Self-Resetting Flip Pad for Table Tennis Training – Thoughts?

[palguay]

Hi all,


We’re experimenting with a new training tool and would love your thoughts.


It’s called the PongFox Flip Pad Auto — a self-resetting target that flips back up automatically after being hit. It also tracks how many times you hit it, which makes it useful for building accuracy and consistency in serve and stroke drills.


Right now, it’s a standalone device that can be used for solo practice, multiball drills, or with a robot. But we’re exploring the next step — syncing it with our robot so that the right target flips up based on the ball placement (e.g., wide forehand or deep middle).


We’re looking for feedback on:

• Would this kind of synchronized target help improve your training experience?
• What features or modes would be most useful?
• Would you prefer using one or multiple pads?
• Any other creative use cases you can think of?

This is still in the experimental phase, so your input will help us improve and build something more valuable for the table tennis community.

 

[plunder]

r u the builder/maker or inventor

 

[igorponger]

@palguay

Hi, dear
Taobao marketplace offers China analog with function of auto counting shots and mishits. Not sure about price.

 

[Amayzde]

Im sorry but I think there isnt really a market for this.

1. I think the target is way too high above the table surface. In table tennis you have to hit the table. The target looks like its 15-20 cm above the table surface. You can even see the player miss the table completely, because he is trying to hit the target, and some of the balls that do hit the target, would have missed the table.

2. The reset is too slow for the multiball, you can clearly see that in the last clip.

3. For target practice you can just use a small towel instead.

4. I guess the counter is nice so you can see how many shots you hit. But it doesn't tell you anything about how accurate you are. So you could stand there with your robot, hitting the target 100 times and feel great about it, but if it took me 500 shots, my accuracy is only 20%, which is not good, but it wouldnt show that.

If you want to invent something like this, try to make something flat.
Also make multible targets compatible with eachother, just so people can start with 1 and can eventually upgrade to multiple if the consumer whishes to do so.
Make the targets light up as an indicator of which one to hit so you can simulate practical multiball drills, preferably with an app you can download on your smartphone, with clear instructions on where to put which target.

 

[Tyce]

Ok, uhm... Why does the target need to fall over in the first place?

A hit sensor would be enough IMO. Size of a beer coaster, or make multiple sizes for different levels of difficulty.

The current proposal is unnecessarily complex.

 

[pong99]

Interesting idea, I agree that this is too complicated. Why do you want to make new hardware for this?

Any way to use a tracker device like an Airtag/Tile? Airtag has an accelerometer. Can you just mount an Airtag to something and get the accelerometer output to sense hits?

You can definitely use a smartphone as the target. Access the gyros, then if you want a counter just display it on the screen. Use a glass screen protector so you don't eff up the screen. I wouldn't use my everyday phone for this, but I would on an old one.

Might even get people who don't own one of your robots to pay a few bucks for an app that does this if you can come up some additional features.

Don't build hardware unless you really have to.

 

[palguay]

r u the builder/maker or inventor

yes

 

[palguay]

Ok, uhm... Why does the target need to fall over in the first place?

A hit sensor would be enough IMO. Size of a beer coaster, or make multiple sizes for different levels of difficulty.

The current proposal is unnecessarily complex.

The target audience is kids, thinking of gamifying the training

 

[palguay]

Im sorry but I think there isnt really a market for this.

1. I think the target is way too high above the table surface. In table tennis you have to hit the table. The target looks like its 15-20 cm above the table surface. You can even see the player miss the table completely, because he is trying to hit the target, and some of the balls that do hit the target, would have missed the table.

2. The reset is too slow for the multiball, you can clearly see that in the last clip.

3. For target practice you can just use a small towel instead.

4. I guess the counter is nice so you can see how many shots you hit. But it doesn't tell you anything about how accurate you are. So you could stand there with your robot, hitting the target 100 times and feel great about it, but if it took me 500 shots, my accuracy is only 20%, which is not good, but it wouldnt show that.

If you want to invent something like this, try to make something flat.
Also make multible targets compatible with eachother, just so people can start with 1 and can eventually upgrade to multiple if the consumer whishes to do so.
Make the targets light up as an indicator of which one to hit so you can simulate practical multiball drills, preferably with an app you can download on your smartphone, with clear instructions on where to put which target.

Thanks for the feedback, this is just a variation but I will have to rethink this a bit. We already have a pad that is connected to the robot and is flat with the lights but does not have a counter, maybe adding a counter to that and making it standalone and integrating with the robot might be a better idea

 

[palguay]

Interesting idea, I agree that this is too complicated. Why do you want to make new hardware for this?

