Here is how Pongbot helps you train without a partner, from tracking that waits for you to machines for tennis, pickleball, padel and table tennis. Its Pace S Pro follows your position on court, while the Aura S trades some power for 7 kg portability. Prices, ship dates and return terms are compared so you can choose with confidence.
Key Takeaways
- Only the Pace S Pro includes the four smart modes, led by Recovery Trigger.
- The Aura is a pre order, estimated to ship 4 to 5 weeks after ordering.
- Plan time to learn the app, where most drills and controls live.
- Pongbot states that you pay return shipping unless the item is faulty.
How Pongbot Replaces a Hitting Partner
Tracking That Waits for You (Pace S Pro)
A standard ball machine fires on a timer, whether or not you have recovered from your last shot. The Pongbot Pace S Pro works differently because it knows where you are. Two P Station S units go on the net and a P Tag S goes on you. Together they track your position on court using ultra wideband technology instead of cameras. Pongbot states that the system samples at 100Hz with sub 10cm accuracy.
That tracking powers Recovery Trigger. After you hit, the machine waits until you are back in position, then feeds the next ball. You practice footwork at your own rhythm instead of racing a metronome.
Adaptive Rally goes a step further. It follows your movement and adjusts the shots it sends, which recreates a rally where you move, recover and hit again.
Match Practice Without an Opponent
Match Challenge turns a solo session into something closer to a match. Pongbot says it draws on more than 10,000 real match data points. It scales across NTRP 1.0 to 7.0, from beginner to elite, and it sets the intensity from how you hit and how you move.
Arena of Dash adds a competitive layer. It combines running and hitting exercises, adjusts speed and intensity as you play, and ranks your results on a leaderboard after each session.
These four smart modes come with the Pace S Pro and are not on the standard Pace S:
- Recovery Trigger
- Adaptive Rally
- Match Challenge
- Arena of Dash
Pick the Machine That Fits Your Practice
Pongbot sells machines for four kinds of solo player: the serious tennis player, the budget minded tennis player, the multi sport player and the table tennis player. Prices below are from Pongbot’s US store at the time of writing.
Pongbot Pace S Pro
The Pace S Pro is Pongbot’s flagship tennis machine, built for players who train alone and want the machine to react to them. It is the only Pace model with Recovery Trigger, Adaptive Rally, Match Challenge and Arena of Dash. Pongbot says it uses ultra wideband tracking at 100Hz, and Match Challenge scales across NTRP 1.0 to 7.0.
- Fires up to 80 mph with up to 60 rps of spin, from a 150 ball hopper.
- Up to 8 hours on one battery, controlled by the app or the included remote.
- 564+ preset drills, plus custom drills you can build and share in the app.
- Works on clay, hard, artificial grass and natural grass courts, and supports custom padel drills.
- Includes the Pace machine with one battery, two P Station S units, a P Tag S, a remote, an adapter and a cable.
The US store lists the Pace S Pro at $1,219.99, marked down from $1,999.99 at the time of writing. The Fall Prime Time sale runs September 10 to October 14, 2026 with code FallPrime. During it, a free Court Essentials Kit comes with any Pace S Pro purchase. Pongbot states that orders ship within 48 hours and that returns are accepted within 30 days.
Pongbot Pace S
The Pace S is Pongbot’s step down tennis machine for players who want programmed drills and a big hopper without the smart tracking. It does not include Recovery Trigger, Adaptive Rally, Match Challenge or Arena of Dash, and it ships without the P Station S units and P Tag S that the Pace S Pro uses for tracking. It still works with smart accessories such as the T Serve S.
- Fires up to 80 mph with up to 60 rps of spin, with top spin, under spin and no spin.
- 396+ preset drills, plus custom drills you can build in the app.
- Holds 150 balls and runs up to 8 hours on one battery, with app and remote control.
- Fits clay, hard, artificial grass and natural grass courts.
- Includes the Pace machine with one battery, a remote, an adapter and a cable.
The US store lists the Pace S at $999.99, marked down from $1,699.99 at the time of writing. Pongbot states that orders ship within 48 hours and that returns are accepted within 30 days.
