{"id":17267,"date":"2022-06-21T18:30:48","date_gmt":"2022-06-21T16:30:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.radiotimes.com\/?p=519546"},"modified":"2022-06-21T19:23:57","modified_gmt":"2022-06-21T17:23:57","slug":"how-does-hawk-eye-work-at-wimbledon-2022","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/radiotimes\/rss_feed\/how-does-hawk-eye-work-at-wimbledon-2022\/","title":{"rendered":"How does Hawk-Eye work at Wimbledon 2022?"},"content":{"rendered":"

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By Michael Potts\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Tuesday, 21 June 2022 at 12:00 am<\/p>

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Hawk-Eye has embedded itself to become part of the spectacle at Wimbledon in recent years.<\/p>\n

The technology has won overwhelming favour with fans and players \u2013 big calls are celebrated or decried with vigour by all in the court.<\/p>\n

A slow, building clap has become part of the Wimbledon soundtrack since its institution at The Championships, turning it into as much a tradition as\u00a0queuing for tickets or chomping on strawberries and cream.<\/p>\n

But how does it all work? The split-second decision about whether a ball is in or out comes down to the tiniest of margins, yet the camera-led system is expected to offer precise judgements at great speed with points, prestige, money, careers and more on the line.<\/p>\n

RadioTimes.com<\/a> brings you everything you need to know about the impressive Hawk-Eye system at Wimbledon 2022.<\/p>

How does Hawk-Eye work?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Despite its name, this piece of umpiring sadly doesn\u2019t have anything to do with actual hawks (although the All England Club does rely on\u00a0Rufus the Harris hawk<\/a>\u00a0to deter pigeons!).<\/p>\n

Hawk-Eye is built from a network of 10 cameras around the court that capture 60 high-resolution images per second. At least five cameras cover every bounce of the ball.<\/p>\n

A centralised computer system rapidly processes the images, triangulates the position of the ball and calculates a flight path \u2013 the yellow streak you see behind the ball in the Hawk-eye graphics.<\/p>\n

Hawk-Eye collects data for every shot taken in the match, not just the close calls.<\/p>\n

This is to make sure all 10 cameras are doing their job, as well as providing plenty of talking points for analysts and pundits.<\/p>\n

\"""\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Hawk-Eye technicians check their ball detection systems<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

The 26-strong Hawk-Eye team ensures the cameras are calibrated to the court lines, and must do this again when faded lines are repainted throughout the tournament.<\/p>\n

During games, a team of four work from a commentary booth: two Hawk-Eye team members, one big-screen operator and one review official (a certified umpire).<\/p>\n

\"""\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
A technician prepares the Hawk-Eye system prior to play<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

How many times can players use Hawk-Eye?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Players are given unlimited opportunities to challenge a call in each set at Wimbledon.<\/p>\n

However, once three incorrect challenges are made, that player can\u2019t challenge again until the next set.<\/p>\n

If the set goes to a tiebreak, an extra challenge is awarded to each player.<\/p>\n

It rarely happens, but the umpire can reject a challenge if it is an \u201cunreasonable request or\u2026 not made in a timely manner\u201d, according to the International Tennis Federation rules.<\/p>\n

When was Hawk-Eye introduced to Wimbledon?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

After it was first tested in 2004, the system was implemented on Centre Court and Court 1 in 2007.<\/p>\n

It is now used across Centre Court plus courts one, two, three, 12 and 18.<\/p>\n

Players on courts without Hawk-Eye must solely rely on line umpires to make the right calls.<\/p>\n

How accurate is Hawk-Eye?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The Hawk-Eye system has a 2.2mm margin of error, with research reports claiming the system can be as much as 10mm off.<\/p>\n

Why? The ball may move too quickly to be properly captured on camera as all cameras have a finite frame-speed.<\/p>\n

As one University of Cardiff paper says, \u201cIf the frame-speed is, say, 100 frames per second, and the ball is moving at about 100 mph it will travel about 1.5 feet between frames.\u201d<\/p>\n

This margin of error can cause controversy during big points.<\/p>\n

During the 2007 Wimbledon final between Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer, a ball that appeared to be out was called in by 1mm.<\/p>\n