Our Beginner’s Guide to Table Tennis Robots: Setup, Drills, Tips

Ever wished you could practice your backhand loop at 2 AM without needing a training partner?

Table tennis robots are one of the most powerful tools in table tennis, and they make this dream a reality.

Used by beginners and pros alike, robots enable what was previously impossible: practicing table tennis alone whilst replicating genuine match-like conditions. You could argue return boards do the same thing, but they don’t even come close.

Robots are the perfect training partner. They never get tired, they’re available 24/7, and they feed you exactly what you need to work on.

However, you must know how to use them properly to get results.

This guide covers why you should train with a robot, how they work, the training methods that’ll accelerate your improvement, and the key dos and don’ts. Let’s begin!

What Is a Table Tennis Robot?

A table tennis robot is an automated ball-feeding machine that sits at one end of your table and fires balls at you with adjustable speed, spin, and placement.

Think of it as your personal coach that never complains, never gets tired, and can repeat the exact same shot 1,000 times in a row if needed.

Basic robots simply launch balls at consistent intervals. Advanced models can:

• Program complex sequences (like alternating forehand-backhand patterns)
• Vary spin types automatically (topspin, backspin, sidespin)
• Oscillate to place balls anywhere on the table
• Adjust timing between shots
• Store multiple drill programs

The best robots can simulate virtually any opponent’s playing style, from heavy defensive pushers to aggressive attackers. This means you can practice specific match situations whenever you want, without needing a human training partner.

Why Train With a Robot?

We highly recommend training with a robot because they unlock training opportunities that simply aren’t possible with human partners.

Perfect consistency: Robots hit the exact same spot with identical spin and speed every single time. This lets you groove your technique without the variables that come with human inconsistency.

Target your weaknesses: Want to work on that shaky backhand receive? Set the robot to serve short backspin balls to your backhand for 30 minutes straight. Few human partners would have the patience (or accuracy) for that.

Learn new techniques safely: Robots give you a controlled environment to experiment with new shots like flicks or open-ups without the pressure of a real opponent.

Build muscle memory: The repetitive nature of robot training is perfect for grooving strokes until they become automatic. You can practice one specific transition hundreds of times in a single session.

Customize intensity: Whether you want gentle warm-up feeds or blazing fast attack balls, robots adapt to your current skill level and training goals.

How Robots Work

Understanding how robots actually function helps you make better buying decisions and get more from your training.

All robots have a ball feeding mechanism that uses spinning wheels or rubber rollers to launch balls. Two wheels spinning in opposite directions grip the ball and fire it forward. By adjusting wheel speeds, the robot controls ball velocity and spin. A faster top wheel creates topspin, faster bottom wheel produces backspin.

Most good robots will either have a remote or an app to control how the robot works. Virtually all modern robots have an app that connects to your smartphone. With this app or remote, you will be able to tell the robot exactly what you want it to do. Advanced models let you program complex sequences and adjust timing between shots.

You may want to have it feed underspin balls to your forehand to practice open-ups. Or maybe 2 balls to your backhand and 1 to your forehand to practice the Falkenberg drill. Maybe you want to practice your serve receive against that one serve that always gives you trouble, so you can set the robot to feed you short or long sidespin, backspin, or topspin balls.

Basic models have fixed ball trajectories, while advanced robots use oscillation (a motor that swivels the launching mechanism left and right) to place balls anywhere across the table width.

The possibilities are endless once you understand how to harness these features.

Choosing Your First Robot

You could easily spend anywhere from $200 to $3,000 on a robot. The question is, what do you actually need?

My strong recommendation is to get a programmable robot, one that can feed you customizable sequences of balls.

If you get one of these robots, you’ll be able to practice any stroke or combination of strokes you want. You’ll be able to dial in all the transitions: getting in and out of the table, backhand to forehand, forehand to backhand, backhand to pivot.

For Most Players: Pongbot Nova S Pro ($350)

The Pongbot Nova S Pro is our top pick for home use. At $350, it delivers 95% of the features you need without breaking the bank.

This robot has excellent build quality, compact size, and consistent delivery. The advanced smartphone app lets you program complex sequences and handles topspin/backspin combinations automatically. You can practice virtually every drill that matters for improving your game.

Yes, it has some limitations. For example, you can’t mix short and long balls in the same drill, sidespin requires manual adjustment, and there’s no ball recycling system.

However, in years of testing and playing with robots, I can confidently say these rarely impact actual training sessions. The Pongbot covers 95% of what you’ll realistically practice, and it’s reliable enough that you won’t get frustrated with inconsistent feeds.

