| Line-calling systems - Introduction |
Automated line-calling
The introduction of Cyclops at the Wimbledon Championships in 1980 marked the advent of electronic aids to assist officials in tennis. The subsequent growth of the game and simultaneous improvement in computer processing power has driven the development of systems to track and detect balls, which has resulted in the potential to automate line-calling.
 | | Setting up an automated line-calling system at the USTA National Center, New York |
In 2003 at the second International ITF Tennis Science and Technology congress in London, the governing bodies, players, equipment manufacturers and television commentators joined in a panel discussion on the future of automated line-calling. Click here to find out more about TST 2003.
 | | High-speed camera used for filming ball impacts at 2000 pictures per second | In November 2003, the ITF, in collaboration with the WTA and ATP, produced a protocol for the evaluation of automated line-calling systems, and in August 2004 at Flushing Meadows during US Open qualifying, Auto-Ref became the first system to be evaluated.
Evaluations consist of three phases: - Assessment of the accuracy of the system under 'laboratory' conditions, and practicality/usability in a demonstration under controlled conditions.
- A further accuracy and 'shadow' test under tournament conditions, in which the system is set up at a tournament, but the calls made are not used by on-court officials.
- If the system performance in accuracy and shadow testing is deemed suitable, evaluation proceeds to an accuracy and ‘live’ test, in which the system is used by officials to make/review on-court decisions.
Hawk-Eye became the second automated line-calling system to be evaluated under laboratory conditions in December 2004, in Hampshire (UK).
On 14 October 2005, the ITF announced that Hawk-Eye Officiating had met the standards set by the committee comprising representatives of the ITF, ATP and Sony Ericsson WTA Tour for use in reviewing decisions made by on-court officials.
In January 2006, the ITF’s Official Mixed Teams Championships, Hyundai Hopman Cup, became the first tournament to use an Electronic Line-Calling System in an officially sanctioned event. This system, Hawk-Eye Officiating, worked extremely well and was a very popular addition with players, officials, the media and the general public.
Click here to read the ITF news articles on automated line-calling systems.
Click here to download the ITF automated line-calling evaluation protocol in pdf format.
 | | Ball firing machine set up for evaluating a serve speed system | Serve speed systems
In parallel with the evaluation of line-calling systems, the ITF Technical Centre also launched a scheme to validate the accuracy of systems used for measuring the speed of serves. So far, one system has completed evaluation:- EDH RacquetRadar, EDH Sport, Stellenbosch, South Africa.
Click here to download the ITF validation report on the EDH RacquetRadar in pdf format.
Links
www.auto-ref.com
www.hawkeyeinnovations.co.uk
www.edhsport.com
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