PongBot Pace S Pro Review: Florida Tennis Puts AI Training to the Test at Curtis Tennis Academy

At Florida Tennis, we're always looking for new technology that can help players improve their game. Recently, our Director of Entertainment, DJ Mad Linx, visited Curtis Tennis Academy in Boca Raton, Florida, to test the new PongBot Pace S Pro, an AI-powered tennis ball machine designed to bring a more realistic training experience to players of all levels.

Hosted by renowned coach Casey Curtis, whose coaching career has included working with ATP star Milos Raonic and numerous top junior players, the day featured hands-on testing from academy coaches and junior players before Linx explored many of the Pace S Pro's advanced AI features.

"This here is my buddy, the PongBot Pace S Pro, the world's first AI tennis ball machine," Linx said as he introduced the machine. "Wait till you get a load of this."

Several Curtis Tennis Academy juniors immediately noticed how different the machine felt compared to traditional ball machines.

"It's really cool," one player said. "It moves by itself, so you don't have to adjust it at all. When you want to go between forehands and backhands, it moves on its own from the app. It's super convenient."

The same player also praised the consistency of the feeds.

"It's very consistent, which allows for the same reps and being able to practice technique. Whether you're hitting crosscourt, down the line or really any shot, I think you could definitely get beneficial training from that."

Another junior highlighted how natural the ball felt coming off the machine.

"Every ball was the exact same. There was good spin, great consistency, and I got great rhythm off of it. Forehands, backhands, volleys, drop shots... there are so many different shots you can practice."

Comfort was another recurring theme.

"I thought it was really smart," another player explained. "It was in the same spot every time. With a lot of ball machines, I feel like it's a different spot every time, but this one was really good."

One player appreciated how the drills encouraged movement around the court.

"I liked how it moved me forward and then back. I'm not too used to ball machines, but I like it."

Following the player testing, Linx spoke with Casey Curtis to discuss how ball machines have evolved over the years and how they fit into high-performance coaching.

Curtis didn't hesitate when asked whether he has relied on ball machines throughout his career.

"Tons," he said. "I used it personally when I was younger when I was actually playing, and I use it a lot in the academy."

For Curtis, repetition remains one of the biggest advantages.

"The ability to throw the same ball over and over again, especially when a player needs to focus on their technique and they're trying to learn different skills, ball machines are great."

He also believes today's technology has dramatically narrowed the gap between machine training and live hitting.

"The pace they're getting on some of these machines now is great. The spin is great. You literally can simulate almost a professional level of playing."

Curtis also pointed out an often-overlooked coaching benefit.

"While they're hitting, you can stand there and talk to the player in a very calm voice. You don't have to yell across the net. With the remote controls, you can stop the machine if you need to demonstrate some technique. Machines are great."

Assistant coach Asad Siyyid also came away impressed after trying the Pace S Pro himself.

"It did a really good job not letting me know where it was going," Siyyid said. "The biggest thing was that it didn't have a big interval between balls. As a coach and player, that's pretty valuable."

He believes that shorter recovery times between feeds make training feel much closer to actual match play.

"Usually with other ball machines you're waiting around, and it makes it unrealistic with the footwork. With this one, I hit a ball and I was still moving my feet."

The Pace S Pro also varied the depth of its shots, forcing players to make adjustments instead of anticipating every bounce.

"It did a pretty good job of giving one shorter, one deeper, so I had to actually adjust in real time."

As a coach, Siyyid believes that unpredictability is essential.

"You want to mimic the real thing. You don't want to just feed the same ball over and over again. Matches are always changing, so making it uncomfortable for the player is key."

He finished with a message every aspiring player can appreciate.

"Coach Curtis is so big on reps. That's all we tell our players all the time. The best players in the world hit more than anyone else. When you have a ball machine, it gives you that. It's invaluable."

After speaking with the coaches, Linx demonstrated several of the Pace S Pro's signature AI features, including the PongBot Net Tracker.

Using two trackers positioned near the net and a wearable player tracker, the system constantly identifies the player's location on court, allowing the machine to adapt feeds in real time.

One feature that particularly impressed Linx was the Topspin Adaptive Rally, where the machine only delivers the next ball once the player has recovered to the correct position.

"I love that," he said after testing it. "It recognizes where I am, and if I'm out of position, it's not going to feed the ball."

He was equally impressed by the machine's Recovery Trigger Exercise, which pauses automatically until the player is ready again.

"Most ball machines just keep feeding no matter what," Linx explained. "But when your conditioning is kind of like mine right now, you may need a second to recover."

After putting the feature through its paces, he was convinced.

"It automatically recognized I didn't recover... I love that. It gives me an opportunity to get some energy back and practice at the highest level I'm capable of."

Linx wrapped up the day by highlighting just how much the Pace S Pro offers.

"It feeds balls up to 80 miles an hour, has over 500 drills, and no matter what you want to do, it can do it."

For players looking to maximize practice time with intelligent, match-like training, the PongBot Pace S Pro proved throughout the day that modern ball machines have come a long way. From consistent repetition for technical development to AI-powered movement tracking that creates more realistic rallies, it offers a versatile training tool for recreational players, competitive juniors, college athletes and professionals alike.

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Written by Associate Editor Osvaldo Godoy. Video shot by Alex Binstok. Video edited by Nathalia Suarez.