The newest update to Zepp’s baseball and golf app includes a new feature to personalize users’ training based on swing analysis.
The feature, called Zepp Insights, will produce reports that recommend drills to help users focus on personalized weakness in their swings. The reports will be delivered weekly, provided the user takes at least 30 swings during that week. Using millions of swings collected from its users, Zepp will identify which of the five calculated swing parameters — bat speed at impact, maximum hand speed, time to impact, vertical angle at impact, and attack angle — is most in need of improvement. The report will then recommend training drills and tips from their existing video library.
The new update will also include swing goals across all metrics based on the user’s skill level. In previous versions of the app, only bat speed goals were set automatically, with additional goals relying on user input to tag the hit type and direction.
In addition to the drills and overviews featuring Cubs hitting coach John Mallee, Zepp also provides swing data and video of a number of MLB hitters, including Mike Trout, David Ortiz, and Giancarlo Stanton. The pros offer advice on more “real-world” scenarios, such as staying back on a curveball and hitting the ball the other way.
CEO Jason Fass said the new update provided personalized, actionable data to its users, better helping them improve their swings.
“Our goal is to provide analysis that not only collects numbers from the sensor, but offers ways to improve those numbers through content in our app,” Fass said. “We need to engage and elevate athletes by personalizing tips gleaned from their captured data.”
Their most popular YouTube channel partner is Dude Perfect, the group of Texas A&M alums who got their start making ridiculous basketball trick shots. They have also begun forming content partnerships with professional athletes like Jeremy Lin.
Along with pro athlete content partnerships, Whistle Sports has partnered with nearly all major pro sports franchises, including the NFL, MLB, PGA Tour, and NASCAR. In an interview with Forbes, John West, the CEO of Whistle Sports, described the companies relationship with sports leagues, saying, “Each is a true partnership, in which they give us access to their libraries that we use to co-create content, and then we distribute that content on our platforms as well as theirs. Why did they all choose to partner with us? They’re losing young viewers and they have to adapt and evolve—we’re the vehicle to make that happen.”
Given their amazing growth and plans to go international, Whistle Sports is now a giant in the digital media space, building in one year what took others like VICE years to do.
(Photo by George Bush Presidential Library and Museum via Flickr)
Though the golf swing is a highly-technical movement, it actually lends itself well to analysis with technology. The problem is, in order to analyze a swing comprehensively, an expensive and complicated radar-based system like Trackman is needed. Epson, with their release of the M-Tracer, is looking to bring a similar kind of analysis in a much smaller and more convenient system.
The M-Tracer is a small device weighing only 15 grams that attaches to the shaft of a golf club. The sensor tracks things like clubhead speed, face angle, swing path, and tempo. Renowned golf instructor David Leadbetter was involved in the design of the device, and was at Epson’s CES booth to discuss it with members of the media.
One of the biggest advantages of a system like M-Tracer is its flexibility. It can be used both on the course and at the driving range, or even in an indoor facility during the offseason. There are no special mats or cameras to be set up, just strap the device on the shaft of any club and start tracking your swings. The device can both stream live data to a Bluetooth-enabled device in real time, or can be stored locally for later uploading. Epson says M-Tracer can store 399 swings locally before needing to upload the data. Once uploaded, golfers can see the raw numbers as well as a 3D model of their swing to find what parts still need to be addressed.
One of the nicest things about the M-Tracer system is the ability to use it in conjunction with a golf instructor. Data can be sent from the student’s device to the coaches app so that the coach can keep tabs on how the student is progressing and if new issues have arisen. They can also easily communicate which facets of the game need work, so that the student know which data that the device captured is most important to their specific game improvement.
As someone who has relied on the indoor radar systems as part of his instruction, I can say that the idea of a portable swing analyzer is very intriguing. The ability to both work independently and with an instructor in a structured, data-driven way seems like the next logical step in tech-based game improvement. Nothing will completely replace the need for a good instructor, but the M-Tracer seems like a perfectly fine tool to use in the never-ending quest for the perfect golf swing.
The M-Tracer by Epson will be released in March 2015, and is expected to sell for $300.
