Readers of this site are probably already aware of the Match Charting Project, my effort to coordinate volunteer contributions to build a massive shot-by-shot database of professional tennis. If this is the first you’ve heard of it, I encourage you to check out the detailed match- and player-level data we’ve gathered already.
In the last week, two developers have released GUIs to make charting easier and more engaging. When I first started the project, I put together an excel spreadsheet that tracks all the user input and keeps score. I’ve used that spreadsheet for the hundreds of matches I’ve charted, but I recognize that it’s not the most intuitive system for some people.
The first new interface is thanks to Stephanie Kovalchik, who writes the tennis blog On the T. (And who has contributed to the MCP in the past.) Her GUI is entirely click-based, which means you don’t have to learn the various letter- and number-codes that are required for the traditional MCP spreadsheet.
While it’s web-based, it has some of the look and feel of a modern handheld app. It’s probably the easiest way to get started contributing to the project.
(Which reminds me, Brian Hrebec wrote an Android app for the project almost two years ago, and I haven’t given it the attention it deserves. It also makes getting started relatively easy, especially if you’d like to chart on an Android device. [Update, December 2019: Unfortunately, it appears this app is no longer available.])
[Update, December 2019: The other GUI referred to in the title has bugs that render the output unusable. I recommend sticking with the standard MCP spreadsheet, or with Stephanie’s GUI described above.]
With four ways to chart matches and add to the Match Charting Project database, there are even fewer excuses not to contribute. If you’re still not convinced, I have even more reasons for you to consider. And if you’re ready to jump in, just click over to one of the new GUIs, or click here for my Quick Start guide.