THE STORYIn 2020, as COVID-19 shut down tennis courts worldwide, players found themselves isolated, unable to train, and missing the excitement and tension of a match. Among them was Toni Ulčar, an engineer and passionate tennis player who refused to let the lockdown halt his tennis journey. Practicing alone was uninspiring, and traditional ball machines felt predictable and nothing like the challenge of a real opponent. Toni envisioned something better: a machine that could move, adapt, and truly simulate match play. From that vision, Sportbot was born. A revolutionary MOVING tennis ball machine that mimics real gameplay, sending shots with variety, unpredictability, and precision. Today, Sportbot is transforming tennis training for players and coaches of all levels, making practice more dynamic and engaging.
Why Sportbot?
The world’s first and only moving ball machine with movement speeds of up to 1.5 m/s to truly enhance the training experience.
Unlike traditional stationary ball machines, the Sportbot features innovative Mecanum wheels, allowing it to move omnidirectionally across various court surfaces. This mobility enables the machine to change positions and shot angles, closely simulating real-match scenarios and requiring players to adapt their footwork and positioning dynamically.
The Ultimate Training App
The Sportbot can be programmed via a dedicated mobile app to deliver specific shots, sequences, and game scenarios tailored to individual training goals. Users can adjust ball speed, spin, height, and tempo, creating personalised drills that focus on particular aspects of their game. This customisation ensures targeted practice sessions that address unique strengths and areas for improvement.
For coaches, the Sportbot’s consistent and reliable ball delivery allows them to focus more on observing and instructing players and their movement/footwork which could not be achieved with a traditional machine.
Spec Sheet:
| Materials | Not specified |
| Weight | 50.7 lbs (23kg) |
| Dimensions | 19.6"H x 11.8"L x 11.8W (50 x 30 x 30cm) |
| Ball Capacity | 90 |
| Launch Speed | Up to 62 mph (100 km/h) |
| Feed Rate | 1.75 - 10 secs |
| Launch Angle | 13 – 30 degrees |
| Power Supply | Battery - 1 kg |
| Power Input | AC |
| Battery | Quick replace Li-ion |
| Operation Time | 1.5 hours |
| Special Features | Full court mobility, Carry handle |
| Special Training Features | Custom user mapped traning plan including machine location, movement, all pre-programmed to produce a variety of ball options Spin: Topspin, Flat, Slice |
| Court placement | Full court, Movement speed in all directions: up to 1.5 m/s |
| Warranty | 1 Year |
| Available on iOS and Android devices |
| Guided warm-up |
| Regular software updates |
| Targeted single shot drills |
| Practice drills created by ATP and WTA coaches |
| Create your own custom drills |
| Play-a-match mode |
My journey as a founder began during the pandemic. With all the strict restrictions in place, we couldn’t play against other people — but I still wanted to train and keep improving my tennis as a player. I started renting the existing tennis ball machines that were available on the market. Very quickly, I realised that while they’re decent for practicing technique or footwork, they’re incredibly limited. There was no way to practice advanced shot combinations or simulate a real match. I wanted more — I wanted to train like I had a real opponent on the other side of the net.
At the time, I was also studying mechanical engineering, and I started asking myself a simple question: Why aren’t these machines moving? A machine that could move around the court, shoot balls from different angles, and simulate the unpredictability of a real match — that’s what tennis players and coaches truly need. That thought led me down the rabbit hole. I started sketching ideas, prototyping, and connecting with others who believed in the vision. Over time, we built our first working prototypes and eventually developed a full industrial version of the product.
Today, we’re selling across Europe, the US, the UK, and the UAE. The product has evolved, but the mission has stayed the same: to help players and coaches train smarter, more realistically, and with more joy.
Toni Ulčar
Founder of Sportbot