PONGBOT has introduced the Aura, a lightweight, AI-assisted ball machine designed for tennis, pickleball and padel training. Weighing just 7 kg (15.4 lbs), Aura focuses on portability, customizable drills and smart training features in a more affordable package than traditional high-end ball machines.
Unlike PONGBOT’s flagship Pace S Pro, Aura prioritizes everyday practice and multi-sport versatility over maximum performance. The optional Spotter vision module adds camera-based tracking and advanced AI coaching features.
Use this link to check out the new Pongbot Aura.
Key Technical Specifications
- Ball Speed: Advertised speeds of up to 100 km/h, although we have not independently tested this figure. As always with ball machines, actual ball speed may vary depending on the selected settings and other operating conditions.
- Ball Capacity: Holds up to 120 tennis balls or padel balls, or 100 pickleballs.
- Weight: Approximately 7 kg (15.4 lbs), making it easy to transport between courts.
- Battery and Runtime: Rated for more than 5 hours of operation, with an interchangeable battery.
- Ball Types: Supports standard tennis balls, red, orange and green-dot tennis balls, 40-hole and 26-hole pickleballs, and standard padel balls.
- Vision System: The optional Spotter module features dual cameras and 120 fps vision tracking.
- Training Compatibility: Designed for tennis, pickleball and padel, with one sport activated by default. Additional sports require a Sport Unlock Card unless the selected package includes all three.
Features and Training Modes
1. Customizable Drills
Aura supports customizable training sessions, allowing players to adjust variables such as ball speed, spin, depth, frequency and landing position. They advertise a library of up to 10,000 drills across its supported sports, providing a range of options for different skill levels.
2. AI Coach and Vision Tracking
With the optional Spotter vision module, Aura adds camera-based player and ball tracking, swing detection, movement analysis and voice-guided coaching. The system is designed to help players review their technique, footwork and training performance.
The standard Aura also supports PONG AI, a training assistant that can recommend sessions and support voice control without requiring Spotter.
3. Match Challenge and Recovery Training
When paired with Spotter, Aura unlocks advanced features including Recovery Trigger, which adjusts ball feeding based on the player’s recovery position, and Match Challenge, which aims to recreate more realistic rally patterns.
It does also feature video-based drill recreation using uploaded match footage. These features are intended to make practice more interactive than conventional ball feeding, although their real-world effectiveness will depend on the accuracy of the tracking and the quality of the resulting drills.
4. Multi-Sport Versatility
One of Aura’s main selling points is its ability to support tennis, pickleball and padel. However, buyers should check which package they are ordering: the standard Aura includes one chosen sport, while the 3-in-1 package provides access to all three.
5. App Control and Training Data
Aura is controlled through the PONGBOT app, which supports drill customization, training history and performance tracking. We also noticed session summaries, landing-point analysis and personalized AI-generated feedback, with advanced vision-based analysis requiring Spotter.
Availability and Pricing
Head over to PONGBOT’s official store to see the current prices of the different versions of the Aura robot.
The Aura S packages include the Spotter vision module, while the 3-in-1 versions include access to tennis, pickleball and padel.
Pongbot currently estimates shipping at approximately 4–5 weeks after order confirmation, with orders fulfilled on a first-come, first-served basis.
Did you know that Pongbot is the official ball machine of the Australian Open from next season?
