by John Pahl

The Charlotte table tennis club offers use of the Newgy Robot with paid membership.
This article will familiarize you with the machine but we still recommend asking for assistance
the first time you use it.
Please pick up the balls and return them to the collector when done drilling.

Overview
A table tennis robot can help with many aspects of the game including learning and improving
forehand and backhand strokes, footwork and stamina. The newgy robot is one of the more
economical models of table tennis robots, but still may be the best unit for our purposes as it is
simple to use and reliable. The robot ball collector attaches to the full width of the end of the
table with netting along the sides attaching to the table net. The balls are collected at the base
and pushed through a tube to the robot head. The ball is now pushed through the robot head one at
a time towards the user, with the speed, spin and direction predetermined by the control box located
on the users left side on the edge of the table. As the user hits back balls, they are automatically
collected and put through the process again. The robot will keep going until the user turns it off
or has missed the collector enough times that it has run out of balls.
Usually the user will run out of gas before the robot runs out of balls.


Control Panel
The control panel is located at the opposite end of the robot with the user on the left hand side.
(This allows players most of whom are right handed to adjust the machine while blocking back balls).
The control box can easily be moved to the right side, but should be moved back when finished.
Along with the on/off switch the are 3 knobs controlling ball speed, frequency andsweep. The spin
put on the ball increases with the speed. With the head set for topspin, the ball will travel father
to the end of the table as the speed is increased. If you wish to play against fast topspin balls
and the speed control is sending the balls over the end of the table, the head must be adjusted down,
or the speed decreased. If the ball is hitting the net, the head must be adjusted up, or the speed
increased. Speed and direction work together to give the desired result, whether set for topspin,
underspin, etc. The middle knob adjusts ball frequency, or how much time between balls. It can be set
for @ a 3 second delay, or rapid fire as fast as you can handle. This function should be set slower
while you adjust the speed and direction, then increased as needed. The third knob controls sweep.
Until now, the ball has been hitting the same spot on your side of the table for you to hit back.
This knob clicks on, then adjusts the speed of the sweep. The head will move automatically left and
right within a preset zone.

The Robot Head
As the balls are pushed up to the head, they are pushed 1 at a time through the head which has a
spinning wheel. In topspin mode, the ball is pushed under this wheel and fed out resulting in a
topspin ball. In backspin mode the ball is pushed over the wheel. Topspin and backspin modes are
changed by turning the head 180 degrees. This should only be done when the control panel is off.
Topspin or backspin with any combination of sidespin can be accomplished by turning the head at an
angle between stright up and down. The backside of the robot head also has preset points to
determine which area of the table to sweep.

Getting Busy
"Repetition is the basis for all learning".
Let's assume you have familiarized yourself with the robot, a club member has helped with orientation
and you are ready to train. This machine works by repetition, and you can improve or hurt your game
here. It is important that every user practice drills with the proper strokes and footwork, otherwise
you will be reinforcing bad technique. Every stroke is a learning experience and there is a reason why
the ball was returned well or baldly. Understanding what to do is the first step, properly
implementing is the second. Players of all levels can benefit from drilling forehand and backhand
against topspin and backspin. The simplest drills can be the most effective. This is also a great way
to warm up waiting to play at a challenge table. Remember to concentrate on the next ball. Ignore the
ones that miss the collector or end up on your side of the table. Try to visualize each robot shot as
topspin or backspin from your opponent. When warming up against topspin or backspin, get a feel for
the speed and amount of spin by just blocking or pushing your return. When you have control and are
comfortable with the timing (rythm) of the machine, instigate your desired stroke at half strength.
The idea is to have control as you increase the velocity of your return. Use the sweep  to move the
robot trajectory to your other side and repeat.
Warning: Playing against a robot is not the same as playing against an opponent, even when drilling.
The robot is a tool to help improve certain aspects of your game, but not necessarily every aspect.
Approach it with a specific goal, learn how to best use it to attain that goal, and work hard.

Advanced Drills

Loop against backspin
Set the robot head for backspin, angle it up a little if changing from topspin. Set the speed # 2, the
frequency to 4. Direct the head manually to your forehand or use the sweep function and stop it at the
appropriate place. Once have the ball where you need it to be, familiarize yourself with the amount of
spin by pushing and directing the ball to different sides of the table. Now loop the ball  from your
forehand to the opposite corner with a controlled stroke. The idea here is consistency. Step 2 will be
to alternate between push and loop. Step in to push the ball off the bounce, step back and loop the
next one. Step 3 is to use the sweep function to span the forehand side of the table. Side to side
movement added to the in and out, alternated push and loop is an exhausting and useful drill. Check
with our more experienced players or coaches if you are having a problem or just want to confirm your
technique. Change the settings to work on your backhand and do the same drill.

Step around Forehand Loop
Set the robot head for topspin, set the speed for 7, the frquency for 5, direct the ball to your
backhand side. Start with counter backhands to the opposite corner of the table. After hitting your
desired target consistently, turn and hit some forehands down the line. When this shot is consistent,
switch between backhands crosscourt and forehands down the line. As usual, footwork is important.
Be sure not to contact the forehand shot behind your body, you may need to shorten your back swing.
Increasing the speed will allow you to take a step back from the table and loop the same exercise.
Sweeping the backhand area increases the level of difficulty. Make sure you have reached a level of
consistency before adding more difficult steps to your exercise.

Practicing Serve
Set the robot head to backspin, set the speed to 2, and the frequency to .5, just about as slow as it
will go. The direction should be to wherever you want to serve. Catch the first  ball, stop, serve short
underspin. Loop the next ball as if it is the push off your serve. Catch the next ball and repeat.
You can do this from the forehand or backhand side. Down the middle is a good exercise as well allowing
you to loop from either wing.

The robot is a great tool, and is meant to be part of a complete training program.
Along with a coach or experienced player willing to help, it is a relentless practice partner that can
help raise your level of play, stamina and understanding of the game.