Why Many Players Worry About Developing Bad Habits with Robot Training

If you've ever searched for advice on training with a table tennis robot, you've likely come across the same warning: "Be careful—you might develop bad habits." It's one of the most common concerns among players considering robot training, and it's not without reason.

The concern comes from a simple reality. A robot does not evaluate technique. It will continue feeding balls regardless of whether a stroke is efficient or flawed. When the same movement is repeated many times without correction, inefficient patterns can become ingrained.

Because of this, some players avoid robot training altogether. Others use a robot regularly but remain unsure whether their practice is truly improving their game or quietly reinforcing mistakes.

The key point is this: the risk is real, but it is manageable. To use a robot effectively, it's important to understand what robots do well—and where additional guidance is needed.

What Table Tennis Robots Are Actually Good At (And What They Aren't)

Table tennis robots are valuable training tools but they are not complete training systems. Understanding the distinction is essential for using them effectively.

What robots do well: Robots excel at delivering consistent, repeatable ball feeds. They allow players to practice specific strokes, develop muscle memory, and train predefined footwork patterns without needing a training partner. By controlling variables such as spin, speed, and placement, robots make it possible to isolate and repeat specific situations with high precision. For players with limited access to partners or structured practice time, a table tennis robot offers an efficient way to accumulate focused repetitions on demand.

Where robots are limited: A robot does not evaluate technique quality. It cannot identify inefficient movement patterns, mistimed contact, or suboptimal body positioning. It also does not adapt sessions based on how well a player is executing a drill or where they are struggling. These limitations do not reduce the value of robot training they simply mean that robots are most effective when combined with an external source of feedback.

How Bad Habits Form During Unsupervised Robot Practice

Inefficient habits rarely develop because of the robot itself. They tend to form when practice takes place without observation or feedback over extended periods.

A typical pattern looks like this. A player starts training with a specific drill. Early on, small inefficiencies appear, an elbow drifting outward, a slightly late contact point, or a shortened follow-through. These issues may not affect the immediate outcome. The ball still lands on the table, and the drill appears successful. Without feedback, however, there is little reason for the player to adjust.

As repetition continues, these small deviations become familiar. Movements that were once unintended begin to feel natural. At this point, practice is no longer reinforcing the intended technique, it is reinforcing an adapted pattern that may limit future progress.

This is the central challenge with unsupervised robot training. Robots provide the repetition needed to build habits, but they do not evaluate movement quality. Without external input, a player has no reliable reference for whether practice is refining technique or gradually embedding inefficiencies.

Why Repetition Without Feedback Can Slow Down Improvement

Repetition is essential for skill development, but repetition alone is not enough. Without feedback, practice can reinforce inefficient patterns just as effectively as efficient ones.

This idea is often summarized as: practice does not make perfect; practice makes permanent. When a player repeats a flawed movement thousands of times, they are not building skill. They are strengthening a pattern that may later need to be unlearned.

The challenge is that many inefficiencies are difficult for players to detect on their own. A slightly closed bat angle, early weight transfer, or rushed backswing can begin to feel normal with repeated use. Over time, the player adapts to these movements without realizing they deviate from the intended technique.

Feedback interrupts this cycle. It provides an external reference, something beyond how a stroke feels, that allows intention to be compared with execution. Without that reference point, improvement often becomes inconsistent or even counterproductive.

Why Coaching Is the Missing Link in Robot Based Training

Robots provide repetition. Coaching provides direction. Together, they form a more complete training system.

A coach adds what a robot cannot: observation, assessment, and correction. While a robot delivers consistent ball feeds, a coach evaluates whether movement is efficient, timing is appropriate, and technique is sustainable under match conditions. This layer of judgment turns repetition from a mechanical activity into purposeful development.

Coaching also brings structure to training. Instead of practicing disconnected drills, sessions are built around clear goals. Each session progresses from the previous one, based on observed strengths and areas that need adjustment.

This does not mean a coach must be present courtside for every session. With remote coaching, feedback can be delivered asynchronously through video review and targeted guidance. What matters is that an experienced perspective is part of the process, ensuring repetition leads to improvement rather than reinforced inefficiency.

