I’ve not too long ago upgraded my desk tennis robotic. For a few years I used the Newgy Robo-Pong 2050 – a really first rate mid-range robotic which served me nicely. However my head has been turned by a brand new mannequin – one with further options and a extra fashionable consumer interface – the Energy Pong Omega robotic.
Two options particularly made me need this robotic, (1) it may alternate between backspin and topspin in successive balls, and (2) all of the drills could be managed by an app, moderately than handbook dials.
I’ve been utilizing the Energy Pong Omega robotic for a number of weeks now, so I really feel I may give a useful and trustworthy evaluation…
Detailed manufacturing info
Straightforward arrange
The Energy Pong Omega robotic doesn’t include a thick consumer handbook. At first I used to be looking out the field, considering it should have been forgotten. All I may discover was a sheet of paper with a number of set-up directions. Might it actually be this easy to arrange the robotic? Reply … sure.
In whole, the primary arrange took lower than 10 minutes. And this was me being very sluggish and cautious – ensuring every thing was proper. And most of this time was really putting in the Energy Pong app on the pill (which is supplied).
However upon getting arrange the robotic for the primary time, every subsequent arrange will get faster and faster. Now it solely takes me a few minutes …
- Unfold robotic
- Connect robotic to desk
- Plug in energy provide
- Activate pill and fix to desk
- Join pill to robotic (bluetooth or cable)
- Begin taking part in!
Right here’s a brief video to exhibit how fast it’s to arrange the Energy Pong Omega robotic…
Utilizing the app
The Energy Pong Omega robotic is operated utilizing an app on a pill, which is supplied. You connect the pill to the aspect of the desk, so it’s at all times in attain while you wish to begin, cease or change a drill. The can be a distant management fob you should use to begin and cease the robotic, however I haven’t discovered a necessity to make use of this but.
There are 40 drills already put in on the app, which might be all you’ll ever want. Simply select a drill, set a length and off you go. It’s that easy. Every drill comes with a video from U.S. coach Samson Dubina. Possibly these movies might be somewhat extra useful, however they offers you a great visible information as to how every drill ought to be executed.
A very nice function of the app is that you may totally customise each drill. You can also make the balls come out with larger or decrease frequency. You possibly can enhance / lower the velocity of each ball. You possibly can change the place of each ball. You possibly can change the extent of spin. You possibly can change the trajectory of the ball. And there’s a ‘mirror’ possibility, which lets you utterly flip the drill. For instance if the drill was 1 backhand and three forehands, when you selected the mirror possibility, the drill will change to three backhands and 1 forehand.
It’s also possible to arrange your individual customized drills, which is one other very helpful function. I’ve arrange 4 new drills, particular to areas of my sport I’m attempting to develop. These contain switching between backspin and topspin balls, brief and lengthy balls, quick and sluggish balls. You could be actually particular in the place you need the ball to land, with what spin and what trajectory. Often once I face a crazy topspin ball, I’ll block. However I’ve been utilizing the robotic to practise counter-topspin. The looped ball I get with the robotic is fairly sensible and I’m now beginning to make this counter-topspin shot in opposition to actual opponents.
There doesn’t appear to be any restrict to what number of new drills you may arrange, so I’m positive I might be including extra sooner or later.
The convenience of use of the app is a extremely massive promoting level for me. It’s so a lot simpler to make use of than a handbook management. It’s faster. It’s extra customisable. And it’s simpler to visualise the drill you’re establishing. You possibly can even share drills you’ve gotten created with different Energy Pong Omega customers..
Right here’s a video of me explaining the way to use the app. I present how simple it’s to customize an present drill and arrange a brand new drill…
Reliability
I’ve been utilizing the Energy Pong Omega robotic for round 8 weeks now and there was no reliability points. The robotic appears very well made with glorious elements. In fact, I’ve been cautious to take care of the robotic, however my expectation is that this robotic will final for a very long time.
I’d advocate getting a field or two of excellent high quality coaching balls to make use of with the robotic. I’ve a combination of balls, and infrequently one ball will shoot longer (or shorter) than the others. I think it is because among the balls I’m utilizing could also be somewhat tender. Even with my combination of balls, it doesn’t misfeed fairly often. When you’ve got first rate coaching balls, the entire identical sort, you shouldn’t have any points in any respect.
Total, I’ve discovered the ball feeding very constant, which is precisely what you want for an pleasing observe session with the robotic. I’ve had no points in any respect up to now with balls jamming within the robotic. If this modifications I’ll replace my evaluation, however I’ve no motive to suppose so.
