Technology now plays a vital part in every top athlete’s bid for victory…

February 1st, 2007 | Athletics, Biomechanics Consultancy, Quintic Video Software

To make things that work as efficiently as possible is one of engineering’s goals. But javelins are designed to under perform for one very good reason – safety. By the 1980’s competition standards had risen to such a degree that athletes routinely recorded throws of more than 90m, culminating in a 104.8m throw by Uwe Hohn of the former East Germany at a meet in Berlin in 1984.

International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF) officials recognised that one day a javelin would be thrown the length of the field and land among spectators, with potentially lethal result. The solution, introduced in 1986, was elegant in its simplicity: the centre of balance of all javelins was moved forward 4cm.

As a result they now fly in a more pronounced arc, travel 20m or so less and land point first more often. Top athletes use javelins with a narrower point for headwinds and a wider one for tailwinds, yet the range of their throws is more consistent. Competitors, however, can only use IAAF-approved javelins: smooth-surfaced, hollow, made of either aluminium or carbon-fibre and weighing no more than 800g.

Vibration is the big enemy of the javelineer. “When a javelin is thrown you can see how it vibrates in the air” says Claire Davis, senior lecturer at the University of Birmingham’s school of metallurgy and material science, “so the question is how to damp them”.

“New materials are coming in that would change characteristics in flight,” explains Davies. “These smart materials, called piezo-electric ceramics, have active dampening. They can respond to external stimuli, so applying a stress such as vibration will generate an electric impulse within their structure that stiffens the material, causing it to vibrate less.” Andre Aggasi already has tennis racquets made of this material, and it is also used in competition skis.

However, even if technology isn’t allowed to improve the javelin, it can improve technique. Steve Backley, javelin silver medallist at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, and who is aiming for Games gold this year, uses biomechanical analysis software developed by Quintic Consultancy Ltd, a Coventry-based company set up by sports scientist Dr Paul Hurrion. The software compares high speed digital video images of athletes in action.

“By synchronising current and best throws at the moment of release, we can analyse the difference,” says Backley. For him, the software tool proved invaluable in his preparation for the Athens Games…

“Being able to synchronise different throws, current and best, proved invaluable in preparation for the games in Sydney 2000 & Athens 2004. I can compare the timing of current training throws with my best 90m efforts from previous years. By synchronising current and best throws at release we could rewind in slow motion and analyse the differences.”

Steve Backley OBE

4 time European Gold
3 time Commonwealth Gold
2 time World Silver
2 time Olympic Silver

Hi-Tec CDT Super Power Tour – It’s finally arrived!

December 13th, 2006 | Biomechanics Consultancy, Golf Biomechanics

Hi-Tec Golf Manager, Fredrik Sundstrom, has been working closely with Quintic Consultancy Ltd & Padraig Harrington to develop the CDT Super Power Tour shoes – this has taken about 18 months of product development and Hi-Tec are proud to launch a shoes that takes performance to a new level.

Today, the shoes have arrived and will be sent out to Padraig Harrington for the first round of competitive play. The CDT Super Power Collection is the new products, one level up from the CDT Power. You can find out more about them by clicking on the following link: www.CDTPower.com

THE POWER COMES FROM YOUR FEET

The CDT Super Power will launch in Spring/ Summer 2007 in the UK; so keep an eye out for them! The CDT Super Power Tour is the “World’s most technologically advanced and performance enhancing golf shoe.”

The Spring/ Summer 2007 holds a fantastic range of shoes which includes the CDT Super Power Tour mentioned above, the CDT Super Power Classic, CDT Super Power Pro in two vibrant colours (white/ black/ blue and white/ black/ lime), the C2 Comfort and many more.

Supermodel Jodie Kidd recently became the latest Hi-Tec Ambassador and her role as design consultant is sure to make a huge impact in the World of Women’s Golf. This exciting new collection, JK, will soon be in the shops!