Pongbot Aura
The Aura S is Pongbot’s lightweight multi sport machine, built for players who split their time between tennis, pickleball and padel and want to carry one machine between courts. The Aura S includes the Spotter, a dual camera module that turns the machine into an AI coach. That is the difference from the base Aura, which has no cameras.
- Weighs 7 kg and supports tennis, pickleball and padel. One sport is included, and you add others with a Sports Unlock Card.
- The Spotter’s 120fps dual cameras track your shots, so the AI Coach can analyze your strokes and give voice guidance during sessions.
- Match Challenge lets you upload match footage and recreate the rallies.
- Runs about 5 hours on one battery and holds 120 tennis balls.
The US store lists the Aura S at $799.99, marked down from $1,699.99 at the time of writing. The base Aura is $599.99, marked down from $1,199.99, and the Aura S 3 in 1 is $849.99, marked down from $1,899.99. The 3 in 1 add on is $99 against an MSRP of $398. It is a pre order, and Pongbot estimates shipping 4 to 5 weeks after order confirmation. During the Fall Prime Time sale (September 10 to October 14, 2026), a free Court Essentials Kit comes with any Aura purchase.
Pongbot Nova S Pro
The Nova S Pro is Pongbot’s portable table tennis serving robot, built for players who practice alone and want a partner that feeds varied shots on demand. Its near net serve lets you train from more positions around the table. At $299.99, it is the lowest priced Pongbot robot in this guide.
- Delivers topspin and backspin shots for match style rallies.
- Serves to anywhere on the table, including near the net.
- Programmed drills made by pros, plus custom drills where you set spin, speed and placement and see each shot in the app.
- Compact and portable enough to carry to a different table.
The US store lists the Nova S Pro at $299.99, marked down from $399.99 at the time of writing. The Fall Prime Time sale runs September 10 to October 14, 2026 with code FallPrime. Pongbot states that returns are accepted within 30 days.
Pace S Pro or Aura? A Quick Decision
Pongbot describes the Pace S Pro and the Aura as two parallel product lines for different players, not as a first model and its upgrade. The Pace S Pro tracks you at 100Hz, fires up to 80 mph and runs 8+ hours on a battery. The Aura tracks at 60Hz, feeds at baseline rally speeds, runs 5+ hours and weighs 7 kg.
- Choose the Pace S Pro if you want maximum performance, with the fastest feeds and the longest battery life Pongbot offers for tennis.
- Choose the Aura if you play more than one sport, since one machine covers tennis, pickleball and padel.
- Choose the Aura if portability matters most, because at 7 kg it is easy to carry from court to court.
Drills, the App and What You Will Actually Do
Most of the work in a Pongbot session happens in the app. You pair the machine by Bluetooth, then control it from your phone or the included remote. On the Pace S Pro you can browse 564+ preset drills or build your own routine. Drills you create can be shared with the community in one click, and you can download routines other players have made. Pongbot also sends updates to the app and the machine over the air, so the software keeps changing after you buy.
If you play tennis, the T Serve S accessory adds one more way to practice. It lets the Pace S Pro detect your serve and send the next ball, so you can rehearse serve and return in one session.
Aura owners get PONG.AI, a training assistant that recommends sessions based on what you want to work on and supports voice control through Apple Watch. With the Spotter camera module, the AI Coach plays voice guidance through your phone. You can connect Bluetooth headphones or a speaker to hear it without disturbing nearby courts.
The app is where the machine’s flexibility lives, and reviewers note that it takes some learning. GameRevolution points out that much of the machine’s functionality is programmed there. Tennis Gear Guide says the interface could be cleaner. So plan some time to learn the app before your first big session, and start with a preset drill while you get used to the controls.
Setup Basics: Balls, Courts and Battery
A few practical details can save you from a wrong first purchase.
- Balls: Pongbot recommends pressureless tennis balls for daily training. Standard competition balls, including ITF approved ones, and padel balls also work. Pongbot advises against low compression balls because they can jam the machine or throw off the serving trajectory.
- Pace S Pro size and control: it weighs 22 kg and pairs by Bluetooth, and you can run it from the app or the included remote.
- Pace S Pro battery: one battery comes in the box and lasts up to 8 hours.
- Padel: you can build custom drills now. Pongbot says built in padel drills are planned.