The Premium Option: Butterfly Amicus Prime

If budget isn’t a concern and you want the absolute best, the Butterfly Amicus Prime is the gold standard. It’s the robot I’d choose for club use or serious competitive training.

This is where you get everything… and I mean everything. The Amicus Prime comes with a free Android tablet that mounts directly to your table for seamless control. The ball recycling system includes 120 balls and a net, so if you’re hitting accurately, you can practice indefinitely without stopping to collect balls.

The build quality is exceptional, and features like IFC technology let you fine-tune timing between shots with precision no other robot offers. You can randomize parts of drills, store unlimited programs, and it even includes a premium carry bag.

It’s expensive, but it eliminates every frustration and limitation you’ll encounter with cheaper robots. For serious players, it’s an investment that pays dividends in training quality.

Setting Your Robot Up for Success

Now that you’ve got your robot, it’s time to set it up properly, and this step matters more than most people realize.

Start with the basics by aligning the robot with the center line of your table and positioning it securely at the end. Follow your model’s specific instructions for mounting, but here’s what really makes the difference:

Get Your First Balls Right

Not all table tennis balls work equally well with robots.

Cheap, thin balls will bounce inconsistently and throw off your timing. Invest in quality training balls. They don’t need to be tournament-grade, but they should be from a reputable brand.

Most robots work with standard 40mm balls, though some older models prefer 38mm. Check out our latest advice on the best table tennis balls to buy.

Test and Calibrate Immediately

Once you’ve loaded balls and plugged in, don’t just start hitting. Run the robot through its paces first. Test the basic speed and spin settings, check that balls are landing where you expect on the table, and make sure the feeding rhythm feels consistent.

Start Simple, Then Build

Start with single-spot feeding at moderate speed. Get comfortable with the robot’s rhythm and your positioning before adding variables like oscillation or spin changes.

The goal is to build confidence in both you and the machine. Once you’ve got the basics dialed in and you’re hitting consistently, then you can explore all those advanced features that make robot training so powerful.

Beginner Training Drills

Now, we’ll share 5 of our favorite foundational drills to do with your robot.

2 backhands, 2 forehands

The fundamental drill of table tennis, 2 backhands 2 forehands, works the two most important transitions in table tennis: forehand to backhand, and backhand to forehand.

It is the ideal practice drill to get more consistent at attacking on both wings.

1 forehand, 1 middle

One of my favorite drills, 1 forehand 1 middle, is a great exercise to practice the speed of movement and recovery after hitting a forehand.

It is a superb exercise because, even if it’s relatively simple, it keeps us moving and hitting forehands at all times.

Open ups

Robots are great tools to practice our open-ups on both wings.

Set your robot to feed you balls to either your forehand or backhand to practice your static open-ups. Then you can do any exercise you want, i.e., 2 backhands, 2 forehands, but with all the balls being backspin balls.

And, once you’ve gotten the hang of this, you can set your robot to feed you backspin balls anywhere on the table, randomly, to practice your reactions and movement.

2 backhands, middle, 2 backhands, forehand

One of my favorite drills for consistency, this one targets everything. 

I like that it makes us practice our forehand from 2 different spots on the table, and the 2 backhands make it ideal for practicing our backhand topspin consistency.

¾ table, all forehands

If I had to say, this is my absolute favorite drill in table tennis. You’ll have to set your robot to feed you balls randomly towards 3/4 of the table on your forehand side.

Then, you’ll have to hit only forehands, react, move, hit, and recover in time for the next one. If you want to improve your forehands in the rally, this is the exercise to do.

Building a Practice Routine

We have written a guide on how to plan your training sessions. 

Training with a robot won’t differ much from that, except for the fact that you’ll have to take breaks more frequently because you’ll never have to block for your robot as you would have to if you were training with a real person.

A great practice routine, in my opinion, is composed of:

• 50% mobility drills.
• 25% open-ups, touch drills, and serve receive.
• 25% free time dedicated to whatever you want to work on at the moment, such as learning a new technique, correcting a specific weakness, or building confidence in a stroke.

So, whatever time you have, you can divide it among these 3 sections.

Let’s say you want to practice for 1 hour. Then 30 minutes will be allocated to mobility drills, and 15 minutes each for open-ups, touch drills, and serve receive, and 15 minutes free to work on whatever you want.

