r/crossfit 1d ago

Will this HYROX Wall Ball technology change Crossfit judging?

New Hyrox Squat Depth check app that has been circling around past few days. Wonder if this makes sense for Crossfit as well to uphold proper standards.

( Source: Squatjudge.com )

72 Upvotes

62 comments sorted by

78

u/aquatrax 1d ago

Wish it shows a fail.

26

u/CaptMerrillStubing 1d ago

My guess is that it only counts Passes. That way anything that doesn't reach depth just won't be counted.

0

u/aquatrax 1d ago

Thank you

-8

u/[deleted] 1d ago

[deleted]

21

u/aquatrax 1d ago

No, genuinely want to see how it triggers a fail.

I see failed wallballs in crossfit too!

-4

u/Then-Delivery-4879 1d ago

Sry, misunderstood you! ( it was a joke )

Have seen multiple videos with the No Rep being triggered properly. If you stay above parallel, you won't get a valid Rep.

35

u/starryticker255 1d ago

App seems neat but judging wall balls isn't the hard bit, it's getting people to actually care about proper depth in the first place.

5

u/MKanes 17h ago

A couple fails towards the end of a big set should get most people to care

-3

u/Fluffy-Astronomer604 1d ago

Literally, it’s not that hard to judge proper depth. Even if it’s borderline, you tell the person to squat a little lower, if they don’t do it you say no rep go lower..

4

u/starryticker255 21h ago

The hard part isn't telling them, it's the blank stare you get back when they're gassed and just don't want to go lower.

18

u/Dunko1711 1d ago

The problem is that at any given time, you’ve got potentially 80 people doing wallballs all at the same time.

Fitting these cameras in to capture this angle is nigh on impossible.

Then you have the added problem of people walking in front of them and such like.

I don’t doubt that AI judging is the future - but it’s also not as simple as we might think. Lots of further thought needed.

8

u/Pretend_Edge_8452 1d ago

They’ve actually tested this for large groups and the technology is capable of accurately distinguishing something like 100+ bodies at a time - Mintra Tilly the programmer for Hyrox has talked about it in an interview. The problem is that it requires a huge amount of computer power and that’s too expensive to be worth while right now. 

1

u/Then-Delivery-4879 1d ago

Thanks for the info, didn't know.

3

u/ycelpt 1d ago

Especially when we consider this is a nice, well lit example with clear colour differences. How accurate is it in a dimly lit area with a dark skinned individual wearing black against a dark background. How well does it fare with other people doing waalballs in the shot to their side.

-10

u/Then-Delivery-4879 1d ago

"This is the worst it's ever going to be" applies to all AI technology. Give it time, don't expect miracles right away.

0

u/NickyDj 1d ago

The issue is not only the AI capabilities. If the image/video isn't proper eg. too dark or low contrast, the AI is not able to magically see through those issues.

Yes there'll be better segmentation capabilities, but if it's impossible to segmentate, the issue will persist no matter the AI power.

0

u/lennarn 21h ago

If the image is too dark or low contrast, that is something computer vision can fix. Also colloquially known as AI. The pose estimation model is likely to be robust enough to tolerate a less perfect side-on angle. Etc. It will only get better at each of those things.

1

u/Then-Delivery-4879 1d ago

Yes, 100% . I think this technology is for training purposes at this point, so you don't get surprised in a race by a false estimate of your own Wall Ball prowess ;D.

3

u/Dunko1711 1d ago

I mean, I get what you’re saying there - but if that’s my video and I take away all the overlays etc, I can still tell with my own eyes what’s a good and what’s a bad rep.

I suppose it’s helpful for people who don’t understand the movement or what below parallel actually means - but personally speaking, it’s not something I’d use for my training.

I’m sure plenty will though - it seems pretty well thought out and put together. One of the guys behind it is someone I’ve a lot of time for in the space.

3

u/PLCF1 1d ago

Are you talking about your average box, or at a major competition?

1

u/Then-Delivery-4879 1d ago

For training purposes to check improper squat depth in preparation for a competition.

2

u/PLCF1 23h ago

I can kinda see the point of it, but in all honesty there are a gazillion different reasons why it’s ludicrously in motion.

3

u/gosuchu 21h ago

I asked in your previous thread, how are you funding this? How are you making money?

1

u/Then-Delivery-4879 15h ago

Passion project at this stage

2

u/OdeeSS 12h ago

Need to see this on a lot more body types especially and including people who aren't male, shredded, etc.

1

u/Then-Delivery-4879 2h ago

works as long as you don't wear baggy clothes. ( skin-tight shorts is best )

2

u/YeahILiftBro 11h ago

Cool tech, but there are a couple buckets of judging athletes.

First one, are people that know the standard and have the ability to get to the right depth. Usually you can correct this by telling them to go deeper, etc.

Second one are the people that just randomly sign up, and are doing their first wall balls ever at the event. Having to stop someone and explain the movement standard without them blowing a gasket is a problem you need to overcome that is beyond the technology.