Using Video Feedback to Catch and Correct Errors Early

Video feedback is one of the most effective ways to identify and address technique issues before they become ingrained patterns.

When players record their practice, they gain access to something unavailable in real time: an external view of their own movement. What feels correct during execution often looks different on video. A follow-through that seems complete may appear shortened. A stance that feels balanced may reveal subtle weight distribution issues. Video helps close the gap between perception and reality.

For coaches, video provides the detail needed to give precise feedback. Instead of relying on memory or broad impressions, a coach can pause, slow down, and review specific moments. This makes it possible to identify small inefficiencies that are difficult to detect during live play.

When video review is integrated into robot training, each session becomes part of a feedback loop. Players practice, record specific drills, and receive targeted guidance before the next session. Errors are addressed early, before repetition turns them into long term habits.

What an Effective Robot Based Training Session Looks Like With Coaching

When robot training is combined with coaching, each session follows a structured cycle that connects practice, feedback, and progression.

A typical session begins with goal setting. The player identifies a specific area to improve, such as backhand topspin consistency or footwork transitions. This goal defines the purpose of the session.

Next comes session design. Based on the goal, the coach selects or creates drills that target the required skills. These drills are assigned through the app, giving the player a clear focus before training begins.

During practice, the player trains with the robot, working through the assigned drills. The robot provides consistent ball feeds, allowing the player to concentrate on execution rather than ball delivery.

For selected drills, the player then records short video clips and uploads them for review. The coach analyzes these videos, providing feedback that highlights what is working and where adjustments are needed.

After the session, the player shares brief reflections on how the training felt. Using both the video feedback and the player input, the coach plans the next session. Over time, this cycle creates structured, progressive improvement.

A visual overview of this training workflow will be added here.

Who Benefits Most from Robot Training with Coaching Support

Robot training with coaching support is not limited to a specific skill level. It benefits a wide range of players, particularly those who face common barriers to consistent improvement.

Players without access to a local coach. In many areas, experienced table tennis coaches are difficult to find. Remote coaching removes geographic limitations and connects players with qualified guidance regardless of location.

Busy professionals with limited training time. For players who cannot commit to regular club sessions, robot training offers flexibility. Adding coaching ensures that limited practice time is used effectively.

Players who have plateaued. When progress stalls, the cause is often an unseen technical issue. A coach can identify patterns that the player may not detect on their own, helping break through stagnation.

Robot owners who want to maximize their investment. A robot is a capable training tool, but its value increases significantly when combined with structured feedback and expert direction.

Final Thoughts: Robots Do Not Create Bad Habits, Unstructured Training Does

Table tennis robots are not the source of poor habits. Unstructured and unsupervised practice is.

When training happens without feedback, any method can reinforce inefficiencies. Robots simply make this more visible because they enable high volume repetition. The same consistency that makes them effective training tools can also amplify flawed technique if it goes unchecked.

The solution is not to avoid robot training. It is to add structure and feedback. A coach provides the external perspective needed to ensure that repetition supports correct movement rather than embedding inefficient patterns.

Robots supply the repetitions. Coaching supplies the direction. Used together, they create a training environment where consistent practice leads to consistent improvement.

Ready to Train with Structure and Feedback

PongFox Remote Coaching combines robot training with expert guidance. Set your goals, practice with purpose, and receive personalized feedback, all without leaving home.

Download the App

New to remote coaching? Watch how to sign up.

Why We Built the Offline Planner

Players and coaches told us they lose momentum when they have to program drills courtside. The new offline planner lets you design an entire workout on your phone or laptop, store it locally, and upload it the moment you connect to the PongFox Robot over Wi-Fi. No more fumbling with settings mid-session—just tap Sync and start training.

Building a Session in Three Simple Steps

Open the PongFox app → Slider › Custom Session
Browse our forehand, backhand, foot-work, and service libraries, or start from scratch with a blank plan.

Drop in drills and reorder
Add as many library drills as you like or create fully custom ones—adjust spin, speed, placement, and repetitions until the sequence fits your goal. Drag to set the exact order you want to play them.

1. Save and sync
   Your phone holds the plan until you’re with the robot. Connect via Wi-Fi, hit Sync, and the robot loads every drill in seconds.

