The heated argument over a ball skimming the baseline is an ancient ritual in sports, but it is about to be silenced by a smartphone. Major League Pickleball has signed a deal with technology firm Owl AI to introduce electronic line-calling for its upcoming season. This software-based system aims to eliminate human subjectivity from the court by replacing traditional line judges with a cost-effective digital eye. The move marks a significant shift for one of America’s fastest-growing sports as it prioritizes accuracy over tradition.
• MLP will use Owl AI for line calls next season.
• The software replaces human line judges.
• The system is cost-effective and objective.
Unlike the expensive hardware-heavy Hawk-Eye system used in professional tennis, this new approach relies entirely on software. Owl AI utilizes standard 4K video feeds from cell phones or broadcast cameras to make real-time decisions without the need for specialized equipment. This affordable solution democratizes high-level officiating, allowing leagues and venues to access precise tracking data without a massive infrastructure investment. It represents a pivot from hardware dependency to algorithmic accessibility.
• Owl AI uses software instead of expensive hardware.
• Standard 4K video feeds power the system.
• The technology significantly lowers officiating costs.
The implementation of this technology coincides with an explosive period of growth for the league. Major League Pickleball has seen its sponsorship revenue double and ticket sales surge by nearly 94 percent in the last year alone. League officials view data-backed visualization as an essential step in professionalizing the sport and matching its rapid commercial expansion. Clearer calls mean a better product for the growing number of fans and players filling the stands.
• MLP sponsorship revenue doubled recently.
• Ticket revenue increased by 94 percent.
• Tech adoption supports the sport’s professionalization.
The drive to sanitize sports of human error comes from the company’s founder, former Olympian and X Games CEO Jeremy Bloom. Motivated by his own experiences with subjective judging in skiing and football, Bloom secured seed funding from Google and raised over 11 million dollars to develop the platform. His team of AI experts designed the system to analyze tricks, landings, and boundaries with mathematical precision. The goal is to ensure that no game or inning is ever decided by a bad call again.
• Founder Jeremy Bloom is a former Olympian.
• The company raised $11 million in venture capital.
• Bloom wants to eliminate human error in judging.
Pickleball is merely the proving ground for a technology with global ambitions. The system is already being trialed in various other disciplines, with discussions underway regarding its potential use in future Olympic Games. From figure skating to snowboarding, the aim is to empower human judges with analytics rather than simply replacing them. This partnership signals the beginning of a broader movement where artificial intelligence becomes the final arbiter of athletic truth.
• The tech is being trialed for Olympic sports.
• Interest exists in skating and snowboarding.
• The goal is to empower judges with analytics.
