The Babolat Play&Connect interactive tennis racket was designed to help players get a better indication of their skills and how to improve their swing out on the court.
The prototype, which has now been put into action at the French Open in Paris, has moved from the development phase to the hands of professional tennis stars looking to get an edge over their competitors.
Packed inside the handle of the racket are sensors and other electronics that record each movement the player makes as well as the ball movement. After completing a match, the athlete can then download information about their swing, power, ball movement and more via a USB, or they can watch live updates through a wireless connection to a tablet, smartphone or other computer.
Techtastic Tennis Rackets (UPDATE)
The Babolat Play&Connect Helps Improve Athletic Performance
Trend Themes
1. Interactive Sports Equipment - The Babolat Play&Connect tennis racket demonstrates the potential for interactive sports equipment that provides real-time performance data.
2. Data-driven Training - The integration of sensors and electronics in the Babolat Play&Connect racket enables data-driven training and personalized performance feedback.
3. Connected Athletics - The wireless connectivity of the Babolat Play&Connect racket showcases the growing trend of connected devices in the world of athletics.
Industry Implications
1. Sports Equipment - The sports equipment industry can explore opportunities in developing interactive and data-driven products to enhance athlete performance.
2. Health and Fitness - The health and fitness industry can utilize similar technology to create personalized training programs and performance monitoring tools.
3. Technology and Wearables - The technology and wearables industry should continue innovating to enhance the integration of sensors and wireless connectivity in sports equipment.