Automated line calling technology is coming to both PPA and MLP events, beginning with the PPA Finals from San Clemente. The PPA Finals begin May 4. After that, the technology will also be used for all MLP matches, which begin May 22 in Dallas.

 

The technology is being tested at this week’s Greater Zion Cup at Black Desert Resort. I had an opportunity to go behind the scenes and see the technology in action and talk to the engineers about how the system works.

 

PlayReplay is the company bringing line calling technology to pro pickleball. The system employs two cameras, one on each end of the net. There is a processor on the outside of the net, correlating the information learned from the cameras. That information is then sent by wire to a small screen off the court, about the size of an IPad.

 

 

As the rally is played, the screen shows the court and every shot, in real time. As the shots are hit back and forth, you can look at the screen and see the path of the ball in the air and exactly where it hits.  When a shot is hit out, the screen flashes red, indicating in unmistakable terms that the ball is out. The system memory records every shot so even after a rally is completed, the operator can scroll back to see earlier shots, and see if an out call was missed.

 

The system detects the full path of the ball, including how hard or soft the shot is hit. Thus, the system does calculate the extent to which a ball compresses when striking the ground. This calculation is taken into account by the system when determining if a ball hit the line or just missed.

 

The system can incorporate a speaker, such that an audible squawk will sound on an out ball. However, current UPA plans initially call for a referee to monitor the screen and only use the information to rule on player challenges. Of course, as the technology is accepted, it will eventually be used to completely replace player line calling.

 

 

At Black Desert this week, the technology is set up on grandstand court. The first match it was initiated for was between Federico Staksrud and Mota Alhouni. Sure enough, early on Staksrud challenged a ball he called in, but thought was out. The referee called a timeout, went to the side of the court to look at the replay screen, and was able to instantly confirm the ball was indeed out. When the referee informed the players of the corrected call, Alhouni initially protested. But, the referee simply pointed to the screen and Alhouni’s objections instantly subsided. The lesson? Referees (and players) are human and players will question and argue over their calls. But when the line is called by technology, there is no argument. I believe the players will love the new system and will ask UPA to move up the date when it is fully used for all line calls, not just challenges.

 

Players are human, so incorrect line calls have been part of pickleball from the day it was invented. However, with PlayReplay coming to UPA events, incorrect line calls will soon be part of the history of pickleball and not the current game.

 

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