New data: Young basketball players see up to 25% shooting improvement in 12 weeks with smart ball technology
According to data from SportIQ’s Spalding TF DNA smart basketball, basketball players under 18 years of age see a 10% increase in shots made and a 15% increase in swished shots after just three months of regular practice. The findings are based on data from more than 6M shots by thousands of players across the States.
Los Angeles, United States (May 8, 2025) SportIQ, the leading provider of smart basketballs and in-app shooting coaching, has just released a new study showing that young players who receive real-time shooting feedback see significant shooting improvement in a short period of time. In addition to an up to 25% improvement in overall shooting, the data shows that players improve most by addressing the shot arc and release height.
The study is based on data from more than 10,000 active users of SportIQ’s smart basketballs across all age groups. SportIQ provides the technology and app for Spalding’s TF DNA smart basketball series, where an integrated sensor in the ball records shooting data, feeding it back to a phone app that gives direct feedback on improvement points and offers tailored in-app coaching by NBA-level shooting coaches.
The app makes top-level game improvement more accessible for children of all ages, as hiring a local shooting coach can cost upwards of $2,000 annually, with top coaches costing as much as $350-500 per hour.
“One of our core missions is to help young people who just love picking up a ball in their free time improve their game at their own pace, so we’re thrilled to see that our data shows that young players are the ones who see most improvement from using our technology. Hiring a coach is too expensive for many families, and we really want to bring top-level coaching to anyone who wants it,” says Erik Anderson, CEO of SportIQ.
While the largest improvement is seen in players under 18 years of age, players in the age group 18-30 also experienced a 15% improvement in overall shooting, with a 5% increase in shots made, and a 10% increase in swished shots, meaning the ball going in the basket without the ball touching the rim or backboard. Of all active users, most shots were recorded by younger players, but users in the 40+ age group also saw improvements across the board.
“The basket above the garage door is as American as apple pie, and it has given generations of people in all ages joy and activity for ages. What we want to do is make that experience even more rewarding, helping everyone who uses our technology feel a sense of mastery and being able to compete with themselves even if all they’re doing is shooting a ball in the driveway,” Anderson continues.
SportIQ has sold tens of thousands of basketballs in the American market. The latest collaboration with Spalding means smart basketballs are available to consumers across the country, combining Spalding’s premium ball technology with smart sensors and direct coaching. Earlier this year, SportIQ was chosen for the NBA Launchpad program, where the same technology is piloted for use in the professional game, helping officials make tough calls and improving the fan experience.
“We see from our data that our technology levels the playing field. You don’t need to spend thousands of dollars on a coach when a ball and an app can have such an impact. Our vision for the future is to make every ball smart. Now that we see these results with basketball players, why not do the same to footballs, soccer balls or baseballs?” Anderson concludes.
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For additional information:
Media kit with pictures
Erik Anderson, CEO
SportIQ
erik.anderson@sportiq.com
About SportIQ
SportIQ is the leading smart ball company specialized in AI, machine learning and classical physics in sports. The company’s vision is to make every ball smart.
SportIQ’s smart ball sensor technology and analytics app holds over 25 patents, and is currently utilized in the industry leading Spalding TF DNA basketball. SportIQ technology helps players of all ages and skill levels improve their game by tracking shots, providing personalized coaching, and by making training fun through gamification.
To date, the company has tracked over 20M basketball shots and sells tens of thousands of consumer basketballs in the US annually.
In 2025, SportIQ was chosen for the NBA Launchpad accelerator program, where they will develop new on-court technology to enhance fan engagement and help officials to make the right decisions.
For more information: siqbasketball.com.
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