Tired of tennis training that feels more like a robotic drill than a real match? Pongbot's Pace S Pro is here to revolutionize your game, and it's making its grand debut at CES 2026! This isn't just another tennis ball machine; it's an intelligent training platform designed to adapt to you.
The Pace S Pro is the brainchild of Pongbot, a sports-tech company leveraging the power of AI to transform how we train. Their flagship product, the Pace S Pro, promises a new era of solo practice by combining UWB (Ultra-Wideband) tracking with innovative Recovery Trigger technology. This dynamic duo allows the system to react in real-time to your movements and recovery on the court, making training sessions feel more like actual gameplay.
But here's where it gets interesting: Traditional ball machines often force players to adapt to a machine's rigid patterns. The Pace S Pro flips the script. It waits for you to return to your ready position before launching the next ball. This synchronization with your natural rhythm creates a training experience that mirrors the flow of a real match.
The secret sauce? UWB tracking. Forget cameras; the Pace S Pro uses UWB technology, operating at a blazing 100Hz sampling rate with sub-10cm accuracy. This provides incredibly precise, real-time tracking of your movements, even in challenging lighting conditions, both indoors and outdoors.
This positional intelligence is the foundation for Pongbot's Recovery Trigger technology. Instead of pre-set ball patterns, the Pace S Pro dynamically adjusts ball speed, spin, and placement based on your readiness. This allows you to focus on the critical elements of the game: footwork, timing, and shot execution – aspects that are difficult to hone without a partner.
Control is at your fingertips with an intuitive mobile app. Choose from over 564 pre-set drills or create fully customized routines, from beginner to advanced levels (NTRP 7.0). The system's core is the proprietary PongSmart algorithm, trained on data from over 100,000 real matches. It analyzes your movement and positioning data to tailor training parameters, ensuring consistent and measurable progress.
As the CEO of Pongbot explains, the Pace S Pro was born out of the frustration with traditional ball machines. The goal was to create a system that adapts to the player, not the other way around.
Founded in 2019, Pongbot first made waves in table tennis, perfecting its AI-driven training approach. This proven technology has now been successfully applied to tennis with the Pace S Pro, backed by an impressive 69 R&D patents.
The Pace S Pro's popularity is undeniable, as evidenced by its recognition as the #1 Tech & Sports campaign on Kickstarter in 2024, raising over US$2.7 million. The tennis community, including professional players and coaches, has embraced its ability to simulate real match conditions and elevate solo training.
Even professional players are impressed. Hendrik Jebens, with a career-high ATP doubles ranking of world No. 45, raves about the machine's capabilities.
Pongbot will be showcasing the Pace S Pro at CES 2026, at the Venetian Expo, Halls A–D, Booth #56554 (Lifestyle).
What do you think? Does this approach to tennis training excite you? Could this be the future of solo practice, or are there other technologies you feel are more promising? Share your thoughts in the comments!