Pro Tips for Smart Planning

Align drills with your weekly focus. If you’re honing serve-receive, front-load serve drills and finish with random topspin feeds to mimic match play.

Alternate intensities. Mix high-rep movement sequences with lower-rep touch drills to build endurance without burning out.

• Review and refine. After each session, jot down which drills felt too easy or too challenging. Tweak spin, speed, or ball count before the next practice.

See It in Action 🎥

Watch the quick demo video below to see how easy it is to create, save, and sync a custom plan—and how smoothly the robot runs a pre-loaded session with zero courtside adjustments.

You can set up the wireless smart pad anywhere on the table and program it to return the third , fifth or even seventh rally as to what you would like to simulate and whether or not it is at a single location or a randomized location. Blue lights appear on the smart pad and you can serve onto the pad and prepare yourself to play the rally as you wish it to be simulated. You can also set it up in a way such that you only want to play the third rally before you stop.

The wireless smart pad allows for many different play styles and drills unable to be done by any other table tennis robots in history.

An example of this would be the consistency tracker. You place the pad on any part of the table, and run a drill to one location. Your target is to aim for the pad, and at the end of the drill you get feedback on the amount of balls that you have successfully landed on the pad. This is an objective and interactive method of tracking your consistency and gives you feedback on how well you are progressing in terms of your consistency.

Another use is a game to add more fun to your drills. When you enable (this mode) and request a return, the robot throws balls and you have to aim it onto the pad. If you hit the pad it keeps throwing the ball till you miss before it goes to the next round. At the end you get a count of how many you are able to land continuously on the pad. This is a fun and challenging game that can give you a sense of your accuracy under pressure.

Really, the opportunities are endless if you’re creative enough. This design allows for realistic simulation of a real game without the need for a partner, thus allowing you to practice your skills consistently, even when you’re alone.

At PongFox, our commitment has always been towards innovation and adding value to the table tennis community. Whether you're a beginner aiming to get the basics right or an advanced player focusing on refining your strategy and speed, we understand that the quality of your practice equipment plays a pivotal role in your development. That's why we've dedicated ourselves to not just meeting but exceeding the expectations of our users.

In our quest for excellence, we've closely listened to the feedback from our users, scrutinized every aspect of our product, and identified areas for improvement. Sometimes, these enhancements are driven by the need to adapt to changes in available technology or to seize new opportunities to push the boundaries of what our table tennis robots can achieve.

Introducing the Latest Evolution: PongFox with ESP32

We're thrilled to unveil the latest iteration of our beloved table tennis robot: The new and improved PongFox, now powered by ESP32. This transition marks a significant leap forward in performance and capabilities, akin to upgrading from a reliable economy car to a high-performance sports car. The ESP32 chipset brings a robust dual-core processor to the table, enabling the PongFox to perform multiple tasks simultaneously with greater efficiency and speed.

Listening to the diverse needs of our community, we've decided to take a flexible approach in enhancing the PongFox's capabilities by offering both brushed and brushless motors in its design.

What's Next?

The introduction of the ESP32 and brushless motors is just the beginning. These upgrades have paved the way for us to incorporate innovative features that will make training not just more effective but also more enjoyable. Stay tuned for our next blog post, where we'll dive into a groundbreaking feature designed to elevate your table tennis skills to new heights.

In our journey to perfect the PongFox table tennis robot, your feedback has been invaluable. As we continue to push the boundaries of what's possible, we invite you to join us in this exciting new chapter. Together, let's redefine the limits of table tennis training and discover just how far our passion can take us.

Embrace the future of table tennis training with the new PongFox – where innovation meets precision, powering your path to excellence.

In bustling cities across the globe, from the USA to Europe and Australia, and even in more remote areas like Reunion Island, Trinidad and Tobago, and Azerbaijan, the Pongfox table tennis robot is proving to be an invaluable asset.

In urban environments where hectic schedules and long commutes can make it challenging to find time for training or a playing partner, the Pongfox offers a convenient and efficient solution.

It provides players with the opportunity to practice and refine their skills on their own schedule, right in the comfort of their homes or local clubs. This flexibility is especially beneficial for those who struggle to balance their passion for table tennis with other commitments.

