Piezoelectric Tennis Rackets

morcheeba writes "EETimes has an article on a piezoelectric tennis racket made by Head Sport AG. It uses piezoelectric fibers to damp vibrations and, due to regulations, it doesn't contain a battery. Although it's been out a while, it's now gaining credibility with professionals and has made it into the quarterfinals of the French Open."

Comments

other applications

[Hanzie]

They're using it in skis, too.

I would like to see if it is usable in automobile suspensions. Active electronic dampening should out perform any hydraulics.

Come to think of it, this technology could be used to make an active muffler for auto exhaust systems. It could also absorb driveline vibrations.

Wonder if it could do anything for crankshaft vibration?

hanzie

Getting a perceived advantage

[Mattygfunk]

Firstly, this kind of thing will very quickly make its way across all racquet/bat/glove/sword/anything sports if it's proven a worthwhile advantage. Just as quickly it will cost your average club level player the extra cost to keep up.

The Australian Football League allowed the use of gloves 7 or so years back. The AFL has been in existance over 100 years without them but that perceived advantage lead to half of the players (at least) playing the game using them. Juniors at the local clubs naturally followed suit, and the sport as a whole suffered because of fewer numbers participating due to the cost.

I love technology, but the advantages and disadvantages of somthing like this have got to looked at carefully before this should be permitted at any level.

Nice shot

[gerardrj]

I've heard of making the raquet sing with a nice shot, but this is rediculous. :)

I wonder though, could they make the strings sound a certain tone depending on where the ball was hit. It seems it might make a nice training tool for beginners if they could hear, as well as feel a good hit.

Next it's going to be a personal coach

[Subcarrier]

Eventually you can run a microchip and a voice synth on the kinetic energy. Imagine a racket that gives running commentary about your performance...

*THWACK*

"Lame wrist!"

*THWACK*

"Hit harder!"

*THWACK*

"Is that the best you can do?"

*THWACK*

"Try aiming it"

*THWACK*

"Moron"

*THWACK*

"You'd think you could hit the field, it's big enough for Chris..."

*CRASH* *CRASH* *THUD* *THUD* *THUD*

"Why is the world going dark...?"

"I'm afraid, Mr. McEnroe."

"My mind is going...."