Stick-mounted sensor helps ice hockey players up their game

The FWD Powershot device is a stick-mounted sensor that provides ice hockey players with rich performance information, helping them identify areas they can improve upon.

Many sports, from tennis to soccer, have already got their own smart devices that give athletes more data on their performance and skills development. It’s no wonder then that a Canadian startup is now bringing the same tech to the country’s national sport — ice hockey — with the FWD Powershot device, a stick-mounted sensor that provides players with rich performance information, helping them identify areas they can improve upon.

The device is designed to replace the cap on the top of players’ existing hockey sticks — the sensors are located inside the stick itself, while the FWD Powershot cap features LEDs that light up when triggered by the user’s performance. Using the accompanying app, which connects to the sensor via Bluetooth, players can see the speed of their shot, as well as the speed and amplitude of their swing, in real time. Players can also view their historic statistics, enabling them to track their improvements over time and identify their weaknesses. Through the app, they can then share their achievements with others over social networks, and set and respond to challenges from others. The video below explains some more about the product:

FWD Powershot is available to buy for CAD 149.99, and the company are currently working on a similar product designed for ice skates, slated for release this year. Are there other sports that could benefit from this kind of smart technology?