Additionally, in areas where access to high-level coaching or competitive play is limited, the Pongfox serves as an essential training tool, enabling players to engage in advanced drills and receive feedback that accelerates their development.

The widespread adoption of the Pongfox is a testament to its effectiveness in not only fostering skill enhancement but also in making the sport more accessible and enjoyable for enthusiasts around the world.

Here's how the Pongfox table tennis robot levels up your practice sessions:

1. Personalized Stroke Configuration: Gone are the days of generic practice. With Pongfox, you can set up your own strokes, adjusting both spin and speed to match your training needs. This means you're always training at a level that's right for you.
2. Serve Training: One of the trickiest parts of table tennis is handling diverse serves. The Pongfox robot lets you simulate a wide array of serves, allowing you to hone your reception skills. Now, those tricky serves won't catch you off guard during actual games.
3. Customized Drills: Every player has their strengths and areas for improvement. With Pongfox, you can set up specific drills that target your unique needs. Regular practice on these drills can significantly improve your gameplay, ensuring you're always one step ahead of your competition.

In essence, the Pongfox table tennis robot isn't just a practice tool; it's your personal training partner, adaptable and always ready to challenge you. With its versatility, para table tennis players can now train with efficiency and precision, ensuring they're always game-ready.

Many companies focusing on education are using AI to teach students. There are a few examples (given below).

But why limit its potential to just academics? It can transform sports too. That's why we've started working on integrating the AI model ChatGPT with PongFox for table tennis.

With endless possibilities, coaches can communicate their desired drills to the system (this is what they do with assistant coaches), and the robots will execute them.

Another aspect that can help the coaches is the AI system recommends various drills based on what the coach plans to train the students on. This makes the session more exciting and engaging for students.

From a student's perspective, training at home is more straightforward. They can let the AI coach know how long they want to train and what aspect of their game they want to improve, and the PongFox AI system gives them the session plan. The student does not have to remember and spend time choosing the numerous drills.

This innovation can extend to provide players with personalized feedback based on their questions.

Let's reimagine sports training with the power of AI.

Examples of education companies using AI:

Khan Academy's "Khanmigo" offers tutoring, lesson planning, and real-time coding feedback.
Chegg's "Cheggmate" provides real-time homework help and adaptive tutoring.
Duolingo's "Duolingo Max" supports language learners through speaking practice and lesson assistance.
Coursera's "Coursera Coach" empowers learners with virtual coaching, feedback, and lecture summaries.
Quizlet's "Q-Chat" generates customized flashcards, quizzes, and exercises based on individual comprehension.

To improve faster, players must look at the training they do regularly and focus on the quality of the training session to see results.

We are currently working on converting these sports science-based techniques into sessions in the app. Meanwhile, watch these videos based on sports science and neuroscience research to improve table tennis skills.

Interleaving Practice

Variable or Mixed practice in Table Tennis

Using Gap Effects to learn your strokes faster

We received some feedback from our users that navigation between different screens in the app when using the robot could have been more convenient. Therefore, we have changed the navigation to make it easier to jump between different sections using one click. Below is a video on the new navigation.

We are planning further updates to help players improve. We will keep you posted on other changes shortly.

We had some requests for comparing it with the popular brand Newgy robopong 2050 digital robot.

Each robot has different features and functionality.  It is up to you as a user to go through these and decide on your requirement.

This video is a comparison of how to use each robot and how to use a specific feature in each robot

While the mechanics are similar when we play a topspin, there is a slight change in how the stoke will be executed. For example, consider how we do a topspin for a serve, backspin, and counter.

We have added a feature in the PongFox robot so that users can choose the strokes they desire, and those will come out in random order from the robot. This feature is helpful to advance the player's skills and also beneficial for match practice.

Below is a video demonstrating this feature.

Introducing a new feature in our PongFox app to train for this situation. Take a look at this video to check out this new feature

We have introduced a slider for the location option. The user can now select the exact point between the backhand and forehand where you want any particular ball in a drill to practice your strokes.

Before we begin, huipang is a Chinese company. The same table tennis robot is rebranded and sold under different names like Yinhe-SP17, Chofan, and other different brand names in different countries.

