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The '''TrackMan''' is a radar system that uses [[Doppler radar|Doppler]] technology to track and record 3D characteristics of a sports ball in motion. It was created by a [[Denmark|Danish]] technology company in 2003. When a ball is thrown or hit, the TrackMan measures parameters such as spin rate, velocity, and distance, and provides feedback to the user seconds later. Originally created to track [[golf]] balls, TrackMan technology expanded its usage to other sports like [[tennis]], [[cricket]], [[Association football|soccer]], and most notably, [[baseball]]. Sports equipment manufacturers use it to test the performance of their products. Players and teams use it to assess their own performance, and practice with it to improve their skills. In 2017, TrackMan was adopted by [[Major League Baseball]] as their primary pitch measurement system, and it is stated that over 75% of the [[PGA Tour|PGA Tour's]] professionals use the TrackMan system at tournaments.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://golfweek.com/2018/02/06/trackman-launch-monitors-have-become-essential-for-tour-professionals/|title=TrackMan launch monitors have become essential for Tour professionals|last=Shackelford|first=Geoff|date=2018-02-06|work=Golfweek|access-date=2018-08-03|language=en-US}}</ref>
The '''TrackMan''' is a radar system that uses [[Doppler radar|Doppler]] technology to track and record 3D characteristics of a sports ball in motion. It was created by a [[Denmark|Danish]] technology company in 2003. When a ball is thrown or hit, the TrackMan measures parameters such as spin rate, velocity, and distance, and provides feedback to the user seconds later. Originally created to track [[golf]] balls, TrackMan technology expanded its usage to other sports like [[tennis]], [[cricket]], [[Association football|soccer]], and most notably, [[baseball]]. Sports equipment manufacturers use it to test the performance of their products. Players and teams use it to assess their own performance, and practice with it to improve their skills. In 2017, TrackMan was adopted by [[Major League Baseball]] as their primary pitch measurement system, and it is stated that over 75% of the [[PGA Tour|PGA Tour's]] professionals use the TrackMan system at tournaments.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://golfweek.com/2018/02/06/trackman-launch-monitors-have-become-essential-for-tour-professionals/|title=TrackMan launch monitors have become essential for Tour professionals|last=Shackelford|first=Geoff|date=2018-02-06|work=Golfweek|access-date=2018-08-03|language=en-US}}</ref>
<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://trackmangolf.com/media/fe71f21e-b4b1-480f-adfc-ee6f8f19f70d/YuGixw/TMG/Img/TrackMan-4-Launch-Monitor.png|title=The Latest TrackMan 4 with Dual Radar and Optical Enhanced Technology|last=Golf|first=TrackMan|date=2018-08-10|work=TrackMan|access-date=2018-08-10|language=en-US}}</ref>
<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://trackmangolf.com/products/trackman-4|title=The Latest TrackMan 4 with Dual Radar and Optical Enhanced Technology|last=Golf|first=TrackMan|date=2018-08-10|work=TrackMan|access-date=2018-08-10|language=en-US}}</ref>


== History ==
== History ==

Revision as of 11:05, 10 August 2018

TrackMan 3e launch monitor

The TrackMan is a radar system that uses Doppler technology to track and record 3D characteristics of a sports ball in motion. It was created by a Danish technology company in 2003. When a ball is thrown or hit, the TrackMan measures parameters such as spin rate, velocity, and distance, and provides feedback to the user seconds later. Originally created to track golf balls, TrackMan technology expanded its usage to other sports like tennis, cricket, soccer, and most notably, baseball. Sports equipment manufacturers use it to test the performance of their products. Players and teams use it to assess their own performance, and practice with it to improve their skills. In 2017, TrackMan was adopted by Major League Baseball as their primary pitch measurement system, and it is stated that over 75% of the PGA Tour's professionals use the TrackMan system at tournaments.[1] [2]