If you’re a player who has a good forehand but struggles on the backhand side and wants to build confidence in your backhand loop, a good sample training routine would look like this:

Mobility (30min)

1. 2 backhands, 2 forehands
2. Forehand, middle, forehand, backhand
3. 2 backhands, middle, 2 backhands, forehand
4. 3/4 table, all forehands

Do each exercise for 5 minutes and rest for 2:30 minutes in between exercises (you can fine-tune this time depending on your stamina)

Touch drills and open-ups (15 min)

1. 2 backhands, 2 forehands, all open ups.
2. Serve receive (short)
3. Serve receive (long, attack all serves)

Do each exercise for 4 minutes and rest for 1 minute in between exercises.

Free time, in this case, allocated to practicing the backhand attack (15 min)

1. All backhands until the robot randomly switches to forehand.
2. Backhand open up and then hit balls anywhere on the table.
3. Robot feeds all towards the backhand, you hit 2 backhands close to the table, and 2 mid-distance.

Do each exercise for 4 minutes and rest for 1 minute in between exercises.

I can assure you that, if this player were to do this routine at least once per week (preferably 2-3 times), they’d see great improvement in their game and their backhand skills.

We must also mention that practicing with a robot should ideally serve as a complement to playing with real players at a table tennis club or rec centre.

Robot training should complement, not replace, playing with real opponents. Humans provide unpredictable variation that robots can’t match, but robots give you the consistency needed to groove technique.

Even practicing this routine once per week will accelerate your improvement dramatically. The key is consistency over time.

Check out our guide to planning a table tennis training session for additional drills, and remember to switch things up regularly to keep sessions engaging.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Now that you know what exercises to do and what a good training routine looks like, let’s quickly go over the most common mistakes when practicing with a robot, and how to avoid them.

Reinforcing incorrect technique

In my opinion, the biggest mistake you can make when practicing with a robot is practicing with bad technique.

If you do so, you will practice the wrong way of doing a given stroke over and over again, ingraining it into your muscle memory.

This highlights the importance of a coach who can give you feedback on your techniques. 

What I would do with my robot is go to the club, get feedback on what I have to improve, correct it at the club, and then get the reps in with correct form with the robot.

What we don’t recommend is practicing with your robot nonstop if your technique is not the best and you aren’t conscious of what needs fixing.

Staying static

Another mistake is doing static drills all the time, such as only doing forehand open-ups, then backhand open-ups, then forehand loops, etc.

You need to incorporate irregular drills, that is, drills with a component of randomness. 

If you always know where the ball is going, the robot will give you a false sense of security that you know how to execute the technique.

However, come a real match, you will miss the stroke you practiced over and over again, and you won’t know why. 

This happens because, with your robot, you practiced hitting the same stroke over and over again, from the same position, with the speed and spin being the same all the time.

However, in real matches, all the balls you get are radically different. They can have wildly different speeds, spins, depths, placements, etc.

This is why you need to make sure that many of the drills you’re doing are irregular, that is, you don’t know where the ball is going.

Practicing the same skills all the time

Our last mistake we’d like to point out is practicing the same skills all the time.

It’s no use doing only forehand or only backhand drills. You should train every stroke and try to perfect every transition.

Make sure to include drills that involve different spins and placements if you want to improve as fast as possible.

Maintenance and Troubleshooting

Taking care of your robot properly will keep it running smoothly for years.

After each session, wipe down the robot and check that no balls are stuck in the feeding mechanism. Clean the feeding wheels regularly with a damp cloth to maintain consistent ball grip.

Common Issues and Quick Fixes

Ball jams: Stop the robot immediately and gently remove stuck balls by hand. Never force them through. Check that you’re using quality balls of the correct size.

Inconsistent feeding: Usually caused by dirty or worn wheels. Clean them first, then check if they need replacement. Also make sure your balls aren’t damaged or warped.

Connection problems: Restart both the robot and your phone’s Bluetooth. Ensure you’re within range and no other devices are interfering.

For any electrical issues or internal component problems, contact manufacturer support rather than attempting repairs yourself. This keeps your warranty intact and avoids potentially expensive damage.

Transform Your Game with Robot Training

To sum up, we love table tennis robots for what they bring to the table (pun intended!).

They’re the perfect training partner because you can use them at any time, they’ll feed you any drills you want, and they’re ideal for learning and perfecting techniques.

If you’re looking to up your table tennis game, a good robot is something you should seriously consider. It enables you to get high-quality practice at any given moment without needing another player.

Remember to vary your training as much as possible and keep progressing your sessions in difficulty, intensity, and frequency as you improve. Start simple, stay consistent, and use robot training to complement your regular play with humans.

Your 2 AM backhand loop sessions are now within reach. Get out there and start transforming your game one ball at a time.