8 Best Ping Pong Robots That Will Improve Your Game Instantly

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 main difference between the 1050 and the 2050 is the lack of the PC interface in the 1050. Considering that many users did not find themselves using this feature, it seems that is an easy place to save money. Beyond that, compared to the robots at its price, the Robo-Pong 1050 can create every type of shot beyond the float ball, which no robot on the market can create consistently. It also has a larger ball hopper, ensuring that you can practice longer without reloading.

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.