Racket Sports Tech for August 2025

Table of Contents

• Ashley’s Tech Blog

  • How Modern Racquet Club Software Brings Your Tools …

• New SportsEdTV Tennis App

  • NOW AVAILABLE in your favorite App Store.

• Tennis Social AI - First Real Tennis Simulator Rei …

  • Focus on people who don’t play tennis (yet)

• Playbypoint - Club Management for Racquet Sports

  • Meet Playbypoint Co-Founder and CEO Andres Robelo

• Tennis IQ App

  • Bridging the gap between physical skill and strate …

Running a tennis or pickleball club means using many different tools. You have court bookings, payments, door locks, and member messages. 

If these tools don’t talk to each other, you spend too much time moving information by hand. A good club platform makes these tools work as one system, saving you hours each week.

Sharing Information Automatically

Instead of copying data from one app to another, the club system sends updates on its own. When someone books a court, the booking tool tells the door locks to let them in at the right time. When a member pays online, the payment tool marks their account as up to date. All these updates happen without you lifting a finger.

Opening Doors with No Hassle

Imagine a player books a court at 3 PM. Right after they finish booking, they get a code on their phone. That code opens the club door exactly at 3 PM and stops working when their time is up. No more hiding keys under mats or having staff hand out PINs.

Making Payments Simple

Members can pay online or at the front desk. Once they pay, the system logs the payment against their booking or membership. You don’t have to match receipts or hunt down missing fees. Everything shows up in one place, so your month-end reports take minutes, not hours.

Talking to Your Members

Good clubs keep players informed. When tools talk to each other, you can send messages based on real events. For example, if a member misses three bookings, the system can remind them to rebook. If a player signs up for a league, they get all the details by email or text—automatically.

Adding Your Own Special Features

Every club is different. Maybe you want a special report or a welcome text for new members. A club platform with open access lets you add these extras. You or a tech partner can use simple recipes—like “When X happens, do Y”—to build the tools you need.

Start Turning Tools into One Strong System

When your club tools work together, your team has more time for players. You get clearer reports. Doors open on schedule. Payments match bookings exactly. And members feel taken care of every step of the way.

If you’re ready to see how integrations can free up your day, look for a club platform that connects your tools into one smooth system.

CourtReserve helps racquet and paddle sports clubs increase revenue, streamline operations, and deliver next-level experiences.

👉 Explore what’s possible at CourtReserve.com

The new App features videos and blogs to help improve your game.  
Download it today!

World-class tennis coaches at SportsEdTV

Tennis Social AI - Tennis Reimagined

Tennis Social AI, the Tennis, Pickleball, and Padel simulator, has been on the market for about a year now. We were recently able to catch up with Founder, CEO, and tireless promoter Tyler Kelly. Here are some facts about this product we didn’t know.

Tyler calls his business a “technology company reimagining the future of simulated racquet sports — including tennis, pickleball, and padel — through advanced computer vision, immersive game development, and real-time analytics.”

Features

• Gamified targets and points: Optical tracking cameras follow the ball's trajectory and provide real-time feedback on shot placement. Players are able to earn points by hitting gamified targets on a large simulator screen.

• AI-generated social games: AI software creates customized video games and training modules designed to make playing tennis more social and enjoyable. Helps players improve their skills.

• Customizable training modules: The simulator provides customizable video games and training modules for players of all skill levels.

• Realistic simulation with real equipment: Players use real racquets and hit actual tennis balls at the simulator screen. Provides a more authentic experience than virtual reality alone.

• Immersive experience: The combination of ball tracking, computer vision, and game animation creates a dynamic and immersive environment, making the practice experience more engaging and fun.

• Accessibility for groups: The simulator is designed to bring groups of people together, making tennis more accessible and social, and potentially attracting younger players or those seeking a fun, interactive activity similar to a Topgolf experience for tennis. 

Tyler mentioned that about 50% of Top Golf participants are non-players who love the social experience and the fact that they’re hitting a real ball. He sees this as a realistic scenario for Tennis Social AI participants.

Q+A

Q: Is Tennis Social AI a franchise model?
A: No, we are selling units and licensing the software.

Q: How much space is required to install your simulator?
A: Between 1,000 and 2,000 square feet is all you need to install 3-5 simulators.

Q: How many staff would you need for that installation?
A: None. No staff required, it’s all automatic.

Q: What is the cost involved?
A: We have two options.
1. The unit cost is $75,000, and the annual license fee is $1,000 per month
2. A 2-year lease includes both costs for $2,000 per month.

Rich says, “This simulator seems like more fun than e-tennis because you’re hitting a real ball!”

If you are interested and want more information from Tyler Kelly, please email him at [email protected].

