In/Out, a Solution For Bad Line Calls in Tennis

In/Out, a Solution For Bad Line Calls in Tennis

Artificial Intelligence, a solution to bad line calls in tennis?

How many times have you wished that there was a referee when you played tennis at your club?

Check out the video below.

If Grégoire Gentil‘s “In/Out,” a portable line call device, becomes commercially viable, you may have a solution for bad line calls in a tennis match.

Starting at $275 a pop, Tennis clubs could use it as a differentiator.

No more arguments over bad line calls…

10 Comments

  1. Most of the post re “bad calls” are in relation to players receiving the ball “making a bad call”. What about the players who will not accept a call “out” as they believe that they are right and the receiver is making a “bad call”.
    I would contend that in the absence of electronic proof that a call is a “bad call” then there are no bad calls in tennis. The responsibility of making the call rest with the receiver. The person playing the shot has no say in determining the accuracy of the call. Yes they can enquire if the person making the call is sure that’s fine, no problem but when they are told “yes” that the person is sure then they are oblige to accept that they must be mistaken. That is unless they are of the fortitude of character to believe that the person making the call is either incompetent or cheating.

  2. I played tennis for 4-5 times per week until my back gave out. Recently switched to pickleball and can’t believe the amount of bad line calls! Sometimes I can’t see myself. Maybe it’s too fast for us older players to see. Not saying any of these bad calls are intentional.

  3. Bad line calls happen all the time, especially when there are no refs and unsportsmanlike players. We experience that even in Pickleball a sport that’s taking off all over America and now around the world. It’s voracious growth has been referred to in no uncertain terms as ‘explosive’, ‘crazy’ and ‘exponential.’ Many reasons contribute to its insane, over the top popularity. In fact anyone that tries it for the first time ends up really enjoying it and loving it.
    That being said, with the sheer numbers of players popping up every day, the number of disputable line calls by players is astronomical. Some are unintentional and others by the same perpetrators are quite deliberate and that sickens me. Someone forgot to teach these guys sportsmanship and courtesy for other players and the proper thing to do. It’s pretty simple. If you and your partner (doubles) are unsighted or can’t agree on the call, then it stands to reason that the point goes to the opponents. Whether it’s a point or a change of serve that’s what needs to be adhered to. I tell people ‘come on, move forward and reconcile the issue even if it means relinquishing an obvious favorable point’. ‘You shouldn’t have to win the point and the ensuing argument…just the point’. Some get it and others just do not. Probably because they don’t want to, is my guess and I’m gonna guess I’m right, lol! Look, in a nutshell most of the bad sports are players who have never played competitively. Most experienced players transitioning from Tennis, Badminton, Squash, Racketball (Racquetball) or other paddle sports to Pickleball usually demonstrate good sportsmanship. Can’t write a thesis on what ought to be pretty apparent/obvious. Like calling the lines only on your side of the net and not insisting endlessly on calling ones on the other, far, remote side of the net. Trust that the opponent would make a fair and correct call either way. That however does not seem to be common knowledge either, and that’s a crying shame. It truly is.
    This AI machine has been a long time coming, so so be it.
    Cheers.

    • It’s funny how many people forget that they should leave the far line calls to their partner in doubles.

      • Actually Dax I don’t think it’s funny but rather sad! I know and agree w/you though. Point is if the partner is unsighted then give the point to the opponent, right? Key is both partners must agree on the call rather than the other way around.
        Basically only the one that can clearly see it must be the one making the call.

      • Oh by the way. The other day I served a clear ace in Pickleball. Nobody called it and in fact three out of four agreed it was clearly ‘in’ by a large margin and that’s why no one called it. By the way I tell people to only call the ‘outs’, and not the ‘ins’ or the ‘maybes’, lol!
        So, as it turned out the guy that called the serve out (opponent) and that after we began the next point, became very agitated that we disagreed with him and his lack of promptness/expediency in making a call. We all agree and practice the fact that the call must be made by the team on the side of the net the ball hits the court. So in essence it was their call. So I let it go. Despite the fact that we dropped the game to those guys, he stormed off and left after spewing out verbal niceties and hand gestures. What a ridiculously ill mannered, uncouth, misadvised and immature person. All I can say is, the things that make you go ‘brrrrrrr’. It is pathetic that sometimes with some people you have to win the argument (no room for it in sports) as also the point/game. Hahahaha! That’s all, IRMC!

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