2. Training Assistants and technical-strategic tutoring
This category of applications includes products intended for tennis clubs, academies and, in general, for structures where they can be useful for coaches to use tracking technology to assist tennis players during and after training, in order to monitor their progress. Technologies are mostly permanently installed in the facilities. In this category we find the following products: AccuTennis, Mojjo, Playsight, Wingfield and Zenniz. We must remember that Hawk-Eye and FoxTenn have also developed solutions for tutoring (coaching) and training in tennis academies as well.
The features common to these solutions are the following:
- They mainly use cameras and computer vision to monitor the players and the ball
- They have a touch screen interface mounted in a stand to allow users to log in and start the game or the training session
- The systems capture videos of each match or session, allowing users to review a shot even from different angles
- Generally, these systems are networked, so that all videos and data are uploaded to the cloud.
They are provided with an application which allows users to review match and training statistics, share them with their coach and on social media.
AccuTennis
Cost: $5 for each player who uses it (revenue sharing model)
This US start-up, based in Newtown, Pennsylvania, was founded between late 2016 and early 2017. The key people are Adam Sher (CEO), Dave Kliebhan (CTO) and Andy Hatstat (COO). The AccuTennis system is equipped with 22 cameras installed around each court to monitor all training activities, speakers to provide audible feedback during the game or the training, and a side-mounted double-sided LED screen that displays the score or provides visual feedback of the session. A tablet accompanies every AccuTennis court to allow coaches and users to log in and start their session. The system includes tools to create exercises and individual training programs for their players
Coaches can track their players’ progress regardless of whether they have achieved the goals set for those sessions and identify where they need to work harder. In addition to training sessions, the system also performs game monitoring, meaning line calling, score monitoring, statistic processing and videos acquisition. After the game, AccuTennis generates other numbers represented in charts and heat maps for further analysis while videos are categorised by shots and game type so that players can review specific segments of their game, take notes and replay at different speeds. At the moment, it seems that the solution is valid primarily for indoor courts and it is only available in the United States.
Mojjo
Costs: € 3000 for the installation, annual license between € 1500 and € 4000
Mojjo is a French company co-founded by engineer Emmanuel Witvoet in 2013, which includes Fabrice Santoro in the dual role of investor and testimonial. Their camera-based system is available in two versions: a Premium one with two HD cameras (one at the centre of the court and one in the back) and a touchscreen kiosk to allow users to interact with the system, and a “lite” version with a single HD video camera installed in the rear. Both versions also have outdoor options, which is essentially a roof structure that protects the kiosk from atmospheric elements.
In addition to most of the previously mentioned mentoring, training and game monitoring features, there are some unique characteristics in the product. One of these is the ability for a user to deploy their mobile phone as an additional camera to capture videos while it is synchronized with the main system. By using the Mojjo Remote application, the smartphone can be placed anywhere on the court providing a personalized perspective over the central or rear view.
Another interesting feature is their live streaming of games on YouTube or Facebook Live.
The solution turns out to be quite practical and intuitive. The next goal of the French company is to upgrade the product for media and sponsoring companies.
Layout and arrangement of cameras and kiosk
PlaySight
Costs: $ 10-12,500 + monthly fee for other services
PlaySight is an Israeli company founded in 2010. Similar to FlightScope, the implemented technological solution has its roots in military applications.
Although now it is used in many different sports, the system based on video cameras, computer vision and artificial intelligence algorithms was initially conceived to assist tennis players in order to help them improve their game by using advanced technology. Currently, the “Smart Court Pro” (high performance) can have up to 10 cameras, all synchronized for a multi-angle viewing experience, usable both in real time and after the game. Every court has a kiosk that allows users to register, create their own drills and start tracking their training or playing sessions.
Layout and arrangement of the cameras and photos of the kiosk
Options are available for various audio feedback and users/coaches can pause at any time to review the videos or check the statistics collected until then. After a match or a training session, users can still access all their data on the mobile app. The product includes in-depth data collection and analysis. Other interesting features of the PlaySight application include: 1) the ability for users to create their own videos with their synthetic content and share them with coaches, friends or on social media; 2) the upload of other videos if they have not been recorded on a court equipped with PlaySight, as well as the possibility of exploiting the analysis with the app features; 3) access to live streaming and “on demand” events.
The USTA is collaborating with PlaySight on its National Campus in Orlando, Florida, in order to be provided with technologically advanced tools on its playing courts. Playsight is available in many locations in the United States, Europe and parts of Asia.
Wingfield
Costs: from 3600 to 4500 euros per year (minimum three years contract)
Wingfield is a start-up based in Hannover, Germany, founded in October 2017, which has developed a solution also based on video cameras, although it is slightly different from those we have talked about until now, given the fact that it is a compact system designated to integrate into the tennis court. The Wingfield Box replaces one of the two net posts, and has a touch screen as well as two high-speed cameras that point to each side of the court. In addition, it sports an IP camera that can be installed anywhere around the court, capturing a complete view of each session. It has most of the mentoring, training, and monitoring functions that have been mentioned earlier, including video analysis, shot tracking, performance measurements, data analysis and more.
However, a couple of unique features of their system stand out and include: 1) a simplified way for players to access their training session using the app with customed QR code, and 2) Stroke Scores which provides users with a unique metric for understanding quality of different shots and keep track of progress over time.
Zenniz
Costs: 8900 euros or 260 euros per month for four years
Zenniz is another start-up that has developed a built-in camera in the net posts and it is designed to be permanently installed on a tennis court. The company was founded in 2018 and it is based in Helsinki, Finland. However, it appears that the product is not completed yet, as their website suggests it will be available from 2021. At first glance, it looks similar to Wingfield, as it consists of a “box” (or kiosk) that is installed in place of one of the net posts. The kiosk has a touch screen at the top with two cameras that capture activities on each side of the court. There is also a reference video camera that provides a complete view of the court. The few key differences compared to Wingfield are firstly that the kiosk is equipped with two LED screens, facing each side of the court, that provide real-time score trends and key statistics, and secondly that the system also made up of 30 sonar sensors, positioned around the court, which are able to provide ball tracking accuracy up to 1cm with video cameras.
Layout and arrangement of sonar sensors and cameras, photos of the device near the net post
On page three, the least expensive solutions (portable ones) and our conclusions.
