Game Changers: Sports Technology Innovations
The Shot Clock
- Year Introduced: 1954
- Sport: Basketball
Before the shot clock was introduced, basketball was struggling to gain traction as a major, mainstream sport in America. Scoring was low and, much to the fans’ disappointment, teams would often decide to hold the ball and stall once they were in front. After one particularly lackluster contest between the Fort Wayne Pistons and the Minneapolis Lakers ended in a 19-18 “victory” for Fort Wayne, the NBA realized that they were going to be in serious trouble unless they made some changes. In 1954, the Syracuse Nationals’ owner, Danny Biasone, introduced the 24-second shot clock after experimenting with the idea during his team’s scrimmages. In 1953, the year before the league adopted the clock, scoring averaged a mere 79 ppg. Thanks to the change, that number jumped to 93 ppg only one year later, and the NBA has never looked back since.
Titanium Golf Clubs
- Year Introduced: 1990
- Sport: Golf
Though the first titanium driver was released in 1990, it wasn’t until 1996–when Callaway and TaylorMade developed their first iterations of the club–that these new drivers would take off in popularity. Allowing for a larger sweet spot and a faster swing due to its lightweight material, titanium drivers have now become the weapon of choice for all professional golfers.
In-Helmet Headsets
- Year Introduced: 1994
- Sport: Football
For quarterbacks, communication is half the battle, so in 1994 the NFL decided to help them out a bit by allowing in-helmet headsets. By speaking with their coaches via radio waves, QBs have been able to more easily relay play calls to the huddle and make necessary adjustments on the fly.
Composite Tennis Racquets
- Year Introduced: 1980
- Sport: Tennis
Remember these wooden nightmares? Compared to the sleek, composite models that Rafa and Roger are playing with today, the racquets that McEnroe and Borg would take to the court look straight from the Stone Age. Thanks to a lighter, sturdier frame and a larger hitting surface, the newer racquets allowed for more spin, harder hitting, and better control than their wooden counterparts, quickly rendering them obsolete.
Lighter, Flatter Track Shoes
- Year Introduced: 1950s
- Sport: Track and Field
The changes to track shoes have been subtle over the years, but even the smallest additions can help when the difference between first and last can be just one or two seconds. Through years of testing and experience, athletes and sports scientists have worked to find the perfect blend of lightweight shoes with optimal grip that allows you to hit the corners harder and faster. Usain Bolt uses synthetic microfibers and smoother spike plates to help him get the job done.
Goal-Line Technology
- Year Introduced: 1993
- Sport: Hockey, Soccer
Soccer has been criminally late in adopting goal-line technology, but the NHL has been on top of the innovation since ’93. By using an overhead camera, referees can consult instant replay to decide whether or not the ball (or puck) crossed the goal line–a crucial determinant in the outcome of every game. It’s always good to see when an organization is committed to getting things right. FIFA, what’s taking you so long?
LZR Swimsuits
- Year Introduced: 2008
- Sport: Swimming
Composed of spandex, nylon, and polyurethane, the LZR Racers were the high-performance, form-fitting bodysuits that nearly swept the Beijing Olympics in 2008. That’s not an exaggeration either: 98 percent of the swimmers who medaled that year were wearing an LZR suit, and after only one year in competition, it had already helped break 97 world records. However, it would soon go on to be deemed an unfair, technological advantage, and FINA, swimming’s governing body, ruled in July of 2009 that the suits could no longer be used in competition. We’ll never forget this moment though. RIP LZR.
KERS
- Year Introduced: 2009
- Sport: F1 Racing
Ever get sick of stop-and-go city traffic? If only you had KERS. An automotive system that recovers wasted kinetic energy, KERS works by collecting all of the heat you build up from hitting the brakes and then storing that power to boost acceleration later on. Basically, it’s like saving a mushroom for the finish line when you’re playing Mario Kart. Due to the system’s weight, though, most F1 racers have been slow to include the innovation in their cars.
Breakaway Rims
- Year Introduced: 1978
- Sport: Basketball
With the 1970s came high-flying athletes like Dr. J, Darryl Dawkins, and David Thompson who weren’t afraid to play above the rim. Unfortunately, their show-stopping highlights also had the potential to be exactly that: show-stopping. Breaking a rim is no doubt legendary, but the delays they created during games were starting to become an issue. In 1978, the NCAA was the first to use a breakaway rim, with the NBA following in 1981. Since then, no one has been able to shatter the glass–though that certainly didn’t stop Shaq from trying.
Hockey Helmets
- Year Introduced: 1979
- Sport: Hockey
Believe it or not, until 1979 NHL athletes weren’t required to wear a helmet when they were playing. Seems crazy, we know, but, thankfully, league president John Ziegler rectified the situation in response to the numerous head injuries that players had been suffering over the years. We’re glad that the league finally got around to solving that problem, but they might want to do the same with full face shields while they’re at it. Duncan Keith’s teeth would appreciate it.
Instant Replay
- Year Introduced: 1986
- Sport: Football, Basketball, Hockey
Instant replay has not only influenced how we watch the game at home, it’s changed what happens on the field, swinging decisions on scoring and influencing countless outcomes. The NFL was one of the leading adopters of the technology, introducing an early version of the rule in 1986, with the NBA and NHL wisely following along in later years. Of course, as we saw from the replacement refs this year, the men in stripes can always still manage to screw things up.
Carbon Fiber Skis and Snowboards
- Year Introduced: 1990
- Sport: Skiing, Snowboarding
Skis and snowboards have undergone numerous design changes over the past few decades, with materials like wood, metal, fiberglass and, finally, carbon fiber being used by riders to hit the slopes. Carbon fiber sets itself apart from the others for its weightless feel and enhanced durability, and is the big favorite among top free skiers and boarders. And don’t you want to be just like them?
HANS Device
- Year Introduced: 1996
- Sport: NASCAR, NHRA, F1 Racing
Spurred by the tragic death of Blaine Johnson in 1996, and of Dale Earnhardt in 2001, major motor sports organizations began to implement new technologies designed to prevent dire skull and spine injuries to their drivers during crashes. While many were tested, the HANS device established itself as the premiere option for serious motorists looking to protect their necks.
Concussion Helmets
- Year Introduced: 2012
- Sport: Baseball
They may look clunky and oversized compared to the earlier models, but helmets like the S100 Pro Comp have become nothing short of necessary for baseball players looking to protect their domes. While the original version of the helmet was released in 2003, it wasn’t mandatory to wear until this year (although many players opted to wear the helmet last season, marking the S100 Pro Comp’s official debut). Good thing too, given that the less-protective models could only withstand ball speeds of up to 68 mph. Unless it’s R.A. Dickey throwing at your head, you’re probably going to need more help than that.
Hawk-Eye and Cyclops Machines
- Year Introduced: 2006
- Sport: Tennis
Implemented to address a long history of disputed line calls, Hawk-Eye and Cyclops machines use a team of cameras and ball-tracking technology to accurately predict where a tennis ball has landed on the court. The technology has been a success thus far, with only marginal criticism coming from players and spectators. It was particularly influential during the 2008 Wimbledon final when Rafael Nadal used his challenges to overturn a number of key points, leaving Roger Federer visibly frustrated. Those cameras are lucky that Fed is no Johnny Mac.