IPONG Pro here in the US. The one I have is Joolas newest version of the IPONG robot's called the IPONG Master V300 which has new and improved mechanisms. I have used and own 2 of the IPONG Originals and think it the V300 is way better than the Originals. Because of the new improvements which makes a big difference, plus it has a wireless remote that just makes it much easier to use. With the wireless remote you can change your topspin and or backspin while practicing and you can save your preferred settings.

Now remember that these IPONG robots are not the best, but for the money I don't think you can go wrong with them. I know a lot of people say that the IPONG robots are not any good, but Joola told me they made a lot of improvements before I bought mine. And I guess they are right because I have not had any problems with the ones I have. Plus, who has $500 to $2000 dollars to spend on a TT robot when you can get a IPONG robot for under $100 buck's!!! Unless you run a TT club of course!!! LoL;-) 


Ilia Minkin

Ilia Minkin Posted 8 years ago

>I'm pretty sure that most robots can use thepolyballs. I know mine can and use them all the time with no problems.

That's true, but I'm a little bit concerned whether at this stage it makes sense to buy a huge pack of polyballs given the current quality concerns (especially for the low grade balls).


Steve Billmire

Steve Billmire Posted 8 years ago

Ilia,

I don't think we have to worry too much about the polyball versus celluloid at this point. Especially when we are just "Practicing" with a robot. I think that when we are practicing with a robot we are mainly working on our return of the ball with whatever spins we decide to program and foot work. Its when we are actually playing a real game of TT to see the benefits of the robot. I'm with you about the polyball issue currently being of bad quality and only time will tell if the TT ball manufacturers will start making them better. I play and practice with both poly and celluloid balls and prefer the celluloid balls over the polyballs. And like I said, I wouldn't go out and buy a bunch of the polyballs right now with the quality issue and the inflated price over celluloid balls. Just not worth it right now in my opinion!!! The only reason I have some polyball balls is that they were giving them away at my club for us to try out, so I grabbed a few. LoL ;-) 


Bob Johnson

Bob Johnson Posted 7 years ago

I own a iPong V300 for 3 months now and it's definitely worth the money.  I could only come to a club on the weekends so it's a great way for me to supplement my practice during the week.  I used the following modes a lot : 5070, 5080 for top spin counter loops and blocking, I also use it to practice FH and BH footwork.  The 5580 mode oscillates ball placement left/right and allows me to practice connecting FH and BH strokes. Even though the robot is capable of producing underspin, I don't find it is very useful as it's far from what human can produce during plays, you will end up practicing the wrong kind of strokes to counteract the heavy underspin produced by the robot.



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