We understand the comparison is not straightforward because each robot has a different purpose. The HP-07 is currently priced around $250 and is used by recreational players who occasionally play, while the pongfox serves beginners, intermediate, and advanced level players.

Take a look at the video showing the differences between the two robots.

You might have heard the phrase "Deliberate practice." What is Deliberate Practice?

" Deliberate practice refers to a special type of practice that is purposeful and systematic. While regular practice might include mindless repetitions, deliberate practice requires focused attention and is conducted with the specific goal of improving performance."

Good coaches have a plan for training and are aware of what to work on in advance. They do not come to the training hall and decide what to do. A good coach always has a plan for what to practice.

When playing with a robot, most people go near the table and decide what to do and often work mindlessly on the same things.

We have added an option wherein you have a session to work on when you go to the table. Initially, we will create a few courses that you can use, and in the next couple of weeks, the users will have the ability to generate a session they want by themselves.

Random Drill

One drill that is very useful and has direct transfer to a match situation is random. This drill forces you to get in position and play your stroke. This drill is one of the most useful exercises to prepare for a match situation.

Semi-random Drill

Another useful drill is a semi-random drill. This feature adds randomness in training and helps gradually improve your position to move on to a full random exercise. Examples of this are between one to three counter on the backhand and one ball on forehand. Another example is counter to the middle and next ball anywhere on the table.

Here are the steps we used on a 4 x 2 dining table to play table tennis

Pongfox robot is fully configurable, and you can set the table's width as much as you want.

Each stroke in the pongfox robot is configurable, and you can set the motor speed as well as the horizontal and vertical angles.

We used a PVC pipe as a net and a bedsheet to catch the ball on the other side.
We placed the robot on a chair, and we are ready to play.

Pre-programmed drills

We have started adding pre-programmed drills in the app, and the user can choose that and start playing the exercises. There is a video that shows the demo of the drill.

pause after a drill cycle

When doing a five ball drill, the users wanted to pause the exercise for some seconds before starting the next set. This is particularly useful when the drill starts with a service, the player gets a chance to get ready for the service as in during an actual match. This feature is available as an option on the drill page.

Sample Stroke

Each user has a particular option on how a specific stroke is delivered.
When a user wants to modify a stroke, he changes the motor values.

When adding a new stroke, the user keeps modifying the motor values to get the correct stroke.  We have added a sample button when we change a stroke value, and this feature helps the user try out a sample of two balls to the middle and adjust as required.

UI changes

The frequency and level input in the drill page is displayed as a slider instead of radio buttons

As of now, we have planned to start shipping in India from July. The good news is that the lockdown gave us sufficient time to use and test the robot, and the results are pretty good.
We are looking at fixing some issues we found during the testing this month.
We are happy using it for our training and think that the model we have now is what we will ship as our base version.

Please take a look at our Instagram page for some of our table tennis robot training videos.

When we wanted to record our play, we had to do the following, Select drill combination, start drill, open camera app and press record, play the drill and end stop recording and watch the video and then go back to the app to start the cycle. This process was cumbersome, and we would not record as much as we would like as we wanted to focus on the play.

We added recording as a part of the drill, Now the process is, Select drill combination, click on the option to record, and this opens the camera, place it where its convenient and start the drill. The recording is done and stops when the exercise is complete and saves the video.  As well as allows you to watch the video from within the app.

We don't have any excuses not to record now :-). Here's a video of this process. Stay tuned in the following days for more features added to the app.

This version of the app is the initial version, which is mostly for controlling the robot. We have some more exciting features planned for the app. Download it now and get updates frequently

Here is a demo video of the app in usage.

The first version of the Table Tennis Robot we developed was in raspberry pi, and we shipped it to our early users.  There were a few issues that came up, and we started fixing them.

We soon had to move away from the raspberry pi to the micro-controller due to the following reasons.

Pricing

One of our original goals was to make the product affordable to a large number of users. We had to change a few electronic components like drivers and motors. This change increased our cost to manufacture. We thought about reducing price, and one of the things that we could do was by moving away from raspberry pi.

SD Card failure

We had one robot that failed due to SD card corruption. SD card failure is a common complaint with the pi's, and this influenced our decision to move to microcontroller which does not have this issue. We now have a version that runs on a microcontroller, and the connection is from an app through Bluetooth.