History

TrackMan was created in 2003 by golfers Klaus (CEO) and Morten Eldrup-Jorgensen and radar engineer Fredrik Tuxen (CTO). Tuxen worked with the tracking of bullets and missiles using Doppler radar. The Jorgensen brothers contacted him to see if the technology could be used to track golf balls. The team developed the TrackMan system and demonstrated it in the United States to five golf manufacturers. Mizuno, Nike, Ping, Callaway, and TaylorMade became TrackMan's first customers. TrackMan products are sold worldwide to professionals, amateurs, and businesses. The company's headquarters is in Vedbæk, Denmark.[3][4]

Usage

Golf

Indoor Golf TrackMan Studio at Culford School in England

The TrackMan is a device that uses Doppler radar to monitor the launch of a golf ball. It is set up behind the golfer and is roughly the size of a laptop. With each swing, it measures every aspect of the club movement, the trajectory of the ball, and its landing. It is equipped with a video camera so golfers can watch themselves while looking at information about their swing.[5] Rather than calculating its projectile motion from initial launch parameters, it can track the entire flight of the ball from the moment of impact to the point where the ball comes to rest. After it finishes tracking, the TrackMan displays data and graphics on the screen of a connected computer or smartphone. Users can compare their data to professional golfers or to others with similar skill. The main advantage of using the device compared to traditional video analysis is that golfers get pure data instead of guessing everything from the video.[6] Golfers and instructors use feedback from TrackMan to practice and improve their performance on the golf course.[7] It was first used on the PGA Tour in 2006. Television broadcasters also utilize it to display on-screen graphics such as the ball's trajectory as a golfer hits his or her tee shot.[5]

Baseball

TrackMan has recently been rolled out to all 30 MLB stadiums and more than 80 minor league ballparks.[5] Major League Baseball uses Statcast, a system that uses cameras and radar to track and measure player and ball movements at all times.[8] PITCHf/x, the previous pitch tracking system used by Statcast, was replaced by TrackMan in 2017. PITCHf/x used high-speed cameras to measure the velocity of a baseball at 55 feet from home plate, where the ball may have already lost some speed. The TrackMan uses Doppler radar to measure maximum velocity, which is defined at the release point of the pitch. The new technology led to reports of pitchers throwing slightly faster than they did in 2016.[9][10]

Technology

The TrackMan is a continuous-wave radar system that uses multiple planar array antennas. The antennas transmit and receive radio waves 48,000 times per second while measuring distance, location, and speed of the ball.[11] Distance is determined by measuring the time it takes for the signal to be received after it is sent and reflected off the target. To determine an object’s location, its angle relative to the radar is needed, and is found by using monopulse. Two antennas are separated from each other at a known distance. They receive the same reflected pulse signal but at different times. This causes a phase difference that is used to calculate the angle to the object. The main application of the TrackMan radar is determining the speed of the ball, which is calculated by using the Doppler effect. The frequency of the reflected signal is higher when the ball is moving toward the radar, and vice-versa. The difference in frequency is directly related to the object’s velocity.[12]

In baseball, the TrackMan is positioned high in the air behind home plate. This placement allows it to view the entire field while minimizing noise from players or signal reflections off the ground. The radar must be calibrated to the field by measuring its height and distance from the tip of the plate, with the aid of a camera on the device. During a game, a user inputs information such as player positions, pitch count, and the result of the play. On rare occasions, the radar is not able to track a hit or pitched ball. Such instances include sharply hit ground balls, foul balls out of the field of play, a weak signal, or loss of communication to the computer. After every pitch and hit, the system outputs a .csv file of the data along with graphics. Raw data is output as a TrackMan data file (.tmd), which can be exported to .xml format.[12]

Terminology

These are some of the parameters that can be tracked by TrackMan.[13][14]

Golf

  • Smash Factor: Ball speed divided by club speed.
  • Spin Rate: The amount of spin on the golf ball immediately after impact.
  • Launch Angle: The angle the ball takes off at relative to the ground.
  • Carry: The distance the ball travels through the air.
  • Ball Speed: The speed of the golf ball immediately after impact.
  • Club Speed: The speed the club head is traveling immediately prior to impact.
  • Dynamic Loft: The amount of loft on the club face at impact.
  • Attack Angle: The direction the club head is moving (up or down) at impact.
  • Club Path: The direction the club head is moving (right or left) at impact.
  • Face Angle: The direction the club face is pointed (right or left) at impact.

