Babolat Frenchracket manufacturer, introduced something very innovative at the International CES this week.
The racket he showed off at the international tech show, a version of his best-selling Pure Drive series, has a gyroscope, accelerometers and a piezoelectric sensor in the handle. All of these sensors collect a wealth of data, including when the ball hits the racket's strings, how much force is used on the outbound and inbound strokes.
The new Pure Drive racket syncs with smartphones or tablets via Bluetooth or USB, and presents the data through a companion app.
The idea, said Thomas Otton, Babolat's global communications director, is that players will be able to have more information about their game, to monitor performance and how much they are improving.
“Today, a tennis player has no information except through his senses,” he said. “Now, he will have all the necessary information.”
Babolat's racket costs $399, $189 more than the Pure Drive, which doesn't have the sensors.
The racket weighs exactly the same as the Pure Drive, and has a power button on the handle. The battery lasts for six to eight hours before needing to be charged via USB.
