The PGA Tour has unveiled its innovative "Smart Tracer" technology during the RBC Canadian Open, revolutionizing how golf fans experience broadcasts. This new visual enhancement provides real-time, color-coded feedback on shot outcomes, building upon the success of existing drone tracer technology. It aims to offer viewers a deeper, more immediate understanding of each shot’s trajectory and probable landing.
A New Era of Golf Broadcasts
The PGA Tour’s introduction of "Smart Tracer" marks a significant leap in golf broadcast technology. Debuting at the RBC Canadian Open, this feature enhances the viewing experience by providing instant visual cues about a golf ball’s trajectory and likely outcome. It’s an evolution of the popular "drone tracer" technology, which recently earned an Emmy for its innovation.
How Smart Tracer Works
Smart Tracer utilizes advanced artificial intelligence and the Tour’s partnership with AWS to calculate probabilities in real-time. Here’s a breakdown of its functionality:
- Color-Coded Outcomes: The tracer line changes color based on the ball’s predicted landing:
- Blue: Initial phase, before a probability is determined.
- Green: Indicates a shot likely heading for the fairway.
- Red: Signifies a shot likely missing the fairway.
- Rapid Updates: The system begins populating approximately 1.2 seconds after impact and updates every hundred milliseconds until the ball lands.
- Enhancement, Not Replacement: Smart Tracer complements the existing drone tracer, offering a more detailed glimpse into shot outcomes as they unfold.
Fan Forward Initiative
The development of Smart Tracer is part of the PGA Tour’s broader "Fan Forward Initiative." This initiative, informed by extensive fan surveys, aims to refine telecasts and enhance the overall fan experience. Beyond Smart Tracer, the Tour has experimented with other broadcast adjustments, including cutline-oriented Friday broadcasts and alternative shot sequences.
Upcoming Appearances
Golf enthusiasts can expect to see the Smart Tracer technology featured in several upcoming PGA Tour events this season:
- Rocket Mortgage Classic
- Travelers Championship
- All three FedEx Cup Playoff events
While some viewers have expressed concerns that such enhancements might diminish the anticipation of a shot’s outcome, tracer technology has largely been embraced as a valuable addition to golf broadcasts over the past two decades, providing compelling visual insights into the game’s most memorable moments.
Sources
- PGA Tour launches new ‘smart tracer’ technology on TV broadcasts, GOLF.com.
- PGA Tour debuts new ‘smart tracer’ technology during RBC Canadian Open TV broadcast | Golf News and Tour
Information, Golf Digest.
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