Tennis has been around for a very long time. Racquets have been made of ash and have an oval head. However, wooden racquets have weaknesses.
Take this example of a 12th-century racquet. It was the prototype of the racquets we have today, built of wood and gut. Racquets broke easily, and there were always challenges to improving the racquet. Some of these had to do with strengthening the frame. Other problems were strengthening the space between the head and the attachment to the handle. By 1905 Spalding had figured out that a wedge could be screwed into the bottom of the head and that, attached with a metal screw to the handle this would strengthen the racquet further. Finally racquets had to become more aerodynamic https://racquets.tennisfame.com/wood-racquets).
Over time new developments in racquet technology included the development of metal racquets, then wood laminate racquets, metal and composite racquets, large headed racquets and eventually graphite racquets.
(Prototype, n.d.) (Jeu de Paume Glove, n.d.)
The technology of the racquet is just an example here and an introduction to the eruption of technology in other facets of the game. Racquet technology focused on the equipment and ways to improve would improve the player’s game. More recently technology has become a whole game analysis tool that looks at the player’s technique from grip and swing to how hard players impact the ball, how much the material is moving or bending when the ball hits the racquets, to game analysis in real time. The game analysis includes the accuracy of points made, statistics for games, and players in real time and over time. This paper considers other technologies that support racquet sports from the racquet itself to the holistic analysis of the game from many angles.
First, let’s return to the racquet, the player’s central piece of equipment. In a 2019 study on racquet technology, researchers analyzed the performance of racquets using game statistics from four tournaments. Then they measured the improvements and performance changes in five players using four different racquets, from wooden to composite. The study found that player performance highly depended on the racquet used, with a positive trend in player statistics with the newer composite racquets (Osdemir et al. 2019). The study supports the purchase of new racquets as they emerge on the market, especially if they maintain the characteristics that improve play and refine them to make a stronger, lighter, more flexible, and responsive racquet.
Equipment advances are not the only technology in racket sports. Now technology covers many other aspects of a player’s game and analysis of the game as a whole over time on different courts and across locations and players. First are the innovations in gathering performance statistics from individual players. Technology can now measure players’ performance through sensor-based, computer-based, and wireless and mobile technology applications. Gosh et al. (2023) categorize tech learning into four areas: statistical learning and analysis, deep learning, reinforcement learning, and comparative discussion. Specific uses include statistical analysis of plays, analyzing players’ reaction speed, and footwork. This technology is very applicable to all sports, but useful for racquet sports, helping players reflect and practice their skills with concrete feedback analyzed by the coach.
The products offered by SportAI are equally useful, as they can translate a short video of an individual’s playing style and recommend the right gear for that player (Thome, 2024). The sports analytics website offers a range of articles on how to use video technology to coach players without the need for wearable technology (SportAI, n.d.).
Finally, there is virtual reality technology, including Artificial Intelligence (AI), Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), and Data Visualization (DV) in sports training. AI creates a strong statistical analysis of data from real-time play, matches, and individual players. VR lets players practice their skills in realistic settings that challenge their skill level. AR allows players to receive tips while playing and to help with tactical planning, even during a match. DV provides data visuals that enable a better understanding of the data collected. One review of the technology suggests that the best way to use this technology is to use all four together (Cossich et al., 2023).
For most of the racquet sports community, this technology is too expensive for the individual player. However, it is not out of reach for some high-end players and organizations. Wearable technology can help the individual player who can afford neither a coach nor high-tech analysis. For example, Swing Vision is an app made for Apple watches, which has been around since 2016. The main cost of that app is the Apple Watch! Reviews started shaky, but the app has improved over time. One review from Tennis Coaching has called it a game change,r particularly for measuring and analysing serve and swing performance (SwingVision Review: 5 Ways It Can Improve Your Tennis, 2022) Swing Vision Pro costs $149 which isn’t too bad if you can afford the hardware. Still, that can be too pricey for many. Because technology improves over time and the cost often reduces, this technology may eventually be available for the less well-funded racquet sports community. As a coach I like the technology more than many other coaches. It gives me the ability to collect more information than my human eye can see. Many coaches are worried that these devices are coming in to take their jobs. I see this technology as furthering our ability to do our jobs. The personal experience you provide as a coach will not be matched by an app or any technology. It is a tool that can improve coaching.
References
Cossich, V. R. A., Carlgren, D., Holash, R. J., & Katz, L. (2023). Technological breakthroughs in sport: Current practice and future potential of artificial intelligence, virtual reality, augmented reality, and modern data visualization in performance analysis. Applied Sciences, 13(23), 12965. https://doi.org/10.3390/app132312965
Ghosh, I., Ramasamy Ramamurthy, S., Chakma, A., & Roy, N. (2023). Sports analytics review: Artificial intelligence applications, emerging technologies, and algorithmic perspective. WIREs Data Mining and Knowledge Discovery, 13(5). https://doi.org/10.1002/widm.1496
Jeu de Paume Glove. (n.d.). Court Tennis. https://racquets.tennisfame.com/court-tennis
Osdemir, O., Odabas, H. I., & Turan, T. (2019). Impact of Racquet Evolution: How New Technologies Affected Tennis Players’ Statistics? Pamukkale Journal of Sport Sciences, 10(2), 1–15.
Prototype. (n.d.). Early Metal. Retrieved May 6, 2025, from https://racquets.tennisfame.com/early-metal
SportAI. (n.d.). SportAI. https://sportai.com/
SwingVision, Inc. (2016, October 18). SwingVision: Tennis pickleball. App Store. https://apps.apple.com/us/app/swingvision-tennis-pickleball/id989461317
SwingVision Review: 5 Ways it can Improve Your Tennis. (2022, August 29). My Tennis Coaching. https://mytenniscoaching.com/2022/08/29/swingvision-review/
Thome, L. (2024, September 25). The role of AI in sports equipment recommendations. SportAI. https://sportai.com/news/the-role-of-ai-in-sports-equipment-recommendations
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