Any way to use a tracker device like an Airtag/Tile? Airtag has an accelerometer. Can you just mount an Airtag to something and get the accelerometer output to sense hits?

You can definitely use a smartphone as the target. Access the gyros, then if you want a counter just display it on the screen. Use a glass screen protector so you don't eff up the screen. I wouldn't use my everyday phone for this, but I would on an old one.

Might even get people who don't own one of your robots to pay a few bucks for an app that does this if you can come up some additional features.

Don't build hardware unless you really have to.

Interesting idea , I don't know about airtag features but it is a bit expensive, the target price I am looking us around USD 20 for this

 

[pong99]

Interesting idea , I don't know about airtag features but it is a bit expensive, the target price I am looking us around USD 20 for this

I was probably not so clear in my earlier comments.

I mean do not build the thing you show in your video.

My idea is attach an Airtag to an object like a small block of wood. If you want to make it look nicer, make a plastic stand/holder for the Airtag. Use a phone for the counter. The only hardware you have to build is the holder, which will be very cheap.

If the Airtag doesn't work for this, just write a phone app and hit balls off the phone. The app should be very easy to code by accessing the phone gyros.

 

[Tony's Table Tennis]

i'm old school, normally will just put a bottle cap,

Here is a video of when a student challenge me to do 3 hits with 10 attempts (my task for them)

.

 

[lodro]

Ok, uhm... Why does the target need to fall over in the first place?

A hit sensor would be enough IMO. Size of a beer coaster, or make multiple sizes for different levels of difficulty.

The current proposal is unnecessarily complex.

Indeed, for target practice I use 2 short pieces of white masking type and form a cross.

 

[igorponger]

Need a permanent training effect of hit-the-mark?
Hear is a suggestive hint on making a perfect training device.
https://www.tekscan.com/blog/flexiforce/how-create-pressure-sensor-pad

You need sensor pads of three different sizes
10*10 cm
15*15 cm
25*25 cm
___________________
Be happy all

 

[Tyce]

Indeed, for target practice I use 2 short pieces of white masking type and form a cross.

What's your feedback, does it sound different? Or do you just watch and judge. With multiball or robot I would like to switch my attention to the next ball ASAP so auditory feedback would be nice

 

[igorponger]

WRONG CONCEPT OF THE VERTICAL TARGET.
Apparent demerits of the use of sheer standing target in the eyes of professional coach:

-- ☢ the elevated target-point we can see on this present device is far different from a real target point that would be strictly in level with the table surface.
This is to make a wrong experience to a player and it would destroy player's eye-hand coordination.

Anyway, we can't recommend this device as a standard training tool, sorry. 😵

PS// Dear developer,
You had better to try some pressure sensitive sheet, kinda of capasitive sensor sheet resting horizontally on table surface.

 

[Tony's Table Tennis]

WRONG CONCEPT OF THE VERTICAL TARGET.
Apparent demerits of the use of sheer standing target in the eyes of professional coach:

-- ☢ the elevated target-point we can see on this present device is far different from a real target point that would be strictly in level with the table surface.
This is to make a wrong experience to a player and it would destroy player's eye-hand coordination.

Anyway, we can't recommend this device as a standard training tool, sorry. 😵

PS// Dear developer,
You had better to try some pressure sensitive sheet, kinda of capasitive sensor sheet resting horizontally on table surface.

the goal is to aim at the base of the target.
not the top of the target.

the target for visual aid is quite important, especially for kids to know they hit the target.
hitting the base or the top, is easily visable.
hitting a masking tape or chalk on the table is very difficult to tell

some coaches use a towel - so the ball stop bouncing - so atleast you know it hits.
I like targets, as it will be flying off the table.

source - me, a coach.

 

[igorponger]

Shock sensitive box by Yinhe.
Ugly looking construction far from functional perfection.

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[Amayzde]

The target audience is kids, thinking of gamifying the training

You could make something like this then;

A rack with multiple targets on different heights. It might not have to do much with improving in table tennis, but its addictive. This is my favourite arcade game. Whenever we go to the gaming hall, we try to beat the high for hours on end haha.

 

[lodro]

What's your feedback, does it sound different? Or do you just watch and judge. With multiball or robot I would like to switch my attention to the next ball ASAP so auditory feedback would be nice

In reality I now use some round white "price-stickers" , they are only 18mm in diameter.
sure it sounds different but it is a very small target and I don't hit it very often. 😁