Strokes and Shots
The CueMate sensor measures the 3D racket motion. This data is used to analyze your strokes. Therefore, first, you need to distinguish between strokes and shots and their respective outcome, which are illustrated and described below.
- Strokes are the movements made with your body and racket to strike the ball and return it to the opponent. Strokes are measured relative to the ball strike.
- Shots are the trajectory of the ball that results from the strike. Shots are measured relative to the court and opponent.
Strokes
Strokes are defined by the path of your racket, created by your arm and body. Depending on how the racket strikes the ball and the incoming ball motion, it creates specific impact conditions that result in two primary outcomes on the ball as it leaves the strings: it can produce spin and accelerate the speed.
These outcomes ultimately determine the ball trajectory. Therefore, the player has to learn to modulate them to control their shots.
Stroke Classes
CueMate breaks down tennis groundstrokes into 18 unique stroke classes. Each stroke class is categorized byBackhand/Forehand, Topspin/Flat/Slice, and Light/Med/Hard.
Stroke class categorization enables you to see what areas of your repertoire need improvement and why. The full picture of all 18 stroke classes is known as the StrokeMap.
Stroke classes and the Stroke Map will be detailed under their own sections.
Stroke Metrics
The stroke classes representa family of strokes with similar techniques, outcomes, and conditions. Combining strokes into classes makes it possible to analyze your skills and performance more precisely and in a way that reflects how the brain organizes movement performance.
CueMate computes metrics for each stroke outcome on the ball (spin and ball speed), the strike quality (sweet spot percentage, impact precision, impact timing),as well as the stroke technique (timing, consistency, etc.), and physical performance (energy, power).
Shots
The shot characteristics are determined by the imparted pace and spin on the ball during the strike, as well as the player’s location and orientation relative to the court.
The shot has its own outcomes, which can be described by the impact location on the court and its bounce conditions, which will depend on the remaining pace of the ball and its spin as it hits the ground.
The current CueMate app doesn’t track the ball relative to the court.
iCueMotion uses camera-based tools to analyze and develop the CueMate algorithms. Some of these advanced features will be available for users who want more comprehensive capabilities.