by Michalis Michaelides

Data powers the modern world. Once a buzzword, ‘data’ has become one of the most valuable resources globally. In sports, it drives decision-making for teams, individual athletes, and organisations. It creates new opportunities for rights holders and owners to further monetise their own product. It paves the way to deeper fan experiences when consuming content. Yet, data alone isn’t enough – it’s the insights derived from it that make the difference.

Sports are played to measure, and data represents an invaluable asset to leverage across multiple touch points. In this blog post, the first of a mini-series, we introduce the concept of skeletal tracking, focusing on the evolution of the technology – through the lens of Hawk-Eye Innovations – and what the future holds. Going forward, we’ll explore the impact skeletal tracking has on player performance, broadcast enhancements, officiating, and virtual recreations.

The Evolution of Skeletal Tracking

Skeletal tracking has been around for a while. It was originally introduced to the masses in gaming, using the data tracked from human movement to interact with video games. The technology evolved in due course, utilising sensors to track the motion of a human being and drive interactive displays, games, VR or AR experiences.

Traditional player tracking technologies in sport have long relied on Centre of Mass (CoM) tracking, which monitors a single point on an athlete’s body, limiting the application of the data to recreate the movement of limbs and other body parts. CoM tracking has been widely adopted across sports via cameras and wearable devices. Skeletal tracking represents its natural evolution: whilst CoM tracking remains key, it’s now enhanced by the deeper analysis skeletal tracking cameras can provide when athletes are on field. This allows organisations to overcome some limitations:

• Restricted usage: in tennis, for instance, some of the seven organisations do not permit the use of wearable devices for athletes during a competition. Only recently, organisations such as ATP Tour announced their decision to approve some wearable devices (only for ATP events, not the four Grand Slams).
• Accuracy gaps: tracking a single point might result in incomplete or inaccurate measurements of an athlete’s movements.

Introducing SkeleTRACK

Hawk-Eye’s cutting-edge skeletal tracking technology, SkeleTRACK, was designed to revolutionise sports analytics and fan experiences, representing a natural evolution from solutions that solely focus on CoM tracking.

SkeleTRACK turns skeletal tracking data into actionable insights that elevate performance, improve broadcasts, enhance officiating, and engage fans through virtual recreations.

SkeleTRACK uses advanced optical tracking to monitor both athlete and object (think of a ball, a bat or any other sports equipment) movements with precision. By capturing 29 skeletal points on an athlete’s body, it provides unparalleled detail on biomechanics and motion.

For instance, in tennis, SkeleTRACK delivers data that transforms training and tactical decisions.:

• Biomechanical Insights: Measure angles such as knee bend angle on a player serve to replicate technical changes made on the practice court. This might also be an indication of player fatigue when reviewing this type of insight or an early indicator to help prevent injuries.
• Racket Analytics: Track seven key points on a player’s racket, analysing Path, Angle, Speed metrics which in-turn will affect the tennis ball characteristics on a shot-by-shot basis. 

This depth of analysis is a game-changer for coaches and players aiming to refine performance and strategy.

Key Benefits of SkeleTRACK

SkeleTRACK is designed to address the diverse needs of athletes, broadcasters, and fans. Its primary applications include:

Performance Analysis

• Capture real-time metrics such as knee and elbow angles, shoulder positioning, and movement efficiency.
• Enable athletes and coaches to make precise adjustments for performance improvement and marginal gains.

Broadcast Enhancements

• Provide real-time data, such as top sprint speeds and on-balance percentages, to enrich the viewing experience.
• Deliver live augmented reality overlays that immerse fans in the action.

Virtual Recreations

• Generate immersive virtual match recreations for alternative broadcasts.
• Appeal to younger audiences and provide educational value by visualising complex gameplay moments.

Why SkeleTRACK is the Future of Sports Tracking

By advancing beyond CoM tracking, SkeleTRACK sets a new standard in sports analytics. Its unparalleled accuracy and the provision of deeper biomechanical insights empower athletes to perform better, enhance the broadcast experience, and create new fan engagement opportunities.

Hawk-Eye’s SkeleTRACK is positioned to redefine sports data in sport. Its potential to deliver deeper understanding and smarter insights makes it a pivotal innovation in the rapidly evolving world of sports technology.

Keen to learn more? Get in touch with our team, and book some time to discuss SkeleTRACK and the suite of solutions Hawk-Eye provides for tennis and many other sports.