We’re still a little bit from the trample-fest known as Black Friday but that’s not stopping Amazon from getting on the deal game a little early. They’re running sales at their site all through this week and next, and the enterprising golfer can take advantage if they act soon. Both the GolfSense 3D Swing Analyzer and the SwingTIP Swing Analysis system can be had for a steal today providing you get in before the deals are gone. I suppose “steal” is a relative term, as the sensor+app systems are still fairly pricey even after the discount. But if you’re looking to use tech to improve your game in the offseason, Amazon’s got your back today.
The mega -retailer is promising a slew of deals over the next coming days, so whether you’re in the market for some wearable tech, a new tablet, or even a new laptop, it might be wise to keep checking back. If we come across any super deals for the sports-loving techie in our travels, we’ll be sure to pass them along.
Those wanting access to video training and analysis tool Ubersense no longer have to switch platforms, as the company has announced that an Android version of their popular mobile app is now available. Ubersense uses your devices camera to capture high-speed video of your performance for later reviewing. It offers slow-motion playback and drawing tools to break down movement frame by frame and help understand body position and angles. Ubersense claims it’s had over 2.5 million downloads since its inception from athletes in over 50 sports. Ubersense has even been used by US Olympic bobsledders.
The sport independence of Ubersense was always its selling point. While specific tools and apps for golfers and tennis players have been around for some time, Ubsersense doesn’t differentiate. It can be used by baseball players, bowlers, track and field competitors, and even dancers. Anyone who wants to take a look at themselves or their students in a hyper-specific manner can use the app.
Now, Ubersense can also boast platform independence. The Android offering comes in lockstep with their acquisition by Hudl, a similar app that focuses more on the coaching side of the sport.
Ubersense is a free download on either the iOS or Android stores, with a monthly or yearly charge for Ubersense Elite, which offers the ability to upload videos to online storage and sync across multiple devices.
The 40th Ryder Cup competition doesn’t officially begin until Friday (with practice rounds beginning Wednesday), but that gives you ample time to get yourself up to date on this iteration of the bi-annual golf competition. It’s an exciting event for the avid golf fan, the fan that only watches majors and even those desperate for some old-fashioned national pride. Here’s what you need to know to keep tabs on the event through your computer or mobile device.
Pre-Event
Some simple Googling can give you all the Ryder Cup previews your heart desires. There’s no shortage of opinion on who will win, which player will shine or which player needs to step up for their team. If you’re just looking for basic info on the event, the Ryder Cup’s official web page will give you everything you need to know. You can download the official program, get the schedule of events, and take virtual tours of all the holes at Gleneagles. The tours of the holes are a nice touch, but be ready for some VERY annoying ads before EVERY video flyover. In my experience, most ads actually last longer than the hole previews themselves which, you know, is super dumb. It’s a real bummer, but the hole tours are still nice if you want to get an idea of how players will be tackling the course this week. The official site also offers a lot of news in both print and video form, if you just can’t get enough Ryder Cup info.
Golf Channel is providing a boatload of coverage throughout the week, starting with previews and analysis and moving on to practice round coverage starting Wednesday. If you can’t be near your TV, you can follow along via Golf Live Extra, Golf Channel’s streaming service. You do need to provide your TV carrier credentials, so it’s not available for cord-cutters. But TV subscribers who receive Golf Channel can stream coverage live on their computers, iOS or Android devices.
During the Event
Competition begins Friday, so if you want to follow along while at work in the morning, the Ryder Cup is offering live streaming on their web site. If you’re on the go (or work somewhere with a less-than-favorable browsing policy), you can rely on the complementary iOS and Android apps for your live video needs. You can use these apps all weekend, of course, so you’ll never have to miss out on the action. The apps can also provide live scoring updates, so you can still know how the teams are doing even if you can’t be glued to your device.
If you’ll be near a TV over the weekend, both Golf Channel and NBC will have you covered, as they are broadcasting the entire event for the first time ever. The event is in Scotland, so you’ll need to stay up late or get up early to catch all the coverage. You soccer fans should be used to this by now. Full TV listings can be found here.
From what I can tell, no TV subscription is necessary to follow along on the Ryder Cup video stream and apps, so even if you don’t get Golf Channel, you should still be able to see live video when you require it. So set those alarms, pre-program those coffee makers, and get ready for an exciting three days of international competition as golf returns to the motherland. Just don’t blame us if you’re really groggy come Monday morning.
