Wireless Wednesday for 7/29/15: BB&T Atlanta Open and Tennis

With the BB&T Atlanta Open going on this week at Atlantic Station, Rick and Mitch take their annual look at The BB&T Atlanta Open and what's new in tennis technology.

Have a listen to Rick and Mitch:

1.  BB&T Atlanta Open  

www.bbtatlantaopen.com   

Going on this week at Atlantic Station. John Isner is back to got for a "three-peat", the Bryan Brothers are here playing doubles and Andy Roddick is coming out of retirement briefly to play doubles this week.

2.  Emirates Airline U.S. Open Series and ESPN TV Coverage

Tennis fans will have more opportunities to watch their favorite players compete this summer than ever before, with ESPN broadcasting more than 1,800 hours of live match coverage – including 200 hours of live TV coverage – across its platforms during the 2015 US Open and Emirates Airline US Open Series.

In addition to over 200 hours of live match play on ESPN and ESPN2, more than 1,600 hours of live match coverage will be shown on ESPN3. The unprecedented coverage is part of the first year of an 11-year agreement between the USTA and ESPN, which will broadcast the US Open until 2025.

During the 2015 US Open, more than 1,100 hours of live match coverage will be shown on ESPN3, which will also be hosted on USOpen.org. ESPN and ESPN2 will also show a combined 130 hours of live match coverage, with ESPN featuring play from 11 courts during the tournament.

Fans will also be able to access coverage for the first time at www.emiratesusopenseries.com, as well as the individual tournament websites through the ESPN3 Media Player. ESPN3 is also accessible on line at WatchESPN.com and on smartphones and tablets via the WatchESPN app.


3.  PlaySight Smartcourt

PlaySight is a tennis action review system. Affordable, easy to install and to use, it is designed for tennis clubs across the world.

With just four fully automated cameras PlaySight smart court gives real-time and after-action review with complete debriefing solutions, auto stats, bio-mechanical analysis and 3D tactical game management.
Your activity and motion during the entire match/training are automatically recorded, analyzed and uploaded into the PlaySight.com where you can review your performance and share it with your coach, friends and family.

PlaySight is the ultimate coaching tool to substantially improve tennis players' achievements as well as the ability of the coaches to track and analyse their progress.

 
 
4.  Tecnifibre Strings

String technology in tennis has actually changed more than racquet technology.

Tecnifibre's new Black Code 4S  -  Rick's Examiner article -
http://www.examiner.com/article/tecnifibre-s-new-black-code-4s-again-proves-string-is-the-thing

The Black Code 4S is a four-sided string. The first Black Code was a five-sided offering. This means more spin than any other Tecnifibre string and I didn't notice or have any issue with losing control.

Speed - I was able to generate more speed to go along with the extra spin. I felt comfortable off both wings on the ground and felt better about most defensive shots I had to hit. My playing partner said he felt more power off the ground and on the serve.


5. QLIPP Tennis Sensor

A revolutionary smart sensor and accompanying mobile app (iOS and Android) that provides deep insights into key aspects of a tennis player’s game by providing measurement and video capture of a player’s strokes, spin, shot speed and sweet spot accuracy. QLIPP is the perfect training tool for tennis players, whether casual enthusiasts or tour professionals, to improve their game.  
Via the free QLIPP app, players can instantly view their data, save each session for future reference or compare their performance to others using QLIPP.  In addition, the app has voice feedback so players can hear the app relay their stroke information while they are still on the court playing.

Retail price slated to be $129.99.
 


App of the Week:

Hooks

Price: free for Android

- Set alarms for all the things you have to remember...
Hooks lets you set an alarm for anything and everything. New TV show episodes, bands coming to your town, weather alerts, Reddit posts, video games coming out, et cetera. You can look through pre-made alerts or create your own, using keywords and conditions.
 

Wireless Wednesday (Monday) for 7/25/13: With Mitch Evans - Tennis and BB&T Atlanta Open

Rick and Mitch talk about the BB&T Atlanta Open that is going on this week at Atlantic Station and they also talk about technology in tennis.

Have a listen to all three parts:

listen to ‘Wireless Wednesday for 7/24/13 on 92.9 The Game Part 1’ on Audioboo

listen to ‘Wireless Wednesday for 7/24/13 on 92.9 The Game Part 2’ on Audioboo

listen to ‘Wireless Wednesday for 7/24/13 on 92.9 The Game Part 3’ on Audioboo

Show Notes:

Tennis action is served up this week in Atlanta as the BB&T Atlanta Open is underway.  And the App of the Week!

Come out and see the stars of tennis - John Isner, Mardy Fish, Lleyton Hewitt
www.bbtatlantaopen.com

*Tennis Technology*

1. Hawk-Eye - Technology

Tennis' instant replay challenges.  Very accurate.
Players get 3 challenges per set -  Additional challenges if they are right
Replays are shown on big video screens on the court  and fans get into it

2.  Racquets

Not sure how much more racquets can change, but they have.
They continue to get lighter.  
Wilson is making an effort use fewer cross strings - that equals more spin.
So far the results have been positive.


3.  Strings

Big changes have occured in strings over the last 5-7 years.  String technology has evolved more than anything.

It has changed in the past decade because strings made of polyester blends can create more topspin, allowing players to swing harder, keep the ball in the court and extend rallies.

“For every 100 r.p.m.’s of topspin you can put on the ball, you can reduce the flight distance by 6 to 12 inches,”
The game has changes and the pro have all gone to the new strings.

4.  Wilson's High Tech Innovation Center in Chicago

The Innovation Center, a nondescript one-story brick building located a few blocks from O’Hare Airport, houses the gadgets and gizmos, and the brainpower that develops Wilson’s rackets. This year, the Innovation Center added a Doppler radar device called the TrackMan, which was connected to a small practice court to measure the speed, flight pattern and revolutions per minute of a ball when struck by a player. The tests confirmed that the string pattern was the key variable affecting spin, with other tweaks to the racket frame necessary to fully enhance the effect.

5.  For those Going to BB&T Atlanta Open

Check out the website at  www.bbtatlantaopen.com
Follow BB&T Atlanta Open on Facebook and Twitter

BB&T Atlanta Open Text Club - TEXT: ATLANTA to 25973
Joining the Atlanta Text Club not only allows you to stay updated on the tournament, but provides interactive activities while at the tournament. These include trivia, polls, voting and song requests. Joining the Text Club also give you the opportunity to receive a free seat upgrade.

App of the week:  ATP/WTA App  -  Free for iOS or Android

 
Keep up to the minute with all the professioanl tennis scores with this app.  Draws, stats and scores for all the big tournaments and smaller Challenger events
 

Wireless Wednesday for 6/20/12: Tech at the BB&T Atlanta Open and Speakeasy Cocktails

A lot of fun this week as Steve and I discuss some of the technology you may see as you head down to the BB&T Atlanta Open which runs through Sunday at Atlantic Station.

Lots of fun for the whole family.  The likes of Andy Roddick, John Isner and Mardy Fish will be in action.

Also, the app of the week is something I've picked out for all the amateur mixologists out there.

Have a listen: