Tennis players always try to find new ways to practice and improve their game, and ball machines are nothing new. However, Tennibot’s “The Partner” ball machine is a different thing all together, as it’s using AI and autonomous mobility to simulate real-match conditions, giving a more personalised training session. Unlike traditional ball machines that fire kind of predictable shots from a fixed position, The Partner has cutting-edge robotics and is moving freely along the baseline.
What is The Partner?
The Partner is an advanced, AI-powered tennis ball machine developed by Tennibot, an Auburn, Alabama-based company also known for its autonomous ball-collecting robot, The Rover. They wanted to change how solo practice can be done and their latest innovation moves beyond the limitations of static ball machines. This by using intelligent features that mimic the behaviour of a real, human opponent.
This ball machine autonomously moves across the court, adjusts shot difficulty in real time and delivers a variety of spins, speeds and placements to create a more realistic session. Obviously nothing can beat a real hitting partner, but for now it’s probably the closest you can get.
Some Key Features
Autonomous Court Mobility – Usually ball machines are stationary, but this one is moving along the baseline, simulating an opponent’s court positioning. Expect shots from varied angles and get more game-like scenarios where you must adapt to different situations.
AI-Driven Adaptability – It’s all about the AI-powered tracking system, which is analysing the player’s performance in real time. This ball machine can adjust the speed, spin and difficulty of shots based on the player’s returns. For example, if a player consistently nails forehands, The Partner increases the challenge; if shots are missed, it goes back down, all to maintain an optimal practice flow.
Auto-Calibrate and save time – Setting up traditional ball machines does include some hassle, often requiring manual adjustments to align shots. The Partner uses AI and computer vision to locate the players position on the court and auto-calibrates shot placement. Basically it will assure accurate feeds every time, saving setup time and letting players focus on the training.
Realistic Shot Variety – Capable of delivering balls at speeds up to 70 mph with customisable spins (topspin, backspin etc). With a capacity of 140 balls, it supports extended practice sessions without frequent reloading.
Tennibot’s CEO, Haitham Eletrabi, commets: “The Partner offers human-like play and intelligent features, aiming to make practice more seamless and enjoyable for players of all levels.”
How to use it?
This is also one of the main advantages, how fast it is to setup. Just attach the “station” to the net post, start it via the app and you are good to go. The station will auto-calibrate in seconds and work with the ball machine to generate precise shots all the time.
The Partner is for now only available for pre-order via their website and costs around $2000-$3500 depending on when it’s purchased. The prizes of these kind of ball machines will most likely go down in the future when it becomes more available and with more competition.
These innovations shows a growing trend in sports technology, where AI and robotics are changing how we train. The Partner joins a wave of smart ball machines, like the Proton and Volley, but it really stands out with its autonomous mobility and real-time adaptability. We can expect more from these smart ball machines in the future. For example: this one works good for baseline rallies, but it may not fully replicate complex shots like lobs or drop shots.
Have you tried “The Partner”? Let us know in the comments how it worked for you! Is it one of the best ball machines?