Tennis Social AI website

Rich had the pleasure of meeting with Playbypoint Founder Andres Robelo at their new offices in Miami.

Andres Robelo – Founder & CEO, Playbypoint

Andres Robelo founded Playbypoint in 2016 and continues to serve as its CEO. With a passion for technology and a vision for transforming racquet sports, Andres leads one of the fastest-growing SaaS companies in the industry.

Playbypoint is the leading all-in-one club management platform, powering facilities across tennis, pickleball, padel, and more. Built from the ground up for racquet sports, the platform simplifies operations, enhances player experiences, and helps clubs grow—profitably and sustainably.

“When we started Playbypoint, it wasn’t just about building software—it was about creating something bigger. In a disconnected world, racquet sports still bring people together. That’s what we’re here to power.”
— Andres Robelo

Andres Robelo – Quick Facts

• Family Heritage: Nicaragua

• Born: Miami, Florida

• Education: B.A. in Economics and International Studies, University of Miami (2007–2012)

• Tennis Background: Played recreationally and was part of a Division III college tennis team for one year

Coaching Background: None — Andres brings a technology-first perspective to the racquet sports industry

Playbypoint

Andres posted on his LinkedIn page: When we started Playbypoint, it wasn’t just about building software—it was about supporting something bigger. In a world that feels more disconnected than ever, racquet sports still bring people together. Every match, every rally, every post-game chat—it all creates real connection. That’s what clubs make possible. And that’s what we’re here to power.

Our purpose is simple:
To give club owners tools that fuel their passion, not slow them down. To give players easier, better access to the sports they love.And to help grow the communities that form around the game. Because when the experience is effortless, more people play. And when more people play, everyone wins.

Features of Playbypoint Club Management Software:

• 7 Business Categories (Tennis, pickleball, padel, swim clubs, yoga, tennis academies, & multi-sport facilities.)

• Branded website & app

• Management software with a powerful dashboard

• Marketing tools that help you attract and retain customers

• Powerful Booking software across mobile devices, tablets, and desktops

• Integrated Reporting & Analytics (Sales, Transactions, Payroll/Staff, Programs, Retail, Lessons, Staff Revenue, Custom Reports)

Playbypoint goal: Provide a seamless customer experience with our customized, all-in-one booking solution.

Website: https://www.playbypoint.com/

E-mail: [email protected]

Your personal pocket tennis coach

Get tailored pro-tips on your performance, physical health, and mindset — plus advanced progress tracking on you and your opponents.

Your Very Own AI Coach
Powered by state-of-the-art artificial intelligence.

Tools for every moment
Tailored guidance before and after your match.

Guided Journals
Jot down match notes and personal reflections by writing or speaking.

Fully Personalized Experiences
Your app adapts to you with personalized recommendations.

Nutrition
Pro diet plans for athletes.

Player and Performance Insights
Gain valuable insights into your opponents.

Designed for Mind & Body
Master the mental game.

Tennis IQ Co-Founder Jaime Sullivan states on her LinkedIn page:

With a strong background in community engagement and wellness, my passion for tennis inspired me to build a performance-driven platform that serves competitive athletes and recreational players alike. By integrating smart analytics, strategic insights, and mental coaching. Tennis IQ helps players improve match play, boost confidence, and refine their game plan.

Jaime explained during a phone call that Tennis IQ is predominantly addressing the needs of Academies, College Teams, and juniors who want to see their data. The cost for using the app is normally $29 per month, but Academies/Teams can sign up students as a group for $14 per month and student.

Smart: Jaime counts Tim Buwick and Cari Buck on her Advisory Board.
Interesting: Jaime Sullivan’s Blog Post “Unlocking Your Tennis Potential: The Power of Smart Decision-Making”

Tennis IQ App:
Disrupting racquet sports with truly game-changing technology

Tennis IQ App’s other Co-Founder is Alli Barnes, MS, PhD, Functional Nutritionist, Exercise Physiologist, Mindset Specialist, who calls herself a “Wellness Nerd.”
Alli sent us an article that introduces the app and is data-backed. (Read more about Alli Barnes at the end of this article)

Mindset Isn’t Magic…It’s Muscle Memory (for Your Brain)

Tennis is gloriously lonely. You can chat with your coach every few minutes in a lesson, but in matches and between points, it’s you, your breath, and the voice in your head that swings harder than your forehand. The question isn’t whether mindset matters—it’s whether you’re training it as deliberately as your kick serve.

