TITOP – The story behind the innovative table tennis net with sensors

One game – one idea

The story of TITOP began in 2023 in Durban, during the World Table Tennis Championships . Franziska was in the round of 32 against Geraldo - a thrilling duel that made the hearts of table tennis fans beat faster. In the middle of a nerve-wracking set, with the match on the line (1:1 in sets and 9:10 against Franziska), Franziska played a perfect serve and won the point. But her joy was short-lived - the referee called: "Let" and pointed to the net. Franziska was sure that the serve was not a net serve, but the decision was made for him. This moment sparked an idea for Tobias Samol , our founder.

The idea and the search for a solution

Tobias Samol , the future founder of TITOP, couldn't believe that such a simple yet common problem in table tennis was still unsolved. Net serves – an unsolved problem that repeatedly led to discussions and misunderstandings.

After extensive research and discussions with various table tennis experts, Tobias realized that no one had a technical solution to this problem. That was the moment the TITOP vision began.

Product development: From vibration sensors to infrared technology

Initially, the team asked themselves, "What consequences occur after a net serve?" The answer seemed simple—the net vibrates. Inspired by tennis sensors used in net serves, the team initially experimented with vibration sensors . However, it quickly became apparent that this technology wasn't reliable enough for table tennis—light ball touches couldn't vibrate the net enough to generate a signal.

The solution required a rethink: "When is a net serve?" It's simple: The ball must touch the net. The net has a standardized height of 15.25 cm , and every time the ball exceeds this height, a net serve is detected. The solution was an infrared laser – precise and reliable.

By using an infrared laser positioned just above the net height, the team found the perfect solution. Every time an object (like the ball) breaks through the invisible light barrier, a signal is triggered. Thus, the first table tennis net with integrated sensors was born!

The novelty: The first table tennis net with sensors

With this innovative net, TITOP is pursuing a clear mission: to make table tennis fairer. The net is not just a technical marvel, but a true game changer in table tennis.

The key features of our technology are:

Objectivity : No more arguments! Thanks to the precise sensor, the net objectively detects whether a net hit has occurred or not.

Validity : Our system ensures that the signal is only triggered when the ball has actually touched the net.

Speed : The signal appears in real time, so there's no delay. Instant clarity for players and referees.

Thanks to this technology, players and referees can finally rely on an objective and reliable signal that makes frustration and discussions surrounding net serves a thing of the past.

The future: use in competitions and ITTF contacts

After more than a year of intensive product development, TITOP is now close to introducing the net into competition. Contact has already been established with various table tennis bodies, including the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) and World Table Tennis (WTT) . We are in close and constructive communication to ensure that our innovative net can soon be integrated into the professional table tennis world.

Our network innovation has also already been patented , which underlines the exclusivity and uniqueness of our technology.

Why TITOP?

TITOP is more than just a table tennis net. It marks the beginning of a new era in table tennis, one that focuses on technology, innovation, and fairness. With our solution, we aim to further improve the sport and revolutionize the playing experience.

Visit our website titop.store to learn more about our product and the technology behind it and stay up to date with the latest developments.