13 Best Ping Pong Robots That Will Improve Your Game Instantly

Like many hobbies, practice makes perfect. This is no different in ping pong, but it can be hard to find a way to practice effectively. Just playing against a wall does not help you with reacting to shots.

It is also hard to find a partner to practice with who you can rely for consistent play or shots.

The solution to this problem is the ping pong robot.

This article will give you guidelines to follow to finding the ideal robot for you as well as our recommendations for the best ping pong robots.

Those who love ping pong but don’t have a lot of cash to spend on a robot will like this iPong model, which costs less than half of what other models cost. The bright green plastic case helps you keep your eye on the ball and focus on your game. That case is also durable enough that it won’t fall over or show signs of damage when balls hit it.

Suitable for practicing all types of swings, this robot works particularly well with backhand and forehand volleys. It gives you the chance to see which type of swing feels more comfortable and which one will work best against the competition. You can adjust the frequency and practice hitting between 12 and 70 balls every minute.

Designed for those in a hurry, this robot is one that you can set up in less than 60 seconds. You just need to place it on the table and put in six AA batteries before selecting the settings that you want to use.

This affordable model comes with a wired remote control that attaches to the back of the robot and instructions that show you how to set it up. It’s compatible with most of the ping pong accessories you own too.

Another great ping pong robot from iPong is the PRO, which can make you feel like an expert as you play. This model has the classic iPong design that features a wide base that keeps the robot from tipping over and a plastic case. That case can stand up the toughest of swings and return volleys.

As one of the newer models from the manufacturer, the PRO features newer software that gives you more control over your next game or practice session. You can use this model to play a full game by yourself or to get in a quick practice before your next competition. Many players like the funky purple color used in the case too.

The included remote control has a short cord that connects to the back of the robot. That cord makes it easy to adjust the speed of the balls coming out and to select a different type of spin. The cord is long enough that you can use the remote when standing on the opposite side of the table.

With an internal basket that holds 100 balls and a maximum frequency of 70 balls per minute, the PRO can help you become the best ping pong player on the block.

With this iPong robot, you can practice your serve and recreate the feel of playing against another competitor when you’re home alone. This gets our nod as the best ping pong robot because of just how well it can improve your swing. It uses brand new software that updates the robot for new players.

Thanks to both the digital display and the wireless remote, you can easily set up the robot and make some changes as you practice. The remote lets you make any adjustments, while the display shows you the chances that you made. You can increase the speed or the strength at which the balls come out.

All the adjustable features let you recreate the experience of playing against someone else. The robot can oscillate and move in a back and forth pattern to keep you on your toes. It also has both a backspin and a topspin setting that let you practice your shots against those types of spins.

This robot can hold up to 100 balls and shoot those balls out at a slower rate of just 30 balls per minute up to a maximum rate of 70 balls per minute. If you want to become the best player, this is the robot for you.

If you want to feel like a pro table tennis player, the Expert from iPong is the best ping pong robot for you. Though it has a similar design to some of the other robots from this manufacturer, it features a clear exterior that lets you see how many balls are left. The robot will pick the balls up from the base and move them along a twisty rail until shooting them out towards you.

As one of the more affordable models on the market, this is also the top ping pong robot for those on a budget. You can save even more money because it runs on the same AA batteries that you already have in your home. One set of batteries will give you hours of playing time.

A power switch located on the front of the robot turns it on and starts shooting balls in your direction. It will work with standard 40mm balls and the stands and targets available from iPong. Those accessories help you create the ultimate practice place.

The smaller and lightweight design of this robot makes it a good option for playing away from home too. It can hold up to 25 balls and release each one in less than a minute.

When choosing a new ping pong robot, you might consider this HUI PANG-07 model because it has so many different spin options. While other robots simply shoot the balls out in one direction, this one lets you choose from 36 different spin types. You’ll never again find yourself surprised at what your opponent has in store for you.

Though this model is a little larger than some of the others on the market, it fits easily on any table. You can set up the entire unit in just a few minutes. It has both English and Chinese language settings too.