More updates to follow.

Before we begin the robot drills, the user can configure the number of balls for a drill; one of the reasons is that a player starts playing the wrong shots as he starts getting tired. Number of balls is a global option, and this option is for all the drills

Let us look at the different options available.

Single Drills:
A single stroke to a user-defined location and chosen speed

Pre configured drills:
We have a pre-configured set of available drills

Dynamic drills:
Setup drills as per your choice, this is very flexible, and the levels can be combined and the feedrate can be set as per your choice

You may ask as a player what difference does it make if a microcontroller or a computer runs the robot?

Here are some advantages

• It is easy to add the capability to run on voice commands.
• Do not have any clubs/coach nearby? Add a camera and stream your practice to a coach who can view your training and remotely add drills for you to practice.
• Record yourself playing a drill and watch it later to figure out what mistakes you are doing
• It runs a database. You will have the ability to add analytics in terms of what stroke has been practiced and keep track of it.
• Automatically upload a video to S3 or dropbox for getting feedback.
• If you are a coach in a club, you can set up drills for each player for each session.
• You can use high-level programming languages like Python Javascript etc. You can add any functionality (maybe add a slack bot to let your teammates know you are playing )

"A smart robot is an artificial intelligence (AI) system that can learn from its environment and its experience and build on its capabilities based on that knowledge. Smart robots can collaborate with humans, working along-side them, and learning from their behavior."

So what is a "Smart Table tennis Robot."? Does controlling a robot with a smartphone be defined as a smart robot?

We have done some work on AI in Table tennis.

Based on our understanding of this subject and considering the above points a smart robot is one which can benefit a human today should probably have these features

• Easy to follow a schedule
• Recommendation based on what you have to practice (example drills for movement or forehand topspin)
• Record a video of you playing and upload it for review/feedback
• A coach can remotely monitor and suggest drills

These are some of the reasons why we decided to go with a  computer onboard.  The micro-controller is what is being used by all available robots in the market today.

While this is not a debate about the advantages or disadvantages of going with a micro-controller vs. a computer as each has its benefits.

We decided to go with a computer to add features that will be useful for a player and in some cases the player might add features to the robot.

I finally found one on Kickstarter and backed it and was happy that I would get it in a couple of months. It's been more than a year, and I'm still waiting for it :-).

A couple of us that play together thought it would be a fun project to build a  Robot. We thought, "how hard can it be?" turns out it is challenging, but it has been a great learning experience.

We got our first version in March 2019 and thought we could stop here, but a lot of our wellwishers wanted us to continue and bring it to market, so we kept the process and are happy to announce our Table Tennis Training Robot (we are looking for a name, suggestions welcome).

Here are a few pictures and videos of our progress over time

When we started thinking of bringing out the robot to the market, we wanted to have a set of goals that will help us make decisions.

We have been working on building software products for a while now. One thing we have learned is that there is no perfect design that will do everything every design decision is a trade-off.

Here are a few goals guiding our development

Functionality

• The robot should be able to do what most mainstream robots can do in terms of spin (sidespin, topspin, underspin, and dead ball)
• Control frequency of ball for drills
• Able to do custom drills (watch out for upcoming video's explaining this)Being able to control from any mobile device

Price

Price is an essential factor we consider when we look at buying a robot.  Most people cannot afford $1000 - $2000 for a robot.

We wanted to make our table tennis robot affordable. The initial goal is to be able to sell it around $450, and over time we should be able to lower this cost down.

Easy to assemble and replace parts

Most robots in the market have their own custom plastic molds, while this is good for mass producing and lowering the costs. The upfront cost for creating a custom mold is expensive.

We decided that we will go with the concept used in 3d printers. In 3d printers, the design of the parts are readily available, and users can print them easily. We have used laser cut and 3d printed parts.

This process makes it easier for users to get the design and replace a part.

Extensible Extensible

Another aspect that we considered in our design is to make the robot extensible. It should be easy for the user to add any functionality to the robot (for example to automatically recycle the ball from net into the bucket )

Built on open source

Our product is built using open source software and high-level languages. We will add more details on this in later posts.