The robotic has a steady feeding mechanism. This implies while you hit a ball, will probably be stopped by the web behind the desk and the ball will fall into the feeding tray. When you’ve got round 150 balls, you may hold taking part in for 10-Quarter-hour, earlier than you must decide up any balls. In case you are extra correct than me, then you definately’ll be capable to play for even longer.
Here’s a one minute video of me doing one in all my very own drills. The ball modifications between backspin and topspin after which finishes with a slower excessive ball within the center. The very constant feed you see on this video is typical of what the Energy Pong Robotic does 99% of the time.
Practical spin?
The spin the robotic produces is sensible. It’s by no means going to be precisely the identical as when taking part in with one other human, but it surely’s fairly shut. The robotic can produce very heavy topspin and light-weight topspin and every thing in between. It’s the identical with backspin. Often I arrange the robotic to present medium-heavy spin. The highest degree spin may very well be greater than I’m ever more likely to face, but it surely’s there if I would like it.
You modify the velocity and trajectory of the ball to arrange precisely the kind of spin you wish to observe taking part in in opposition to. So you may practise in opposition to heavy, low backspin or floaty mild backspin. You possibly can practise in opposition to quick and low topspin or crazy and sluggish topspin. Or something in between. No matter your customary, you may make the robotic feed balls in a approach which is acceptable for you.
Right here’s a video the place I exhibit the extent of spin the robotic can produce…
How does Energy Pong Omega evaluate to different robots?
I personal two different robots. I’ve a JOOLA Buddy v300, which is an entry degree robotic. It’s a bit unfair to make a comparability to the Energy Pong Omega robotic, because the robots serve totally different functions and have very totally different value factors.
A extra fascinating comparability is with my Newgy Robo-Pong 2050. I’ve used this robotic for round 7 years and it has served me nicely. It’s a mid-range value robotic (nonetheless one of the best a part of £1000), very dependable with plenty of drills and a great vary of velocity, spin and placement. However the massive limitation of the Newgy Robo-Pong 2050 is that it might solely produce one sort of spin per drill. So a drill will both be all backspin balls or all topspin balls.
The Energy Pong Omega has no such limitation. The robotic can feed each backspin balls and topspin balls in the identical drill. That is so a lot better, as you may observe the transition from looping a backspin ball to then topspinning a topspin ball – one thing which occurs continuously once we play for actual.
The opposite massive benefit of the Energy Pong Omega is the consumer interface. The app is a lot simpler to make use of than a handbook management. You save time and customising present drills or establishing new drills is very easy (and enjoyable!) to do. By customising the velocity, spin, placement and trajectory of every ball, I can actually tailor drills to my particular wants. The Energy Pong Omega offers a extra sensible taking part in simulation and is certainly the higher of the 2 robots, though it is usually costlier.
There are different high vary robots to rival the Energy Pong Omega, however I’ve not used these so I can’t evaluate.
Private enchancment
Most significantly, is the robotic serving to me enhance? I imagine the reply is sure, though my opponents might disagree! I’ll have been utilizing the Energy Pong Omega robotic for 1 or 2 hours per week over the previous 8 weeks. I’m utilizing the robotic to assist me repair some points with my loops, my backhand approach, my transition between photographs and taking up slower spinny balls.
In my previous few matches (observe and league), I’ve began to hit extra backhand attacking photographs and I’m taking my forehand assaults earlier. It is a direct consequence of the observe I’ve been doing with the robotic. I’m feeling fairly quick and sharp, though I nonetheless make too many errors. With sufficient observe and repetition this may enhance over time. And I’m positive the Energy Pong Omega will play an important function in serving to me obtain this larger degree of attacking consistency.
Right here’s a ultimate video of me doing one other drill I set as much as assist me enhance my backhand. It begins with a shorter backspin ball, which I push. Subsequent is an extended backspin ball, which I loop. Subsequent is a topspin ball, which I counter-topspin. And eventually a better and slower ball, which I smash.
Is it price shopping for the Energy Pong Omega?
It is a implausible robotic. It’s one of the best I’ve used and a extremely good improve from my earlier robotic. In case you are on the lookout for a complicated coaching device, that is pretty much as good because it will get. For those who use it in the suitable approach, alongside common coaching companions, then it is going to undoubtedly enable you enhance. I’m very completely happy to advocate.
The Energy Pong Omega does include a hefty price ticket. The present value is £1699 within the and $1897 within the USA. It is a lot to spend on a robotic, though cheaper than different prime quality robots. In case you are a desk tennis fanatic like me, you may justify something to pursue your favorite pastime!
You should buy the robotic by way of on-line shops within the UK and USA utilizing the hyperlinks under…
Energy Pong Omega (USA) – If you buy from the US retailer, you will get a 5% low cost utilizing this code Tom2022