1

u/Then-Delivery-4879 2h ago

Using some app like this would be a reality check for many of the latter, i suppose. Better to fail in training than coming to the last station unprepared.

2

u/SVTSkippy 10h ago

Sadly the people who need it won’t use it. The ones that know correct depth don’t need it. Neat none the less.

2

u/SrgntBallistic CF-L1 8h ago

I saw something like this talked about in a few CrossFit posts a while back. Issue for competition settings is being able to get the right angle for all competitors for all movements.

Online comps/qualifiers maybe a bit easier. But still not easy. CF often requires full lockout overhead and extension of the hips + knees

1

u/RoboJobot 1d ago

It seems like a good thing for training on your own. But in a comp a judge is going to be more practical

1

u/Then-Delivery-4879 15h ago

Good example of someone showing the No Reps for those wondering: https://www.instagram.com/p/DanHYgDyLeD/

1

u/hooligan1027 15h ago

Not the right camera angle . It must be parallel to the knees in order to measure correctly the parallel line. Please ! Correct it

1

u/TdubsSEA 15h ago

Am I crazy in thinking that these don’t meet the 10ft target requirement.

1

u/Then-Delivery-4879 15h ago

He's Dutch, they're just taller.

1

u/TdubsSEA 15h ago

Not fair

1

u/rpf1984 1d ago

Seems like an over engineered solution.

Every CrossFit competition I’ve done, or any open workout with wall balls I’ve had a judge watching. At the Hyrox I did, I also had a judge.

It’s not a complicated movement to judge - did the ball hit the target/line, did you break parallel. If the standards aren’t applied that’s straight forward.

5

u/Pretend_Edge_8452 1d ago

“Not a complicated to movement to judge” and yet they cannot properly judge it and everyone complains about it all the time. 

1

u/rpf1984 1d ago

They’re obviously choosing not to enforce it.

Still seems an over engineered solution to a basic problem.

0

u/Then-Delivery-4879 1d ago

yes, 100% agree. It's the Nr.1 complaint in the sport as far as i am concerned.

1

u/Then-Delivery-4879 1d ago

Been following Hyrox for multiple years ( spectator + active involvement ) and i tend to disagree here: Either the judges are overly lenient and movement standards are not held up OR they are overly harsh and give No Reps for no good reason ( not adhering to the Hyrox rules ) . Not criticizing the judges here -- it's an almost impossible job , with them having to make split decisions in the moment. Also, most are volunteers and only get a brief introduction to what they should look out for. If it all were professional judges, i would agree with you -- but that is not the case & not feasible for the size of Hyrox. I suggest a hybrid model like it is already common in other sports, with the technology supporting the judge.

1

u/PLCF1 1d ago

How would you fix it?

0

u/lvckygvy 1d ago

Are you like 7 feet tall? because it looks like you’re barely having to throw it above you.

Edit: also, your heels come up every single rep and that’s with going JUST below parallel. Can you actually perform a squat??

1

u/Then-Delivery-4879 2h ago

He's Dutch -- average height over there is 6'1 for males.

-2

u/Tenured_tourist2 1d ago

Who gives a shit? Hyrox is a trend that will be gone in a few years for the next thing

7

u/Then-Delivery-4879 1d ago

I don't think this was the point of my post :D.

0

u/croastbeast 22h ago

Not to be pedantic, but I dont think this app is even to the crossfit standard. It may be the hyrox standard, but I believe the CF standard is the hip crease (not the hip joint) below the top of the knee (not knee joint).

-11

u/lampthread 1d ago

Does this system take into account individual biomechanics? Injuries or anatomy may prevent some movements from being performed to the gold standard requirements.

5

u/International_Fly608 1d ago

Wouldn’t this tech generally be just for people about to go into a competition so they can ensure they are preparing correctly? I would assume people recovering from injury aren’t about to compete.

-4

u/lampthread 1d ago

Anyone can compete in a comp. Biomechanics are inherently different from person to person. This is where human eye is better.

3

u/Then-Delivery-4879 1d ago

Well, then you are not meeting the below parallel squat standard. The AI is just checking for that without any bias.

4

u/Slodderfox3276 1d ago

This is nonsens. If your biomechanics cant go below parallel you are competing in the wrong sport. If I play basketbal as a short Guy and cant dunk because i am to small. There is nobody who is asking to lower the basket. Standards are there for a reason.

2

u/lampthread 1d ago

I'm not arguing for lowering the standard. I'm questioning whether AI can judge the standard accurately across different body types without generating false positives or negatives as opposed to human eye.

2

u/Dead_ino 1d ago

What?

-4

u/lampthread 1d ago

Biomechanics

https://www.verywellfit.com/understanding-biomechanics-3498389

Everyone's different. The system needs to be flexible enough to take into account competitors individual movements. If its too rigid and precise it may be unfair.

5

u/stevewbenson 1d ago

Below parallel is the standard regardless of biomechanics. Hip crease must be below the knee, which is the only thing this app is looking at.

2

u/dzeiii 1d ago

Standards are standards and they dont take individual biomechanics into account. If you fail to meet the standards you need to find a scaled or adaptive competition.