Golf can be a really cool thing to watch live. You get to be outdoors, see beautiful landscapes, and get closer to the athletes than probably any sport (save for those crazy-expensive courtside NBA tickets). Seeing golf live can also be a bit of a hassle. There’s so much ground to be covered that it becomes quite easy to lose your way or spend a good deal of time searching for a concession stand, a restroom, or even the way back to your car.
There is also the feeling that you are always missing something. You may be following a certain pairing or a favorite player, but except for the occasional scoreboard sighting, it can be difficult to know what else is going on on the course. The best action might be happening 800 yards away from you.
In partnership with SAP, the Solheim Cup is looking to change these problems, by using smartphone apps to help fans get around the course and know more about the game. Fans who make the trip to Germany for the event in 2015 will be able to use their smartphones to find their way around the course, as well as find the latest scores, stats and standings from the competition. SAP is planning on instituting live streaming as well, so fans won’t have to trek across the course to see how a certain player or pairing is doing. The app will also provide live traffic and parking updates to help prevent congestion coming to and from the course, and will also offer integration with SAP’s ride-sharing app TwoGo.
This is a great step for golf. As they are already seeing a good-sized drop in event attendance, any reason to keep fans engaged is a good one for the sport. Giving spectators the ability to follow along with all the action of the event without having to log miles on their feet will help ensure fan morale and should cut down on foot traffic. An easy way for observers to find the nearest restroom or beverage stand without aimlessly wandering about should also help keep people happy. We don’t know the participants of the Solheim Cup yet, but it should bring some great competition for viewers all over the world to see. Thanks to some help from SAP, it should bring a good deal of enjoyment for the event goers as well.
Each Friday, we here at TechGraphs like to point out some of the sports-tech stories that may have slipped through the cracks. It’s the Friday News Roundup. I have a busy schedule of getting my butt kicked in Madden, so let’s get right to it.
It’s football season! To celebrate, the temperature in the American Middle West dropped twenty degrees within 24 hours. As of this writing, we are one game into the NFL season. Hopefully you didn’t blow your entire nest egg on Seahawks/Packers, because betting on games just got easier. Thanks to the Windows Phone feature Cortana, all you have to do is ask who is going to win. Cortana will use a “combination of stats, previous match-ups, and subtler criteria like stadium conditions” to pick a winner for you. If you program your bookie in your phone, your gambling problem can be 100% voice-activated.
Speaking of the NFL, Fox announced that you should be able to use its Fox Sports To Go app to stream 101 games to which they have the rights for the 2014 season. One will need a cable or satellite subscription to access the feature on their computers, phones, and laptops, and the game will have to be available in their local area. This means that fans of out-of-town teams are still stuck with needing Sunday Ticket or sketchy streaming web sites.
Verizon is also offering up a similar service, but with the added bonus of RedZone.
Also on the streaming front, ESPN announced that customers of MediaCom, Suddenlink, NCTC and NTTC should now have access to the WatchESPN service on computers and mobile devices. There’s a joke here about watching First Take while sitting on the toilet, but I can’t nail it down yet. I’ll get back to you.
ESPN also updated their SportsCenter app for the iPhone, allowing quicker access to favorite teams and shows. It seems as if my request to add curling to the scores section went unnoticed yet again.
GOLF! The Ryder Cup said it would ban social media posting by fans on the grounds, but then they changed their minds. Or succumbed to scrutiny. Either way. Limiting ways fans can interact with a game everyone says is dying was probably a dumb move, so it’s nice to see the Ryder Cup rectify it.
Not a Madden person? Don’t have $60 to spend on something that pretty much only makes you angry? You’re in luck! Tecmo Super Bowl 2015 has been released! With just a little emulator magic, you can get that virtual football experience without all those buttons and joysticks to get in your way. Now you can get angry for free, though that was already pretty easy.
In baseball, MLB said that they have crossed the point of no return — more people are watching MLB.tv on devices than on computers. I’m guessing this guy had a lot to do with it.
We may be closer to removing the first down markers and chains from football, thanks to some research being done with magnetic fields. While I’m all for getting the calls right, I will miss that part when the ball is short by a good foot and a half, but the quarterback runs to the coach signaling that they ONLY NEED TWO MORE INCHES. I grew up watching Brett Favre, so I remember this happening a lot.
And finally, EA Sports launched their Madden GIFERATOR this week. This tool is supposedly for taunting your Madden opponents on Twitter or something. I’m not really sure what the practical use is. Anyway, the Internet did what the Internet always does, and ruined it. Actually, they took a dumb, gimmicky thing and made it pretty funny. I even tried my hand at it today:
That’s all for this week. Remember to ice those thumbs periodically, and try not to curse too much at pre-teens.
