Skip to main content

This multi-sensor wearable for tennis gives you basic mocap

Most wearable sports trackers offer one sensor that you stick in one spot. Ostensibly, said sensor is calibrated to estimate the rest of your movements. Not so with Pivot, the multi-sensor tennis wearable, up now on Indiegogo.

We’ve taken a look at other tennis trackers before, but they attach to the racket instead of the player. TuringSense’s full Pivot system places nine-axis sensors (accelerometer, gyroscope, and magnetometer) at wrists, elbows, shoulders, chest, waist, knees, and ankles. A central hub (also on the chest) transmits the info to the cloud.

This means there is no need for a camera to capture your motion — no worries over recording angles, and no lugging along another piece of gear. Of course data is cloud-saved for later review, but it’s also relayed in real-time to mobile devices, allowing coaches and trainers to give feedback even if they’re not on the court with the player.

TuringSense worked with tennis coach Nick Bollettieri to develop the training system that works to analyze your game. He’s worked with the biggest names, including Andre Agassi, Monica Seles, Maria Sharapova, and the Williams sisters. The beauty of the Pivot system is that it takes his knowledge and applies it to movements the naked eye might not pick up. Replay in slow-mo or compare it to correct form.

pivot, tennis, sport tracker
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Pattern recognition is the main factor here: Pivot studies your form and offers corrections to improve stamina, avoid injury, and recover more quickly if injuries do happen. The idea is that a more comprehensive system lets you review and master complex movements to perfect your technique, and avoid injuries.

And it’s easy to note where things could have gone ugly, or actually did, with Pivot’s 360 degree replay. If you actually perform the ideal swing, you can save the move to the motion library for instant feedback and a 3D comparison to keep you on target.

TuringSense’s Pivot Indiegogo campaign crushed its $75,000 goal and now sits at over $150,000. The Pivot Grand Slam perk gets you the full suit for $750 plus shipping, as well as a t-shirt autographed by Nick Bollettieri and a year’s subscription to the motion capture data plan that will run $10 a month.

The expected retail is $1,470, and probably won’t include the 15-minute conversation with Nick. In the future, the TuringSense team wants to expand Pivot for use in other sports and rehabilitation, so buyers and backers may just get in on the ground floor if all goes as planned. TuringSense has projected delivery for August 2016.

Editors' Recommendations

Aliya Barnwell
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Aliya Tyus-Barnwell is a writer, cyclist and gamer with an interest in technology. Also a fantasy fan, she's had fiction…
The best Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 screen protectors
Person holding skateboard while wearing the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4.

A new, sleek design and digital bezel help the Galaxy Watch 4 stand out in the crowd and set it apart from the traditional style of the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic. Whether you've picked up a 40mm model with a 1.2-inch Super AMOLED screen or opted for more screen real estate with the 44mm model, that stand-out design needs protecting from scratches and knocks. That means it's time for our picks of the best Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 screen protectors, with something to suit all budgets.

These screen protectors will all fit the 40mm or 44mm models of the Galaxy Watch 4. If you've got a Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 Classic, these won't fit.
Spigen Glas.tR EZ Fit Screen Protector

Read more
How to remove watch links from the strap on your new watch
how to remove watch links fossil q explorist

There’s no such thing as a one-size-fits-all smartwatch. If your wrists are on the smaller size, then you may find that your new smartwatch is dangling from your wrist and sliding up your forearm. No need to worry — it's a common problem. Chances are there are at least one too many chain links on the strap, but adjusting a metal-link smartwatch band isn't as difficult as you might think — and doesn't usually require a trip to the jewelers.

We'll take you through everything you need to know and the tools you'll need handy to remove links from your smartwatch so it fits snugly on your wrist.

Read more
Best Cyber Monday Deals 2022: Laptops, TVs, AirPods, and more
Best Cyber Monday Deals 2022

Cyber Week is here! With some truly epic deals out there, this is the best time of year to buy a new tech gadget. If you slept through the Black Friday sales, then the Cyber Monday sales, you better grab what you need during this week of slowly diminishing deals. From tablets to air fryers, laptops to smartwatches, we've rounded up the best Cyber Monday deals across a range of categories, and you'll find them all below.
Cyber Monday sales: Quick links

Amazon: Huge discounts on laptops, Echo devices, and tablets
Best Buy: Your destination for sales on super-sized TVs
Dell: Unbeatable discounts on gaming laptops, monitors, and more
Gamestop: Cheap video games, console accessories and monitors
HP: Gaming PCs, laptops, monitors, and printers from $129
Kohl's: Home decor, clothing and kitchen appliance steals
Lowe’s: Up to 60% off appliances like refrigerators and decor
Staples: Save big on laptops, home office hardware and supplies
Target: Tons of cheap kitchen appliances and stocking-fillers
Walmart: Great for laptops, and is restocking PS5 and Xbox Series X

Read more