Motion sensors could help tennis players serve an ace
A TENNIS player’s first serve can make or break their title chances, but identifying the nuances in arm, shoulder and wrist motion that make the difference between an ace and a fault is tricky. Wearable motion sensors could help.
While it is possible to analyse high-speed video of a player’s serve, this is expensive and labour intensive. So Amin Ahmadi and colleagues at Griffith University in Brisbane, Australia, have developed a cheap, wearable system that gives instant feedback on a court-side laptop.
Three matchbox-sized gyroscopic sensors are taped to the chest, upper arm and hand of the tennis player, which measure shoulder rotation, arm angular velocity and wrist bending respectively – the things that govern serve success.
The team tested the system on four players, including one pro. The gyro information from all the players was compiled and then analysed by computer software to identify the components of a successful serve (Sports Technology, DOI: 10.1002/jst.112). “Our software then suggests how players can improve their skills,” Ahmadi told New Scientist.
Related posts:
- Tottenham’s players got drunk after qualifying for the UCL Tottenham qualified for the first time in the Champions League...
- Tennis fashion – America rules! Clinching the French Open Women’s title has been difficult...
- Asia Cup cricket 2010: Afridi asks Pakistan players to unite Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi has asked his players to stay...
- Serena Williams makes way for Samantha Stosur Serena Williams was knocked out of the French Open...
- Russian Orthodox Church: “No Soviet achievement can justify Stalin’s regime” No former achievement of the Soviet Union, including the victory...