The Apple Watch is more than just an extension of your iPhone or a part of your Apple ecosystem; it’s also a crucial companion for sports enthusiasts. One of my main reasons for purchasing this device was to track calories burned during my favorite sporting activities.
However, I recently came across a surprising omission in its capabilities. Despite being a highly versatile tool, the Apple Watch‘s Fitness app lacks support for one of the world’s most popular sports, leading to a significant disappointment.
A Notable Omission in Apple’s Fitness Offering
In September 2020, Apple launched Apple Fitness+, a comprehensive fitness application that includes a wide array of workouts popular worldwide. This app, in essence, serves as a virtual personal trainer with numerous videos led by professional trainers guiding specific exercises. Fitness+ aims to encompass all sports globally, yet it surprisingly excludes certain rapidly growing sports like Padel – hugely popular in Spain, South America, Qatar, Sweden, and Norway.
The Inadequacy of the Tennis Option for Padel
Recently, I played a two-hour paddle tennis match of medium-high intensity with my friends, some of whom are competitive players. In the past, I refrained from wearing my Apple Watch during paddle tennis to avoid damage. However, this time, I wore it to track my calorie expenditure during a 90-minute session.
The challenge arose when I discovered that the Fitness app did not include paddle tennis, offering only tennis or board games as the nearest alternatives. This lack of specificity in sport tracking led to questions: Why doesn’t Apple clearly list the sports included in its app? Why not enhance Apple Fitness with customizable settings for different sports?
Opting to select tennis as the closest match, the results were underwhelming. After a 120-minute intense match, the watch recorded only about 200 calories burned – a figure comparable to a 35-minute brisk walk. This discrepancy highlights the fundamental differences between tennis and paddle tennis, both in terms of gameplay and physical exertion. The distinct movement patterns and court dynamics of paddle tennis were not accurately captured by the watch’s tennis setting.
A Call for Enhanced Features in Apple Fitness
This experience underscores the need for Apple to refine and expand the capabilities of its Fitness app. Recognizing the unique demands and characteristics of different sports, especially emerging ones like paddle tennis, is crucial for providing accurate and meaningful fitness tracking. I urge Apple to consider these aspects and offer more tailored features in their Fitness App.
