Ball Differences

Table Tennis General

Last updated 14 years ago

Dustin Unknown

Dustin Unknown Asked 14 years ago

Hello,

I have been considering getting a robo pong robot to help out my game. But they shoot only 1 and 2 star balls. I know the sizes are different and a three star is official size, but will this effect my game if i play with one or two start balls to train and three star to play.

Or will it just help get down technique? Will this improve my game significantly if i use it enough?

Thanks alot,

Honeck


Alois Rosario

Alois Rosario Answered 14 years ago

Hi Dustin,

I would be very surprised if the Robo Pong Robot doesn't shoot 3 Star balls as well. The 3 star balls are the same size as the 1 and 2 star ball.  Check with the store before you buy it.

There were balls previously that were smaller in diameter but the rule change has enat that all balls should now be 40mm in diameter.  There may still be some old 38mm balls around but most balls that are sold now should be 40mm and the robots should be able to cope with and star.  Please let me know if anyone has any other information on this.

The robot is useful for improving your strokes to start with.  But there is nothing like hitting against a real person.


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Thoughts on this question

Andrew T

Andrew T Posted 14 years ago

The reason you usually see 1 or 2 star balls in robots is that you need a lot of balls to keep a robot going and 3 stars are too expensive for this type of practice and are not really worth it.  As Alois said a real hitting partner or coach is usually much better practice, especially compared to some of the cheaper robots. On some of the robots can't set the amount of spin and they can produce "unhuman results."  However, if you get good at countering the robots shots you could definitely improve, but make sure that you keep playing with people (if you can) so that you will see how you are progressing and don't get locked into a robot autopilot.

 

Andrew T



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