'Smart' tennis racquet records spin, shots and power in time for Wimbledon

The first "smart" tennis racquet with electronics in the handle will reveal level of spin, number of shots played and the power of each shot

Babolet's connected raquet

Andy Murray will have even more to fear from rivals at Wimbledon this year as players including Rafa Nadal arrive armed with a new generation of 'smart racquets'.

Tennis giant Babolat has launched the racquets with computer technology built into the handle, which they say will give players an advantage over their rivals because they give a detailed breakdown of why their serve went wide or their forehand smash hit the net.

Within weeks, some of the world's top tennis players will show up at major tournaments armed with the new technology they hope will help them beat their opponents at Roland Garros and Wimbledon.

Eric Babolat, CEO of the French tennis equipment company, announced he has introduced the first “Connected Racquet” into the sport after a decade in development.

Designed for professional players and amateurs alike, and tested by top players including men's number one, Nadal, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Australian Open champion Li Na, the racquet gathers data through sensors and chips in the handle.

It will collect data such as the power of their shots, the angle at which they strike the ball, along with the number of strokes, the level of spin, total play time, endurance, technique, consistency, energy and rallies.

Approved by the International Tennis Federation for use since January 1, Mr Babolat expects to see the first professional players using it at tournaments from mid-year.

Amateur players can buy the racquet - which does not differ in size and weight from normal racquets - from May 15 onwards in Europe, for £325 (399 euro).

Ex-pro and former coach of Wimbledon champion Andy Murray, Mark Petchey says the new technology has "limitless potential".

"It has the potential to change the way we think about coaching," Mr Petchey told Reuters.

"From analysing the data, in one match or over several, you can analyse your player's shot selection, you can see if your player is playing with too much variety or not enough variety, or maybe not playing to their strengths, maybe being a little too defensive.

"From a power point of view, you can see the effort level that your player is putting in. And you can't cheat it because it is there in black and white in terms of the stats coming out," he added.

Nadal said: "The Babolat Play & Connect racquet is a tremendous tool. Having this new technology to capture information from my matches will mean a new way of analyzing my game."

Mr Babolat, the man behind the 'smart racquets' declined to identify exactly which players would be first to wield the hi-tech weapons.

"It could be any week. We have a lot of players testing. It is going to happen very soon," Mr Babolat in an interview at Britain's National Tennis Centre in south-west London.

"It is a question of days, not months."

Declared legal by the International Tennis Federation (ITF), who adopted a new rule covering the technology at the start of the year, selected racquets will feature data-collecting sensors in their handles.

"Quite simply, this is information like we have never been able to get before," said Mr Babolat.

"It is information direct from the racquet, from the string bed, and it tells us exactly what is happening, not just a feeling from the player.

"For me it was incredible, that you can take the number one tennis player in the world (Rafa Nadal) and see that he doesn't really know anything about what is happening in his racquet, apart from his feel. He has no data about anything, and it is incredible to imagine.

"It is like you are a Formula One driver and you don't know how fast you are driving. It is a bit unbelievable, but it is like that. No longer."

Babolet's connected raquet

The information is transmitted through bluetooth to smartphones or tablets

The information collected will be transmitted through bluetooth to smartphones or tablets where players and coaches can analyse and share their data with other analysts and online communities.

Technology is increasingly entering all aspects of sport, from the Hawk-Eye system which is now also used in football, video replays or data-gathering in running with chips attached to shoes and apps for smartphones or tablet computers to analyse the training or competition.

Mr Babolat said the technology had been developed over 10 years by more than 50 technicians, scientists and researchers.

The data's importance to the elite would appear obvious in a sport where millions of dollars are invested in training and technology to gain an edge.

But in a curious case of life imitating art, Babolat also says a major benefit of the "connected racquet" will be the "gamification" of tennis and the added appeal for new generations.

"I had one guy come up to me who said 'I love tennis, and I love video games - you have combined my worlds'," he said. "With this, you can compete against your friends in more than just a conventional game of tennis. You can compare your shots - against the professionals as well as against your friends.

"You will be able to see the data which could tell you that you should do this and that. For example the racquet can tell people who think they are hitting a lot of topspin that in fact they are flatter than they think.”

Mr Babolat said that the vision had been consistent for some time, but that they had been waiting for the technology to mature and develop. Once that happened, the route to approval had been quick.

"We realized what we had developed would not be allowed in tournaments so we went to the ITF," Mr Babolat said. "I was afraid the ITF would say, 'no this is not in the spirit of tennis', but I was surprised.

"We were not pushed back at all on this. The only restriction is on the coaching rule. We are not allowed to have live information go to the player on court because we have to respect the no coaching rule.

"Tennis today is in competition with many other things, other sports, video games, so I think people in the tennis industry are conscious of this."

At present, the Babolat company - which numbers Rafa Nadal, Li Na, Sam Stosur and Jo Wilfried Tsonga among the players it sponsors - is the only manufacturer using the technology, but the company's chief says very soon all racquets will be smart racquets.

"For the next generation of players, it will be a natural thing to switch your racquet on before playing. I am really convinced that within a few years there will be no racket that is not 'connected',” Mr Babolat said.

Players can compare themselves with others in the app-community if they wish to do so.

"It enriches the game. It is interesting for pros and club players. You just want to know at what level you are," Mr Babolat added.

A coaching app is now planned and Babolat expects other companies to follow.

"In 10 years you won't have any racquets that are not connected," he said.