from the racket to the bracelet, what to choose?

January 06, 2020

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September 2020. For the first time, a player using a smart tennis racket wins a WTA tournament. Karolina Pliskova, the Czech player, now number 3 in the world, has made history. And has probably kicked off the heavy use of smart health connected devices in the world of tennis. Less than three years later, smart health connected tennis has gone from strange fad to a real phenomenon that is starting to reach all audiences. Whether you are a professional or a simple amateur, objects exist to improve your performance, benefit from virtual coaching or simply … count the score. We will explain everything to you.

Why choose smart health connected tennis?

Do you play as an amateur or at a small level in a club and don't understand the craze for smart health connected tennis? What could it bring you after all? Progress. And in an entertaining way. This is how we could sum up the proposal for smart health connected tennis.

If smart health connected objects are deployed in all sports, they find a particular breeding ground in individual sports. Tennis, where constant questioning is necessary to continue to progress, is therefore particularly fertile ground. The example for the return of "Roger", who was given for death and who has just won the Australian Open is a particularly good illustration of this competitive spirit.

Many objects are available (see below) to enjoy the benefits of smart health connected tennis. The benefits they bring, however, are often linked. Analyze your performance in detail, collect your vital data or even coach you in real time … So many examples that should interest all fans of the little yellow ball.

Four main types of objects

  • Snowshoes. Babolat launched the movement in 2020 with the first smart health connected racket in tennis history. With sensors inside the handle, it notably made it possible to obtain information on the types of strike, the effects of the ball, the centering on the sieve … But the brand is expensive. The Babolat AeroPro Drive Play, its latest model released last February, is also worth € 350. Of course, it provides a lot of information than its ancestor: power of strikes, the position of the impact of the balls or the number of forehands, backhands, smashes and other volley distributed.

  • Sensors. If your budget is too limited for a smart health connected racket, then sensors can be the solution. The most used on the market today is Zepp. It connects like a tip on the handle of your racket and collects several data such as the percentage of use of each stroke, the point of impact of the balls, or the striking power. Big positive point, it then allows a 3D visualization of the shots to be able to analyze them from several angles. You will still have to pay around 130 €.

  • Clothing. Only one brand offers a t-shirt specially dedicated to tennis, it’s Ralph Lauren with his “Polo Tech”. Unveiled at the US Open 2020, it allows you to record heart and respiratory rhythms as well as temperature and the stress level throughout the activity. However, the direct relationship with tennis seems unclear and its price of 261 could quickly become problematic. Several brands now offer smart health connected sportswear, so don't hesitate to compare.

  • Wearables. Watches, bracelets,… As in all sports, wearables have made a place for themselves in the world of tennis. Some models are particularly dedicated to the world of the little yellow ball. Among them, the Pulse Play. This watch allows you to count points with a single touch but also provides statistics on the game. The Smash bracelet goes further since it acts like a real coach. Thedata analysis provides advice to improve his technique. In addition, after studying the data collected by the bracelet, daily objectives are given to the user. In short, a real personal coach but without the rants!

And tomorrow, what future for smart health connected tennis?

In terms of smart health connected objects, tennis, like most sports, is still in its infancy. We can easily imagine ever more precise sensors and collecting more and more data. But above all, while smart health connected tennis, outside of the high level, remains for the time being the exception and not the norm, things should change quickly. “In 10 years, all snowshoes will be smart health connected”, predicted Gaël Moureaux, the racket product manager at Babolat at the end of 2020.

The WTA has already decided to allow the use of tablets for coaches on the edge of the field to allow smart health connected coaching. An evolution already anticipated by the stadiums. Roland-Garros, however far from being the most modern of the Grand Slam tournaments, also relies on "connection". The French Tennis Federation, in collaboration with the start-up Mojjo, is thus developing innovative technology: the ehealth player "Roland-Garros powered by Mojjo". Tested in 2020, this ehealth player will be based on an algorithm capable of automatically locating the ball, rebounds, strikes, movement of players … After having started to transform the experience for players, the next transformation of smart health connected tennis could concern spectators well.

Find out what's new in the world of smart health connected tennis in our dedicated section.

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