My Robot died -- what's next ?

[TableTennisBD]

I had a Joola iPong V300 robot. It helped to since last year to develop basics of the game. Its not your fancy robot with pre-programmed drills. Last week it died on me.
Since the sad demise of the robot, I am at wits about next course of actions in my quest for improvement as a advanced beginner player with ambition to become a intermediate player by the end of this year (vision 2025)

1. Going for expensive and fancy robot is out of question. So, my question is should I go another inexpensive robot to keep another training companion. What are the options and your thoughts on them?
2. I have another training companion -- a rebound board. Will it be sufficient to help me develop? It seems to be only good for topspin practice. Usually if you adjust the angle, some backspin push will come back to table but those returns will not be low and spinny.
3. Forget about investing in robots-- rather spend the money on some coaching. I am able to go to a club once a week.
4. Adding VR as training component -- my wife might think I have mid-life crisis

Any suggestion.

 

[dingyibvs]

What's your budget?

 

[TableTennisBD]

What's your budget?

Under 500?

 

[ander999]

Under 500?

I know you said under $500 but... theres a great deal for a fancy robot at a really good price! Although I don't own one, but my club has been using it for many years. Link here.

 

[thisisit]

figure out what component crapped out(probably motor or driver), find replacement on aliexpress or the like, replace it, continue using it. it'll probably be a $5-$15 fix.

 

[riemsesy]

Your robot never lived.

 

[dingyibvs]

Under 500?

I would suggest getting a Pongbot Nova robot plus a couple coaching sessions. Use the coaching sessions to learn the right technique, then use the robot to practice. IMO for every hour of coaching you need at LEAST 10 hrs of practice, and $500 at where I live can't only get you on average 6 coaching sessions. You're unlikely to make any significant improvement with just 6 hours of play, but 2 hours of coaching plus 100 hours of practicing will make heck a lot more difference.

 

[TampaBayTableTennis]

It should have a one year warranty just in case you are still within that. Maybe Replacement robot for pretty cheap if you don’t need anything better. Return board is good and eleven vr is awesome.

 

[Brs]

Find a human to train with. If there are zero humans in your town who play table tennis, stop playing, switch to pickleball.

Srsly, it's utterly pointless to play if there is nobody to play with.

A human training partner of any level will be better than any robot in every way except convenient timing.

 

[dingyibvs]

Find a human to train with. If there are zero humans in your town who play table tennis, stop playing, switch to pickleball.

Srsly, it's utterly pointless to play if there is nobody to play with.

A human training partner of any level will be better than any robot in every way except convenient timing.

I don't think you understand how hard it is to find a training partner in much of the US 😂

 

[Gozo Zyreruna]

I had a Joola iPong V300 robot. It helped to since last year to develop basics of the game. Its not your fancy robot with pre-programmed drills. Last week it died on me.
Since the sad demise of the robot, I am at wits about next course of actions in my quest for improvement as a advanced beginner player with ambition to become a intermediate player by the end of this year (vision 2025)

1. Going for expensive and fancy robot is out of question. So, my question is should I go another inexpensive robot to keep another training companion. What are the options and your thoughts on them?
2. I have another training companion -- a rebound board. Will it be sufficient to help me develop? It seems to be only good for topspin practice. Usually if you adjust the angle, some backspin push will come back to table but those returns will not be low and spinny.
3. Forget about investing in robots-- rather spend the money on some coaching. I am able to go to a club once a week.
4. Adding VR as training component -- my wife might think I have mid-life crisis

Any suggestion.

Robot died; This is the golden opportunity for one to get away from being garage / basement player to a real TT player with real human in a real TT club.

 

[WingTT]

Robot died; This is the golden opportunity for one to get away from being garage / basement player to a real TT player with real human in a real TT club.

True, but also animals

 

[Infernal]

Your robot never lived.

I cried a little. Poor little robot.

 

[TableTennisBD]

True, but also animals

Now you killed me