Fitbit Zip during Tennis - Accuracy of Steps & Calories

[NitinV]

Hi ZitBit Zip lovers:

I play tennis and use my Fitbit Zip in my pocket during the 2-3 hours of play about 3 times a week. I know using fitbit zip for tennis is not the ideal use case as it is more suited for walking or running. But it is very convenient as I don't like to use wrist band trackers. And I would like to understant how accurately Fitbit Zip can meaure steps and calories burnt during court play.

I see there are a few factors affecting the accuracy:

- Step size varies during court play (step count)

- Direction of steps varies forward, backwards, sideways, etc. (step count)

- Effort is quite varying (calories count)

I love using the Fitbit Zip and by and large it works because I do see more play means more (effective)miles and more calories. But I want to compare notes with someone who is using FitBit Zip for tennis.

[CindyFitbit]

Hey hey @NitinV, welcome to the Community! I would like to share with you how your Zip counts your steps.  Fitbit trackers use a 3-axis accelerometer to understand your motions. An accelerometer is a device that turns movement (acceleration) of a body into digital measurements (data) when attached to the body. By analyzing acceleration data, our trackers provide detailed information about frequency, duration, intensity, and patterns of movement to determine your steps taken, distance traveled, calories burned, and sleep quality. The 3-axis implementation allows the accelerometer to measure your motion in any way that you move, making its activity measurements more precise than older, single-axis pedometers.

Fitbit trackers have a finely tuned algorithm for step counting. The algorithm is designed to look for motion patterns most indicative of people walking. One condition for a motion pattern to be recognized as a step is the motion must be large enough. The algorithm implements this by setting a threshold. If a motion and its subsequent acceleration measurement data meet the threshold, the motion will be counted as a step. If that threshold is not met, the algorithm won’t count the motion as a step. Other factors can create enough acceleration to meet our threshold and therefore cause some over counting of steps, such as riding on a bumpy road. Equally, it's possible for the algorithm to undercount (not meet the required acceleration threshold). Examples here include walking on a very soft surface such as a plush carpet.

Maybe another user around can share their experience with Zip while playing tennis?

See you! 

[NitinV]

Hi Cindy,

Thanks for taking the time to respond to me. I appreciate the techncal informaion on fitbit. I love it and I carry it with me on the court. And I plan to continue to use it. I have already lost one and I am on my second one now. But I am new to this forum and I really want to compare notes with tennis players who are using fitbit zip or any fitbit.

I carry it on me during all the tennis sessions including drills, ball machine practice, rallying, match play etc. I have noticed that a typical 2 hour court time (for me) yeilds to about 4.0-5.0 miles distance. And about 3 hour court time yeilds about 6.0-6.5 miles distance.

Calling for tennis players who use fitbit. Happy hitting!

[CindyFitbit]

You are welcome @NitinV, it's always my pleasure! You can also look for other tennis players at our Discussions boards check it out! 

Catch you later!