Here’s the kicker: mindset isn’t woo. It’s measurable, modifiable, and it shows up on the scoreboard. It’s been studied extensively, and just recently, a 2024 meta-analysis found that mindfulness training reliably boosts athletes’ performance and calms competitive anxiety…a psychological skill, not a personality trait. And a 2025 study of 396 professional athletes showed that those with higher self-compassion and a growth mindset coped better with failure—translation: aka they bounce back faster after double-faulting on break point.

If mindset is trainable, why are we still slapping the “talented” label on players and hoping their brains just catch up? What actually derails most competitors are three classic mental miscues. First is the post‑point spiral: miss one sitter and your brain screens a highlight reel of every botched volley since 2012, stealing attention from the only point that matters—the next one. Then comes the threat-versus-challenge mix-up: your nervous system treats a finals tiebreaker like a saber-toothed tiger unless you’ve practiced flipping that switch, just like you drill your return position. Finally, there’s data amnesia under pressure; patterns vanish (“Was her backhand short cross or deep middle on break points?”), not because you’re clueless, but because a busy, biased brain drops details when adrenaline spikes. Train these moments on purpose, and “talent” suddenly looks a lot like a process.

Process > Providence

Mindset isn’t fairy dust; it’s a craft that the elite know well. Think of it like refining your backhand: small, repeatable reps that wire your brain to respond, not react. Mindfulness is the first rep. Instead of replaying that shanked forehand on a mental loop, you train yourself to notice the surge of frustration, take one grounding breath, make a new intention for the next play, and follow through. That’s not denial, it’s skillfully staying present, the same skill validated in that meta-analysis I mentioned earlier.

Next comes self-compassion, which is not soft or sentimental; it’s performance insurance. Ask yourself, “What would I say to my doubles partner right now?” You’d offer a cue, not a critique. Extending that same tone to yourself interrupts the self-talk spiral that chews up focus and confidence.

Finally: grow on purpose. Swap vague pep talks (“Just get better!”) for sharp, actionable questions: “What did that point teach me about her second serve?” “What adjustment can I test in the next game?” Curiosity turns mistakes into data, and data into progress. That’s the engine. Not talent. Not luck. Process.

Want An Easy Way To Reset Your Mindset?

Try the Tennis IQ app! When we built Tennis IQ, we weren’t thinking “app.” We were thinking on-demand mental coach in your pocket: how do we play smarter, stress less, and win more?!

• After-point reset scripts (15 seconds, phone stays in the bag—your brain doesn’t).

• Opponent & pattern tracking so you don’t think you know what happened—you know.

• Tiny guided visualizations & breath prompts you can do between games (because the best routines are the ones you’ll actually use).

• Journaling that doesn’t feel like homework—just enough structure to extract the lesson, not relive the loss.

• Lose the loss: use one of the many 3-minute mindset reset videos pre or post match!

Use it, don’t use it; either way,  please train your mind with the same respect you give your footwork ladder. We know the science of why it helps you win more, and we want you to benefit. Here are some quick tips to implement now!

Try This TODAY (Today, Not “Someday”)

Between-Point 5-Second Reset

1. Exhale long through the mouth (physiological sigh).

2. Name the cue you’ll execute next point (“Early split + high first ball”).

3. Drop your shoulders, soften your jaw. Go.

Match Notebook Prompts (2 minutes post-session)

• What worked today that I can repeat?

• What rattled me, and how did I respond?

• One opponent pattern I picked up (and what I’ll test next time).

Self-Compassion Reframe
Instead of “I always choke,” try: “That was a lesson I don’t want to learn again. What’s the adjustment?”

Final Serve

The ceiling is higher than you think. Not because of mystical “talent,” but because your brain is trainable at any age, your habits are steerable, and your story is editable.

Train it. Track it. Test it. Then watch how often “luck” finds you!

See you on court,
Alli Barnes

PS- Tennis IQ- download on the App Store! https://apps.apple.com/us/app/tennis-iq-mind-match-coach/id6503030439

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Coaches Note: Stop Talent-Hunting, Start Trait-Hunting

Curiosity, coach-ability, stick-with-it-ness, emotional regulation—these predict who’s still grinding in three years. If your “mental toughness” plan is just yelling “be tougher,” you’re burning athletes, not building them. Hand them tools. Make mindset reps visible. Track them like you track serves in. (Yes, we built a platform for that; check it out!)

References (APA 7th)

Frontiers in Psychology. (2024). A meta-analysis of the intervention effect of mindfulness training on athletes’ performance.

Health Nexus. (2025). Predicting coping with performance failure by self-compassion and growth mindset among professional athletes

Surgery Practice, and co-founder of 40 Love Mind Set: an AI integrated tennis performance and wellness app. With extensive expertise in nutrition, integrative medicine, exercise physiology, and neuroscience, she empowers individuals to level up their quality of life through the latest functional health and wellness techniques.