The way things change and progress these days, seven years can seem like a lifetime. When viewed through certain filters, 2007 looks like ancient history. Our laptops were huge, our smartphones were pretty dumb, the Bears were good at football. A lot has changed. Our interaction with sports — the ways we observed and learned about our games — have also taken enormous leaps. The level of analysis available to us is at an all-time high. And as recent news suggests, it’s only going to get better. What we take for granted now may have seemed like a pipe dream seven years ago, but it was a technology that came about in 2007 that let us peek into the future.
We can certainly marvel at the current gizmos and gadgets professional athletes can use to dissect their game. Between proprietary stats, game film, and in-house tools that are at a player’s disposal, they have a lot of opportunities to analyze themselves. But what about us common folk? We still like to play sports. What can we use to help us keep our games on point?
As it happens, two common recreational sports, tennis and golf, are being flooded with tools and apps that can help the weekend warriors get better. Nothing is a substitute for a good lesson with a good teaching pro, but that doesn’t mean we can’t supplement with some self instruction.
Tennis
Babolat Play Pure Drive Racquet
The Play Pure Drive doesn’t actually transform, but it is certainly more than meets the eye. Inside this innocuous racquet are a group of sensors, programmed to record your every swing. It collects your swing data, categorizes the types (serves, forehands, backhands, etc.), and beams it all to your smartphone or tablet. It can tell you where you on the strings you are hitting your shots, and provide tips for better swings. There is also a social aspect to it, where you can upload and compare your stats to others as well as work on leveling up your skills.
Price: $400
Sony Smart Tennis Sensor
Sony Smart Tennis Sensor
If you are set on hanging on to your own racquet, the Sony Smart Tennis Sensor might be more for you. Rather than a whole new racquet, a simple dongle is attached to the end of your current one. Though the product isn’t available quite yet, it does promise some exciting features for those looking to analyze their game. Like the Babolat, the sensor tracks number of shots and impact spots, but also grabs things like swing speed, ball speed, and spin. You have the option of streaming the data to your smartphone or saving it all in the dongle and uploading it at once. This could come in handy if your phone is almost dead, or you left it in your locker.
Price: $200
Golf
Golfshot GPS / Caddio
Caddio
The players on the tour have the luxury of caddies with detailed score cards to help with club and shot selection. The average golfer, unless they play the same
course regularly, is often coming in blind. There are laser-guided distance finders available, but Golfshot GPS and Caddio look to add something extra. They take different approaches to course management. Golfshot comes loaded with over 40,000 golf courses, shows multiple distances (center of green, back of green, right fairway, etc.), allows you to track your shots and keep a scorecard. Caddio goes a different way, using crowdsourcing to find those pesky hazard areas and false green fronts you might not be able to see from the tee or fairway. They offer the insight of the players that have been around the course before. Caddio also encourages you to be social about your game. After all, the more people use it, the more data gets saved per course.
Price: Free (both)
Game Golf / Arccos
Arccos
Game Golf and Arccos also take different approaches on the same concept: sensors on the end of your club. While Game Golf requires you to tap your club against a small device on your belt, Arccos encourages you to just swing away and let it do the work. With Game Golf, all the data is kept on the sensor. After a round, you unload the data via USB onto a computer (the horror!). Arccos requires that your smartphone be within Bluetooth range of your clubs (i.e. your pocket), but does not require a computer to unload stats. Both use GPS data to determine your location on the course during every hit, track your distances and number of shots, and give you digestible information about your round and your overall performance throughout the season. Ease and price play a factor, but either should give you more knowledge than you thought you needed about your game.
Price: $199 (Game Golf), $399 (Arccos)
Swingshot
Swingshot
Video analysis is a huge part of golf now, and Swingshot looks to provide that functionality for average golfers on the course. Designed to fit in a golf bag,
Swingshot is basically a camera on a stick. Just jam it in the ground, hit record, and swing. The video is saved and can be viewed later on a computer or mobile device. If you’re working on reducing the cupping of your wrist or avoiding the dreaded “chicken wing”, Swingshot will help you pinpoint exactly when you do it. Plus, if you fall down during a golf swing, it makes for easy uploads to YouTube.