Baseball

Pitching

  • Pitch Velocity: Release speed of pitch, in MPH, when it leaves the pitcher’s hand.
  • Spin Rate: The speed the ball is spinning as it leaves the pitcher's hand in RPM.
  • Tilt: The direction the ball is spinning (displayed in clock format).
  • Extension: The distance from the tip of home plate at which the pitcher releases the ball.
  • Effective Velocity: The perceived speed of the pitch taking time of flight and extension into account.
  • Zone Velocity: Speed of the pitch as it crosses the front of home plate.
  • Release Height: The height above home plate at which the pitcher releases the ball.
  • Release Side: The distance from the center of the rubber at which the pitcher releases the ball.
  • Vertical Break: Distance between where the pitch actually crosses the front of home plate height-wise, and where it would have crossed home plate height-wise, had it traveled in a perfectly straight line from release, completely unaffected by gravity.
  • Horizontal Break: Distance between where the pitch actually crosses the front of home plate side-wise, and where it would have crossed home plate side-wise, had it traveled in a perfectly straight line from release.

Hitting

  • Exit Speed: The speed of the ball as it comes off the bat at the moment of contact.
  • Launch Angle: How steeply up or down the ball leaves the bat, shown as an angle.
  • Direction: The horizontal direction that the ball leaves the bat, shown as an angle.
  • Spin Rate: How fast the ball is spinning as it leaves the bat shown in RPM.
  • Hang Time: The amount of time elapsed from when the ball hits the bat until the ball lands or would have landed, had it not been caught or obstructed.
  • Bearing: Where on the field the ball landed or would have landed, had it not been caught or obstructed shown in degrees relative to home plate.
  • Distance: The distance that the ball traveled before landing, or would have landed if it were not caught or obstructed.

References

  1. ^ Shackelford, Geoff (2018-02-06). "TrackMan launch monitors have become essential for Tour professionals". Golfweek. Retrieved 2018-08-03.
  2. ^ Golf, TrackMan (2018-08-10). "The Latest TrackMan 4 with Dual Radar and Optical Enhanced Technology". TrackMan. Retrieved 2018-08-10.
  3. ^ "About". mytrackman.com. Retrieved 2018-07-30. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  4. ^ "TrackMan: Golf's $20,000 Secret - ESPN Video". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2018-07-30.
  5. ^ a b c Craig, Matt (2016-07-03). "What is TrackMan and how does it work?". PGA.com. Retrieved 2018-08-01. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  6. ^ Edmonton Journal (2018-02-16), TrackMan follows exact flight of ball from start to finish, retrieved 2018-08-01
  7. ^ Hogan, Sean (2014-06-01). The Leadbetter Golf Academy Handbook: Techniques and Strategies from the World's Greatest Coaches. Triumph Books. ISBN 9781623687953.
  8. ^ Casella, Paul (2015-04-24). "Statcast primer: Baseball will never be the same". MLB.com. Retrieved 2018-07-31. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  9. ^ Diemert, Joshua (2017-04-06). "Did any pitchers actually throw harder on Opening Day?". Pinstripe Alley. Retrieved 2018-07-31.
  10. ^ Nathan, Alan (2017-04-05). "Prospectus Feature: Estimating Release Point Using Gameday's New Start_Speed - Baseball Prospectus". Baseball Prospectus. Retrieved 2018-07-31.
  11. ^ Ristagno, Rob (August 2012). "An Introduction to TrackMan Baseball" Retrieved 2018-08-03.
  12. ^ a b Martin, Jason (December 2012). "Evaluation Of Doppler Radar Ball Tracking And Its Experimental Uses" (PDF). {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  13. ^ "TrackMan - What We Track". trackmangolf.com. Retrieved 2018-08-01.
  14. ^ "TrackMan Baseball - Know Your Stuff". baseball.trackman.com. Retrieved 2018-08-01.
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