All Strung Out
I was taught to measure strings off a spool using a piece of tape on the floor. That is how they did it at theRead More
1 responseEGO Leaf Blowers at the US Open
Every time the US Open rolls out the court drying Zambonis, I fantasize about how awesome it would be to have one at my disposal.Read More
1 responseAnalytics at the US Open
Due to the partnership between the US Open and IBM Consulting, tennis fans have been subtly inundated with “Match Insights” over the past couple ofRead More
Whistler (While You Work on Racquet Head Speed)
Every once in a while I completely lose it… the feel for my serve, that is. I strongly suspect that he primary root cause whenRead More
Clutch Points
A research group has defined a new metric that identifies “clutch points” in tennis. At first glance it is a new way to understand matches and appears to provide new insight. Tennis matches hinge on big moments and carrying those points are crucial to winning. Some players are clearly better at these pivotal points than others. This new metric provides a fascinating way to break down and examine match play.
Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow
Daniel Nestor is a retired Canadian tennis player who was known mostly for doubles. He ended his 18 year professional tennis career in 2018. In 2010, Nestor was the subject of a Tennis Channel “Bag Check” segment. The contents of his tennis racquet bag were eclipsed by an appearance of his (then) infant daughter and a tour of her diaper bag. Still, there was one subtly useful item for recreational tennis players.
The Tennis Open Data Standard (TODS)
Over the past couple of weeks the USTA has sent an inordinate number of email messages to its membership heralding the imminent arrival of the World Tennis Number. For anyone who has ever bothered to register with the ITF, the World Tennis Number is already here. It appears on the ITF player profile page. In order for that to work, the ITF has to be able to receive information from all its member organizations in some standardized format. That is where the Tennis Open Data Standard (TODS) comes in.
2 responsesNew ATP WTA Live App
The ATP and WTA tours have partnered to create a new app that provides tennis schedules, scores, and news. I loaded it to my phone over the weekend for a test drive and instantly fell in love. All serious tennis fans should load have this app loaded on their mobile devices. It make it so much easier to watch and follow professional tennis on both tours.
2 responsesTennis Trunk Locker
My tennis racquet bag tends to run on the heavy side because I carry a lot of gear onto the court that might be needed during a match. I also keep a lot of things in the back of my car that could be essential situationally or in between matches. Today I am providing a glimpse into the items I have at the ready as well as my system for organization.
1 responseFuture Shock: Injury Prediction in Tennis?
The body is a complex system. Reflecting on aches and pains experienced before and after my recent foot injury has brought me to a new realization. It is highly likely that physical indicators were visible in my court movement and stroke mechanics for some time prior to my current injury. It is possible that artificial intelligence video analysis systems might soon be able to identify biomechanical breakdowns and warn of potential significant injury. I think this could happen within the next decade.