We have already seen a handful of AI-enabled tennis tutors, including Aceii One, Tenniix, and Pongbot, that use AI algorithms, computer vision, and advanced robotics to offer personalized training simulating real match scenarios. The latest brand to join the AI bandwagon is Hong Kong-based Nisplay Sports, which brought the now successfully funded Nisplay Y1 tennis machine to Kickstarter.
Tennis is among the five most popular sports worldwide after football (soccer), cricket, basketball, and field hockey. Each of these sports is making the best use of AI to advance the game further. To ensure tennis doesn’t lag behind, sports brands across the globe are focusing on developing physical and digital solutions to keep the sport ahead of the curve.
Dubbed the “world’s first tennis machine built into your backpack” and the “world’s lightest AI-powered tennis machine,” the Nisplay Y1 boasts ultra-light construction that combines storage and a ball machine into one sleek body, making it effortless to carry. The entire package weighs just 16.5 lbs, which makes it twice as lighter than the Acemate, Pongbot, and other AI-powered tennis machines available on the market.
Now let’s get to the functionality because this is where the buck stops. If we look at other tennis machines that were recently crowdfunded or are now available for purchase, most of them follow the same formula. These tennis machines and robots share a core set of intelligent, data-driven, and interactive capabilities that set them apart from traditional, static ball machines. Nisplay, however, couples the ball-launching mechanism with a backpack design, making it a much lighter and more transportable option compared to its competitors.
The backpack itself is designed to hold rackets, 100 balls (minimum), water, and personal items alongside the training equipment. This is certainly an interesting iteration in the AI tennis machine market, considering that existing options have been heavy and not particularly portable. With its backpack design, the Y1 is considerably easier for a player to carry around.
One shortcoming worth noting is its inability to move across the court, something the Acemate excels at. Nevertheless, the Nisplay Y1 still holds up against purpose-built machines, courtesy of a dual-wheel launch system that delivers consistent, spin-varied shots, topspin, backspin, and sidespin, at speeds up to 60 mph, covering the full range from slow rallying drills to realistic serve return practice.
According to the Kickstarter campaign page, “Y1 can deliver flat shots, topspin, backspin (slice), lobs, and varied trajectories, allowing you to customize training based on your specific needs.” Feed intervals and court positioning are both programmable, allowing players to build structured, repeatable sessions rather than just feeding balls randomly.
Other features include a player-sensing radar. Rather than firing on a fixed timer, regardless of where you are, the system detects your position and movement on court and adjusts shot placement accordingly. The effect is a practice session that feels less like standing in front of a machine and more like rallying with a responsive opponent, one that, admittedly, never gets tired or distracted.
Control is handled through a mobile app, a handheld remote, or voice commands, allowing players to make on-the-fly adjustments to speed, spin, frequency, and drill patterns without walking back to the machine between sets.
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The Y1 isn’t restricted to tennis only. Nisplay Sports offers Y1 in two versions. There is a Pickleball version specifically built for pickleball players. Then there is the Tennis & Padel compatible version, designed for tennis training, with added flexibility for padel.
All said and done, if you are a tennis or pickleball enthusiast seeking an AI machine to improve your game, Nisplay Y1 should be on your purchase list. The Nisplay Y1 machine is available to pre-order at a Super Early Bird price of $749.
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