Suitable for practicing on your own or having some fun with your friends, this robot has a separate container inside that can hold up to 100 balls. You can use those made by the robot’s manufacturer or any standard balls you already have. A ball button on the top twists to help you pick the spin you want to play against.

With a maximum ball speed of 40 meters per second and a maximum frequency of 70 balls per minute, this robot lets you recreate the feel of playing against a professional. It’s the best ping pong robot for those who want more speed.

Our first choice is also one of the most basic robots on the market. The iPong Original Table Tennis Robot, also sold in some areas as the JOOLA Buddy, is a very simple and straightforward robot. But for the player just looking to work on basics like form and spin, this robot is the way to go.

With its simplicity comes one of its biggest advantages, the iPong is easy to assemble and set up for sessions and allows you to adjust power, shot frequency and spin by remote control, rather than having to walk back across the table to do so. As well, the entire assembly is three parts that can be put together without tools and an AC power pack meaning you can begin using it within a couple of minutes of taking it out of the box.

The disadvantages though involved reports of misfires where the shot ball would not land on the table. As well, being a cheaper, no-frills model, there is no refill net meaning that once you go through the 110 ball capacity of the hopper you have to stop and pick up balls to keep practicing.

Nevertheless, for the beginner, the iPong Original gives a great practice partner at a price which will not cut deeply into your budget. Just make sure to get a nice pair of table tennis rackets with the savings.

The next entry on our list is one from a newer company to ping pong, Killerspin. Their initial entry in the robot market continues their reputation of offering stylish and feature-packed items at a lower price when compared to others with those same features. The Throw 2 is markedly more expensive than the iPong Original, but if not for a few flaws would be ranked much higher on this list.

The Throw 2 offers a robust set of features including three different modes, program, random and fixed, enabling the user to tailor their training session specifically to their needs. As well, it is relatively light at 17 pounds and easy to set up, providing the ability to set up the robot quickly and potentially pack it up to take on the go. With a wireless remote that is still a rarity for ping pong robots and a set of features putting it among the top of the line, Killerspin again potentially puts itself among the leaders in ping pong equipment.

Unfortunately, the Throw 2 being relatively new does have some issues. The main one is that users reported the hopper jamming on a regular basis. As well, there is no ability to create side or combination spin, something that is almost mandatory at the price point that the Throw 2 sits. Still, for their first offering and at the lower end of the price range for its tier, the Throw 2 delivers a solid ping pong robot.

Newgy’s flagship ping pong robot model is our next choice. The Robo-pong 2050 combines an ability to program drills on your personal computer with some old school innovations to create an ideal robot for the intermediate to advanced player.

The Robo-pong 2050 gives users a complete repertoire of spins and shots as well as a digital interface for easy set up and use. This ease extends to the PC Mode, which allows an easy point and click way to create custom drills and programs. As well, the double recycling net system is set up to create less rebound, ensuring that more balls that are hit true are recycled into the machine and meaning less time stopping and reloading.

If there was an issue with this robot, it was that many of the programs were not very applicable to live play situations. As well, the PC connection is a PS2 connection instead of the now-standard USB, meaning that the Robo-pong 2050 may be unable to connect to many computers. Also, while there is an oscillation feature on this robot, many users reported that it frequently needed recalibration.

The most expensive selection on our list, the Smartpong delivers a versatile ping pong robot that is ideal for the serious player who wants a robot that can grow with their abilities. While the price tag appears steep, the SmartPong does almost everything that can be expected of a ping pong robot.

The SmartPong’s four different game play choices as well as the ability to set up speed, spin and location independently allows anyone from beginner to the experienced player to be challenged by what is offered by the SmartPong. With an infrared remote, it leaves the robot with only one cord for power, making it less likely to be snagged or broken. As well, the unit comes with spare parts to replace components prone to wearing out, extending the life of this robot beyond the normal.

While this robot does offer the ability to scale to ability much more than most robots, it is also much more expensive than almost any other robot on the market. As well, for its price, the remote control is rather unsophisticate and the manual does not explain how to set up even basic shots leading to trial and error to establish programs of one’s own. Regardless, the SmartPong does offer a robust robot that can take you from beginner to advances and potentially beyond.

