Welcome Dick. I have moved your qn to the robots section.
I had a newgy 2040 robot before, and now I have a Butterfly Amicus. The robots are good way to improve game. But you should be knowing what you are doing. After you learn a wrong stroke with robot, it can be permanent to your muscle memory. So, I would suggest you consult with a local coach. Take few classes from him. Learn the basic and advanced strokes. Just like any other tool, there is effective way to execute a stroke against balls. After you jot down what you have to do, get a robot and practice every day for like 30 minutes to 1 hour. You then get back to the club, and now practice in real life against the players. Within 1 to 2 years, you can improve your game and reach a high peak - improve your rating too.
The newgy robots are affordable robots in the price range $250 to $750. The Butterfly Amicus has two heads, do can generate no spin ball too.
iPong is a good affordable robot if your budget is less than $150.