Wilson Sporting Goods officially launched its “smart football” Monday for amateur quarterbacks who want NFL-type data on their performance.
Wilson X Connected Football is heading out to stores and will be available for purchase Sept. 8. The $199 pigskin uses a tiny microchip that records statistics such as throwing distance, spin rate, catches, drops, speed and spiral efficiency.
The high-tech ball is paired with a smartphone-holding arm band similar to “wrist coaches” used by quarterbacks. Its Bluetooth technology is compatible with any smartphone.
Bob Thurman, vice president of Wilson Labs, said in a statement that the ball can be thrown about 200,000 times before its battery fully drains, Fox Business reported Monday.
“Our Wilson X Connected Football marries the best in digital technology with the top performing football in the world to create an immersive gaming experience for fans that was not possible before,” he said. “By embedding a state-of-the-art, undetectable sensor in a football that connects to a cool app on a fan’s mobile device, every fan can become their favorite NFL team’s quarterback and create their own virtual stadium anywhere, anytime they want to play.”
The ball, which comes in official and junior sizes, can be preordered now on the company’s website. The Wilson X Football app for Android and iOS will be free to download on Sept. 8.
• Douglas Ernst can be reached at dernst@washingtontimes.com.
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