“Hawk Eye” - the “Master Eye” of Snooker

All sports are benefitting from advances in technology and snooker is no exception. Software has been developed to enhance the TV viewer’s enjoyment and experience of the game. Advice was sought from commentators and pundits to make sure technology was used to its full potential and for the utmost benefit of the game.

These include: Player’s Eye View

With the new software it is now possible to show exactly what is in a player’s line of vision when they are taking on a shot. A ‘Player’s-Eye View’ of the table is then produced which gives those at home a taste of just how difficult or not the shot is to play.

On Cue

Those parked on their sofas can also see where contact with the cue ball should be made for the player to make the most of his shot. Once again this helps viewers to get a feel for the complexity of the shot to be taken. The different shots a player could or should have played can also be recreated in a virtual world to demonstrate the options available.

Now you see it, now you don’t…

It doesn’t take much to work out there are areas of the table the cue ball cannot access directly if another ball is in its way. Doh! What isn’t so easy is working out the best way round this… Then again, you guessed it – technology! Something called the Shadow Effect gives fans an instant appreciation of the ball positions on the table and helps them to understand why the player chooses the shot he does.