Systems, methods, and computer-readable storage media storing instructions for simulating pickleball

Abstract

Methods of simulating a sport may involve, for example, capturing, utilizing one or more sensors, a swing of a pickleball paddle. An impact of the pickleball paddle with a physical pickleball may be detected or an impact of the pickleball paddle with a first virtual pickleball may be determined. A display may display a trajectory of a second virtual pickleball responsive to detecting the impact of the pickleball paddle with the physical pickleball or of the first virtual pickleball responsive to determining the impact of the pickleball paddle with the first virtual pickleball.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of simulating a sport, comprising:
 capturing, utilizing one or more sensors, a swing of a pickleball paddle;   detecting an impact of the pickleball paddle with a physical pickleball or determining an impact of the pickleball paddle with a first virtual pickleball; and   causing a display to display a trajectory of a second virtual pickleball responsive to detecting the impact of the pickleball paddle with the physical pickleball or of the first virtual pickleball responsive to determining the impact of the pickleball paddle with the first virtual pickleball.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein capturing the swing of the pickleball paddle comprises capturing one or more of face speed, face angle of attack, face position, and face rotation of the pickleball paddle. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein capturing the swing of the pickleball paddle comprises capturing one or more of handle speed, handle angle, and handle rotation of the pickleball paddle. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising capturing one or more of player movement, player position, player posture, movement of one or more skeletal joints or lines, position and/or orientation of one or more skeletal joints or lines at a time of the impact, and change of any of the foregoing over time. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising determining one or more of flight trajectory, flight path, travel distance, flight speed, flight velocity, launch angle, flight acceleration, position on impact, deformation, and spin of the first virtual pickleball or of the second virtual pickleball responsive to detecting the impact of the pickleball paddle with the physical pickleball or determining the impact of the pickleball paddle with the first virtual pickleball. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein determining spin of the second virtual pickleball comprises determining spin responsive to detecting a change in one or more of a position of one or more holes of the physical pickleball, a shape of the physical pickleball on impact, a position of one or more scuff marks on the physical pickleball, a position of one or more discolorations on the physical pickleball, and a position of one or more logos on the physical pickleball. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising causing the display to display a trajectory of a return shot of the first virtual pickleball or the second virtual pickleball. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising varying one or more of speed, height, spin, and trajectory of the first virtual pickleball or the second virtual pickleball when causing the display to display the trajectory of the return shot. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising causing the display to display captured video footage of player performance. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising annotating the captured video footage or accepting user input to annotate the captured video footage. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising providing feedback regarding player performance. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein providing the feedback comprises reproducing audio feedback. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising causing the display to display a player performance skill ranking. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising causing the display to display recommended training exercises to improve player performance. 
     
     
         15 . A computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:
 capture, utilizing one or more sensors, a swing of a pickleball paddle;   detect an impact of the pickleball paddle with a physical pickleball or determine an impact of the pickleball paddle with a first virtual pickleball; and   cause a display to display a trajectory of a second virtual pickleball responsive to detecting the impact of the pickleball paddle with the physical pickleball or of the first virtual pickleball responsive to determining the impact of the pickleball paddle with the first virtual pickleball.   
     
     
         16 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 15 , wherein the computer-readable storage medium further stores instructions that, when executed by the processor cause the processor to:
 capture the swing of the pickleball paddle by capturing one or more of face speed, face angle of attack, face position, and face rotation of the pickleball paddle.   
     
     
         17 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 15 , wherein the computer-readable storage medium further stores instructions that, when executed by the processor cause the processor to:
 capture the swing of the pickleball paddle by capturing one or more of handle speed, handle angle, and handle rotation of the pickleball paddle.   
     
     
         18 . A system, comprising:
 one or more sensors;   a display; and   a computer comprising a memory device and a processor, the memory device storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
 capture, utilizing one or more sensors, a swing of a pickleball paddle; 
 detect an impact of the pickleball paddle with a physical pickleball or determine an impact of the pickleball paddle with a first virtual pickleball; and 
 cause a display to display a trajectory of a second virtual pickleball responsive to detecting the impact of the pickleball paddle with the physical pickleball or of the first virtual pickleball responsive to determining the impact of the pickleball paddle with the first virtual pickleball. 
   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the memory device further stores instructions that, when executed by the processor cause the processor to:
 capture the swing of the pickleball paddle by capturing one or more of face speed, face angle of attack, face position, and face rotation of the pickleball paddle.   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the memory device further stores instructions that, when executed by the processor cause the processor to:
 capture the swing of the pickleball paddle by capturing one or more of handle speed, handle angle, and handle rotation of the pickleball paddle.