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HEAD offers Watson racquet finder

January 4, 2017

Phoenix, AZ: HEAD announced today the pilot of an IBM Watson-enabled web tool called the HEAD Tennis Racquet Finder. The tool’s artificial intelligence-powered interface relies on IBM Watson technology to guide consumers through personalized racquet recommendations that meet their specific needs.

As part of the pilot program, HEAD is launching a sweepstakes campaign called “Play Better.” Participants enter by answering questions that leverage the Racquet Finder’s technology to identify the most suitable racquet and are eligible to win HEAD performance racquets or tennis balls.

To help consumers improve their game with the best equipment to match their needs, HEAD has developed its own algorithm to find the optimum racquet for tennis players. By using HEAD’s database of performance racquets, the algorithm calculates a match percentage for each person’s racquet based on input such as gender, age, common errors, as well as experience level and technique preferences, like hitting flat or spin shots.

By tapping into IBM Watson, the Tennis Racquet Finder helps surface the most relevant results from this analysis. By using the Watson Tradeoff Analytics API, the tool presents the top three recommended racquets, empowering users to make more informed purchase decisions. Top suggestions are ranked according to Watson’s evaluations of the racquets, including parameters like weight, head size and balance, as well as calculations of their suitability for a user.

To kick off the launch of the Tennis Racquet Finder and promote usage, as part of the HEAD Play Better online sweepstakes players are also eligible for a free demo coupon to try one of the recommended racquets at a participating retail store at no cost, free of the typical cost that varies by store.

HEAD’s Play Better Sweepstakes will run through December 31, 2017. Winners will be announced every Friday on headplaybetter.com.

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ABOUT HEAD TENNIS

HEAD TENNIS, a part of HEAD BV, is a global provider and marketer of premium branded tennis apparel, footwear, balls and equipment for athletes of all competitive levels. Since its launch in the late 1960s, when HEAD founder Howard Head first introduced the aluminum tennis racquet, the division’s key products have attained leading market positions based on sales and reputation. Many of today ́s top ATP and WTA players, including Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray, Richard Gasquet, Tomas Berdych, Marin Cilic, Maria Sharapova and Sloane Stephens are part of the HEAD Tennis family. For more information, please visit: head.com/tennis.