In my last article Table Tennis Robots – An Introduction I briefly explained the purpose of table tennis robots and the many different ways in which they could be used.
In this article we will go into more detail and look at the advantages of these robots and how you can properly utilise them in order to improve you all round game.
Will I Need An Opponent?
One of the main advantages of owning your own robot as part of your table tennis equipment is that you can practice whenever and wherever you want without having to find an opponent to play against. Table tennis robots are also very precise at placing the ball exactly where you want on the table. Playing against someone else does not offer the same precision as a robot basically because there is always the possibility they may miss the ball, hit the net or stroke it off the table.
Improve Your footwork
Getting your stance right and placing your feet in the right position in table tennis is crucial as the power you put into a shot comes from properly utilizing the power in your legs. A table tennis robot is therefore the ideal piece of table tennis equipment to have for practicing foot placement because it can be programmed to move you around the table giving you valuable practice to perfect your footwork. By programming the appropriate areas on the table to fire balls you will find that your footwork will quickly improve your game and shot making ability.
A Coach’s Full Attention
If you have a coach often you will find they have to focus on returning the ball as well as examining your technique and footwork to ensure that you are executing the shot correctly. As table tennis is a played at a very fast pace, this makes it difficult for the coach to do both. However, with table tennis robots your coach can focus solely on your technique and footwork without having to worry about returning balls on the table. The main advantage here is the coach will be able to watch exactly how you are playing the shot and offer any suggestions or improvements.
Reinforcing a Technique
As I mentioned in my previous article, repetition – involving practicing a shot multiple times is one of the most important factors in order to improve a player’s skill level in table tennis. Table tennis robots allow you to repeat a shot consistently one after another with the result you will instinctively remember how to execute the shot when necessary either during training or in competitive play.
I have found that in the game of table tennis the age old saying “practice makes perfect” could not be more apt.