Our next selection is a robot geared more towards the professional than even the more serious club player. The Amicus Advance is a robot that has almost every feature you can find in any ping pong robot.

The Amicus Advance has the ability to program and save ten sequences allowing for any possible variations in spin, shot and speed as well as the ability to set breaks and test settings to see an individual shot before the program is run in full. This allows the user the ability to set up full-fledged and longer training sessions where each component is managed and determined ahead of time. Also, by swapping the control panel, the Amicus Advance is upgradable to the Professional model if desired.

The two drawbacks to the Butterfly Amicus Advance are rather obvious and go hand in hand. The many features of the Amicus series carry a heavy price tag and beyond the extremely serious player, it is likely more robot than most players will ever need or want.

The next robot on our list, the H2W Touch Pro has one of the best user interfaces to go along with a robot that adds extra details to more emulate a human player than most robots. Unfortunately, this comes with one of the steepest price tags of any robot on the market. The Paddle Palace H2W Touch Pro is a sturdy and durable robot set up on wheels instead of attaching directly to the table, making it a great choice for a club where it can be moved from table to table as needed.

But where the H2W really shines is in its LCD touchscreen and its spin indicator. The touchscreen makes it easy to modify any of the thirty existing programs in the system as well as potentially create nine of your own programs. More impressive though is the spin indication located directly in line of sight of the shooting head, giving the player a sign of what spin and shot are coming, much like with a human player.

Beyond its cost as one of the more expensive ping pong robots on the market, the H2W does have some other drawbacks. Much like the Butterfly Amicus it has a bit more than the average player would possibly need. Regardless, its user-friendliness and durability make it a great choice for coaches or clubs who can get the most from the investment required for purchasing one of these robots.

The Y&T V-988 or Practice Partner 50 Table Tennis Robot is another robot geared more towards the club or school setting rather than the individual user. Nevertheless, it provides a durable and easy to move robot along with feeling like a value at a price nearly half of that of the H2W or Amicus series robots.

The V-988 cannot be programmed like a lot of other robots on the market, but it consistently and reliably delivers a firm, crisp shot. For the beginning player, this robot delivers everything needs to refine the basics and will do so for many years. While most of the other robots on this list deliver a lot of frills, especially in a school or club setting, the V-988 is a great choice to give a steady practice partner for years to come.

Like mentioned above, the basics only functionality of the V-988 is also its biggest drawback. At its price, it is hard to justify the investment for a home user. But for the club or coach looking for a robot to start players out against, the reliability of this robot makes it a great choice.

Our top choice for ping pong robots balances price with features to give users an solid across the board ping pong robot. The Newgy Robo-Pong may not have all of the features of its bigger brother the 2050, it also carries a much friendlier price tag, making it much more accessible, especially for the more novice player.

The best ping pong robot for those who don’t like digital controls is this Newgy model. It uses analog controls that help you more easily make changes and still get the speed and strength that you want. With just one twist of the control, you can change the frequency at which the balls come out and add some spin to those balls.

Unlike other robots that only give you a few shot options, this one lets you choose between six different shorts. You can use the serve option to learn how to return a serve or the lob shot to see if you can hit back a ball lobbed in your direction. The other settings can help you practice returning shots and playing against a friend.

You can also change the spin added to the ball as it comes out of the robot too. Instead of just giving you a topspin and backspin option, this model lets you select a combination spin or a slidespin that moves to the right or left.

Many shoppers like this model because of how quickly they can set it up. It will fit on almost any ping pong table and comes with a basket that holds all your balls.

While there are drawbacks with this robot, they are minor or easily compensated. Many users reported that the power cord for this robot was short and an extension was needed. As well, it was recommended that the robot be set up on a table further back from the playing surface to compensate for a head that sits higher than most robots.

Ping pong robots enable you practice and improve your game on your own and at your convenience. By considering your needs as a player and your budget, you can find the robot that suits your needs and start dominating your rec room or your club.