Almost every field today has been affected by technology. Many innovations in the fields of sports have happened because technology has made them possible.
In the house or at work we are constantly bombarded with technology to the extent that today we don’t give it a second thought, it is part and parcel of life. Sports equipment – a relatively young offshoot of technology seems to be growing leaps and bounds.
Sports technology has changed the face of sports as we knew it. The application of technology in sport facility design has yielded real changes in terms of athlete use, spectator comfort and usable life span.
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Technology has meant that we can now calculate the speed of an athlete to fractions of a second. It has meant that an athlete can now win or lose despite a photo finish.
Cameras capturing images to the second have made it possible to replay every action on the field to enable correct decisions. It has meant that games are now fairer. The element of chance and luck has been almost removed.
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Sports equipment refers to a large amount of equipment which is used in sports. Starting with the bats, and balls, and rackets to the shoes and socks and glasses there are a lot of things that come under the umbrella of Sports equipments.
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About 25 years ago tennis rackets were made from wood, with ash, maple etc. leading the way. Later in the sixties metal frames were introduced. Today composite rackets are the rage because of the efficiency they offer in accelerating the ball across the net and in terms of the dangerous vibrations that lead to tennis elbow. For example Bobby Riggs with his 1939 wooden racket, would have no chance against Pete Sampras armed with an oversized composite racket with an enlarged “sweet spot”, although Bobby Riggs was an excellent player.
The shoes today offer greater grip and have better cushioning which helps prevent, heel damage. Sports clothing today is made of fabric that is sweat resistant and wrinkle free. The discovery of Lycra has meant the athletes can stretch better, run better and compete better.
Specialized sports equipment which hits particular muscle groups has meant the athletes can train specific muscles. Today sports equipment is necessary if one wants to compete internationally. Though talent still plays a big role in the success of athletes, sports equipment is what gives them the extra edge.
With fitness having finally moved past the fad stage, °ne can truly say that sports equipment is here to stay. Treadmills, elliptical cycles, rowing machines, steppers, are the new mantra. Sports equipment for home use is a big market today. Home gyms alone recorded a 30 percent increase in sale in 2006 over the year 2000.
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The popularity of home gyms is partially because homeowners prefer to work out at home. It saves on commuting time, it saves on monthly gym membership costs, and it gives users the liberty to exercise when the fancy takes them. It has meant that parents can keep an eye on their children while working out at home.
Home gym equipment market which is relatively new seems poised to clock astonishing sales in the next couple of years. What was a fitness fad is now a fitness commitment and it is this commitment that has speared the sports equipment industry.