Note: This article is based on official manufacturer specifications and publicly available information at the time of publication. Technical data and functions may change due to future software updates or product adaptations.
Numerous customers have asked us similar questions in recent weeks:
- “Should I wait to buy a Pace S Pro because Aura is coming out soon?”
- “Will the Pace series be discontinued?”
- “Is Aura simply the new generation of the Pace S Pro?”
The short answer is:
No. The PONGBOT Aura was not developed as a direct replacement for the Pace series.
In fact, the two product lines have different focuses and are aimed at different target groups.
The Pace series was developed to provide ambitious tennis players, coaches and clubs with a powerful and proven training platform.
The new Aura series, on the other hand, focuses on low weight, multi-sport support and modern AI functions.
The crucial question is therefore not:
“Which model is newer?”
but:
“Which model is better suited to my personal training goals?”
The Pace S Pro remains a high-performance tennis training platform
The Pace S Pro has been used successfully by players, coaches and clubs for a long time.
The official manufacturer’s specifications include
- Ball speed up to 130 km/h
- Ball capacity of 150 balls
- Battery life of up to 8 hours
- 564+ predefined training exercises
- Unlimited individual training programs
- Community sharing of exercises
- UWB tracking with P Station S and P Tag S
The high ball capacity and long battery life offer decisive advantages, especially in everyday club and trainer life, as there are fewer interruptions.
Source:
https://store.pongbotsports.com/products/pace-s-pro
What makes Aura different?
Aura was designed from the outset as a particularly lightweight and versatile training platform.
According to the published technical data for the tennis mode, Aura:
- Weight from 7 kg
- Ball speed up to 100 km/h
- Ball capacity of 120 balls
- Battery life of 5+ hours
- Ball interval from 1.5 to 10 seconds
- Spin up to 60 rps
- Elevation angle from -10° to +50°
- Horizontal angle of ±30°
- exchangeable battery
- Support for tennis, padel and pickleball
- Optional AI and video functions in conjunction with Spotter
Aura therefore focuses primarily on mobility, versatility and modern training support.
Sources:
https://store.pongbotsports.com/pages/pongbot-aura
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/pongbot/aura-the-worlds-first-ultra-light-ai-multi-sport-robot
Technical comparison in tennis
As most of our customers mainly play tennis, we have compared the official tennis specifications of both models.
| Feature | Pace S Pro | Aura (Tennis) |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum speed | 130 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Maximum spin | 60 rps | 60 rps |
| Ball interval | 1,5-12 s | 1,5-10 s |
| Ball capacity | 150 balls | 120 balls |
| Battery life | up to 8 hours | 5+ hours |
| Weight | approx. 22 kg | 7 kg |
| Training library | 564+ exercises | 10,000+ drill variations* |
| Individual exercises | Yes | Yes |
| Community sharing | Yes | Yes |
| UWB tracking | Yes | No |
| AI coaching | No | Yes (with spotter) |
| Video analysis | No | Yes (with spotter) |
* According to the manufacturer. The Aura training library is based on a combination of predefined exercises and their variations. A higher number does not necessarily mean a higher training quality.
Does the Pace S Pro also support padel?
Yes.
The Pace S Pro already supports training with padel balls.
However, there are currently no predefined exercises available that have been specially developed for padel. You can create and save your own individual training programs.
Aura, on the other hand, was designed from the outset for several sports and offers training options for tennis, padel and pickleball.
Who is the Pace S Pro suitable for?
The Pace S Pro is particularly interesting for players who:
✓ mainly play tennis,
✓ require high ball speeds,
✓ want to do long training sessions,
✓ want to refill balls as rarely as possible,
✓ prefer a proven and mature platform,
✓ Use the ball machine regularly in the club or as a trainer.
Who is Aura suitable for?
Aura is particularly aimed at players who:
✓ attach particular importance to low weight,
✓ Combine several sports,
✓ want to use modern AI functions,
✓ Find video analysis and training evaluations interesting,
✓ looking for a training solution that is as mobile as possible.
Our conclusion
The introduction of Aura does not mean the end of the Pace series.
Both product lines are expected to coexist in the long term and fulfill different needs.
The Pace S Pro remains an extremely powerful solution, especially for ambitious tennis players, with higher ball speed, longer battery life and greater ball capacity.
Aura, on the other hand, opens up new possibilities in the field of mobility and AI-supported training analysis.
Ultimately, therefore, there is no generally “better” ball machine.
The best ball machine is the one that best suits your personal training goals.
References
PONGBOT Pace S Pro – official product specifications
https://store.pongbotsports.com/products/pace-s-pro
PONGBOT Aura – official product information
https://store.pongbotsports.com/pages/pongbot-aura
PONGBOT Aura – published technical data and FAQs
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/pongbot/aura-the-worlds-first-ultra-light-ai-multi-sport-robot