- Aura conditions: Pongbot recommends operating it between 5°C and 45°C (41°F to 113°F), and it advises against using it in the rain or with wet balls.
Pongbot lists the Pace S Pro as compatible with clay, artificial grass, hard and natural grass courts, so surface should not limit where you practice.
What Independent Reviewers Say
Reviewers who tested the Pace S Pro this spring agree on the main point: the tracking is what sets it apart.
GameRevolution (March 13, 2026) called the movement and timing tracking the standout feature. It also pointed out some nitpicks with the app, where much of the machine’s functionality is programmed.
iPhone in Canada (March 23, 2026) clipped a small sensor to its waistband and found that the machine waited for the reviewer to return to the center mark before sending the next ball. It described the Pace S Pro as a serious investment for anyone who wants to improve and beat their regular opponents.
RoadTrailRun (May 17, 2026) came to the machine with only modest tennis experience. The reviewer found Bluetooth pairing easy and was building custom drills fairly quickly.
These are individual reviews, so use them as a guide to what to expect and not as a guarantee of how the machine will suit you.
Before You Order: Shipping, Returns and Support
These machines are a real investment, so it pays to read the terms first. Everything below is what Pongbot states on its own pages.
- Shipping: Pongbot states that shipping is free to the US, EU, UK and Australia, with delivery in the US and EU usually taking 3 to 7 business days.
- Timing: The Pace S Pro page says the machine is in stock and ships within 48 hours. The Aura is a pre order, with shipping estimated 4 to 5 weeks after order confirmation.
- Returns: You have 30 days. If an item is faulty, the return is free and Pongbot covers the shipping. For other returns, such as changing your mind, you pay the return shipping.
- Where returns go: Pongbot states that US returns go to a local US warehouse, and it lists repair centers in California and Germany. Returns from regions outside the US and EU go to China.
- Warranty: According to the site, coverage is up to 3 years on core components.
Pongbot also states that refunds are issued within 7 business days after approval, and that processing a return typically takes about 10 business days.
The returns page was last updated on March 29, 2025, so read the current policy before you order, especially if you are shopping from outside the US or EU.
Offers Running Right Now
At the time of writing, Pongbot is running its Fall Prime Time sale from September 10 to October 14, 2026. The sale advertises up to 50% off, and you apply the code FallPrime at checkout.
Two extras apply to the machines in this guide:
- Free Court Essentials Kit: it comes with any Pace S Pro, Pace S Pro bundle or Aura purchase.
- 50 free tennis balls: these go to the first 300 Pace S Pro customers only.
Bundle prices can differ between a product page and the sale page, so check the final price in your cart before you pay. Offers and eligibility can change, so confirm the details on Pongbot’s sale page before you order.
Your Solo Training Checklist
Run through these five points before you place an order:
- Pick your sport: tennis, pickleball, padel or table tennis decides which Pongbot line to look at.
- Choose your tracking level: the Pace S Pro includes the smart modes, the Pace S does not, and the Aura S adds the Spotter camera module.
- Check the ship date: the Pace S Pro page says it ships within 48 hours, while the Aura is a pre order estimated at 4 to 5 weeks.
- Read the current returns terms: returns are accepted within 30 days, and you pay return shipping unless the item is faulty.
- Confirm the live price and offer: check your cart, including any Fall Prime Time code, before you pay.
Pongbot’s full range is on its official US store at store.pongbotsports.com.
Summary
The article covered how Pongbot’s machines help players train without a partner. It compared the Pace S Pro at $1,219.99, the Pace S at $999.99, the Aura S at $799.99 and the Nova S Pro table tennis robot at $299.99. It also covered shipping and returns terms and the Fall Prime Time sale running through October 14, 2026.
The standout feature is tracking. The Pace S Pro uses sensors on the net and on the player, and its Recovery Trigger waits until you are back in position before it feeds the next ball. The Aura S takes a different route, with a 7 kg body that handles tennis, pickleball and padel and a dual camera Spotter module.
Two checks matter most before ordering. Decide whether you want the smart tracking modes, since only the Pace S Pro includes them, and note that the Aura is a pre order estimated to ship in 4 to 5 weeks. Then read the current returns terms, because Pongbot states that you pay return shipping unless the item is faulty.