Hi-Tec Golf, Quintic & REMAX World Long Drive Championship

October 30th, 2006 | Biomechanics Consultancy, Golf Biomechanics, Quintic Video Software

Hi-Tec Golf had over 20 participants in the REMAX World Long Drive Championship wearing the CDT® Power Technology. The WLDC was being held at The Palms GC in Mesquite, Nevada from October 24-29 and is the premier event in Professional Long Drive.

When the CDT Technology launched in 2004 at the Orlando PGA Show, Hi-Tec immediately had long drive competitors stopping by the booth to see this performance driven outsole. Since the launch there are over 20 contestants hitting in them each week at the long drive events globally.

“The long drive events are the perfect forum for us to prove that this outsole is purely developed around performance,”

“This type of competition brings an exciting dimension to golf involving power, accuracy and distance. The same can be said about the CDT® Power Technology used in the Hi-Tec Golf Collection.”

Brian Bednarek, Director of Golf USA.

Launched over two years ago, Hi-Tec developed a technologically advanced outsole using biomechanics from Quintic Laboratories and the expertise of European golfer, Padraig Harrington. Most golfers understand that an increase in balance and stability can allow more distance and power. Hi-Tec created the CDT® Power to support this equation The components of the CDT® Power give the needed stability to, in turn, give a golfer the ability to swing harder and therefore hit longer.

This week Hi-Tec has put over 20 competitors in the CDT Power knowing there is no better place than these competitions to test this type of technology.

“The CDT has had a domino effect. We went into this week with ten players and word of mouth has doubled our exposure”, quotes Brian Bednarek, Director of Golf. “We wish all our athletes good luck and hope to see our technology at the top of the leaderboard on Sunday.”

ICC confirms slow bowler research for ICC Champions Trophy 2004

July 29th, 2004 | Biomechanics Consultancy, Cricket, Quintic Video Software

The International Cricket Council has confirmed details of the slow bowler research programme that will take place during the ICC Champions Trophy in September.

The second npower Test at Edgbaston marks the start of the detailed programme of slow bowler filming, which will continue throughout the ICC Champions Trophy, covering the slow bowlers of all participating teams.

The project is being undertaken by the ICC to gather detailed scientific data to help address the issue of suspect bowling actions among slow bowlers.

ICC General Manager – Cricket David Richardson, explained how the filming programme will be carried out: “Starting with Edgbaston, we are using high-speed cameras positioned behind the bowler’s arm and square of the wicket to film slow bowlers actions’ at 250 frames a second, which is five times faster than standard TV cameras.

“The footage from both cameras is then combined and converted by a software programme to create a three-dimensional image of the action, together with the ability to analyse it in every detail. This will provide us with a new generation of information that can be used in considering levels of tolerance for the accepted amount of extension at the elbow, either in terms of straightening or hyper-extension of the arm,” said Mr Richardson.

The ICC has commissioned Dr Paul Hurrion, a leading human movement specialist, to carry out the filming programme and provide interpretation of the data.

There has been less research carried out into slow bowling than faster bowlers, so this project will provide a clear scientific explanation of what actually happens during the delivery action of the world’s leading slow bowlers. Although a laboratory is likely to produce slightly more accurate data because of the controlled conditions, a competitive match situation guarantees the correct levels of player effort and technical application in the most realistic conditions.”   Paul Hurrion

“Once Dr Hurrion’s data has been processed and analysed following the completion of the ICC Champions Trophy, it will be used by the ICC and its specialist advisors to consider if the current levels of tolerance for slow bowlers need to be reviewed based on this new information,” confirmed David Richardson.

The 15 matches of the ICC Champions Trophy in September provide a rare opportunity to film the actions of all slow bowlers in competing teams at the same time under similar match conditions. The project will be the most extensive ever carried out into the actions of international slow bowlers.

None of the data collected by Dr Hurrion will be used to assess the actions of any slow bowler that might be reported for a suspect action during the tournament. Any such reports will be dealt with under the standard ICC process, based on match footage supplied by the host TV broadcaster.



Next Entries »


Register To Here The Latest News


Name: 


Email: 




Feed



Blogroll

Categories

Archives


search


© Quintic Video Analysis Software… Hot off the Press!. All rights reserved.