Volley, a new sports technology startup, aims to revolutionize the way racquet sports players (platform tennis, padel, pickleball) train with AI-enabled sports training machines.
Unlike traditional tennis ball machines that simply fire balls at different speeds and heights, Volley's trainer robot leverages AI and vision software to collect data and learn skill levels while playing. Simulate live gameplay. So it doesn't have to be done by the whole team. Get a decent training session.
“Volley is a great machine for pros, beginners, and everyone in between, thanks to its AI and system smarts,” co-founder and CEO John Weinlader tells TechCrunch. “You understand the game on the court and react as if you were a real opponent. That means you're playing at the same level as in the real game.”
Image credit: Volley
In addition, Volley has three cameras built into the device for various purposes such as person and ball tracking as well as video recording. His single camera resides inside the machine to assist with maintenance, and customer support virtually spots problems and explains how to fix them.
Another unique feature is the speaker and LED screen, which allows the instructor to lead the training to the entire group. It also has an adjustable height of 87 inches, tilts 56 degrees up, 38 degrees down, and rotates 34 degrees left and right, allowing for a variety of shooting angles.
Through Volley's mobile app (available for iOS and Android devices), you can access customized drills, view footage to check footwork, access player stats, and more. You can also control the machine digitally by tapping your phone to choose where the ball will fall. Additionally, the trainer collects and stores all of that data, so when you return to the club, you continue where you left off.
Volley advertises 1,007 app installs.
Additionally, the company is constantly adding new features. Recently, Volley added the ability to compare videos side by side to the app. This allows you to clearly see the differences in the forms. During his RacquetX conference later this month, Volley will demonstrate his upcoming hand gesture feature that will allow him to control the trainer without his mobile device.
Image credit: Volley
Volley's trainers were released in September 2023 and sold out in less than four months. The company distributed 110 trainers to 45 platform tennis and padel clubs across the United States, including Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Jersey, Ohio and Pennsylvania.
“As evidenced by our tremendous growth since launch, we have proven that there is a demand for next-generation technology that simulates live play on the court and other sports like golf simulators. Solutions have provided better access for people to engage in the game, and this is what Volley brings to racquet sports,” says Weinrader.
The company charges each club a monthly lease fee of between $1,500 and $3,000. Prices vary depending on the number of trainers your club requires, the number of features used, and the number of members served.
We are currently deploying the second round of trainers.
Image credit: Volley
Volley was founded by brothers John and Dan Weinrader. Both have engineering backgrounds and previously built an agritech business for John Deere.
John, an avid platform tennis player, came up with the idea for volleys when he decided to set up a tennis ball machine on a painter's stick to mimic certain shots.
“In racquet sports, the only way to get better is to go on the court and play with three other players or pros, but that didn't necessarily guarantee that I would be able to tackle the most difficult shots. I was really frustrated with the lack of options and ultimately decided to take matters into my own hands,” says John.
After three years and eight prototypes, the company developed the trainer that is on the market today.
In the field of racquet sports, from Slinger's portable ball launcher and accompanying app that can track your shot counts and provide personalized coaching tips, to Proton, a smart ball machine with an internal sensor that delivers the ball reliably. Considerable technological innovation has taken place. Gives you the right speed and spin where you need it. Meanwhile, Swing Vision sells a phone mount that players can attach to fences so they can record their play. Users upload footage to his AI-powered app, which tracks shot placement and provides statistics such as ball speed and win percentage.
But Volley doesn't have any immediate competitors, as it integrates video recording and ball delivery into one device and also takes an AI-driven approach to simulating live on-court play. thinking about.
“Volleys are in a category unto themselves because yesterday's ball trainers no longer meet the needs of players and professionals. Just as golf simulators are revolutionizing the training of golfers, my We see ourselves as the next generation solution,” says John.
“While racquet sports have exploded in popularity, the technology behind them has remained the same. Paddles have become more popular due to their wide variety of shots, their ability to be played off-screen, and the fact that they are almost exclusively for doubles. It has particularly subtle characteristics,” he added.
The company says its long-term roadmap is to start leasing trainers to individual players who have home courts. Volley also recently partnered with the American Platform Tennis Association (APTA) to expand its reach.
The company is completely self-funded so far, but Volley is raising a $4 million Series A round, expected to close in mid-April.