The 20 Biggest Tech Advancements in Sports History

In the beginning, sports and technology didn't always seem like the most natural pairing. What did you need in baseball other than a bat and a ball? Or in basketball other than a ball and a hoop? How much could you really change? As we've seen over the years, though, there's always room for improvement with our most beloved pastimes. Whether it's for the purpose of making a good thing great, or fixing a broken system altogther, technology has played a major role in perfecting the sports that we love to analyze and agonize over. Out of all the changes that have been made, though, these are the 20 biggest tech advancements in sports history.

Year Introduced: 1954
Sport: Basketball

Before the shot clock was introduced, basketball was struggling to gain any traction as a major, mainstream sport in America. Scoring was low and, much to the fans' disappointment, teams would often decide to hold the ball and stall once they were in front. After one particularly lackluster contest between the Fort Wayne Pistons and the Minneapolis Lakers ended in 19-18 "victory" for Fort Wayne, the NBA realized that they were going to be in serious trouble unless they made some changes. In 1954, the Syracuse Nationals' owner, Danny Biasone, introduced the 24-second shot clock after experimenting with the idea during his team's scrimmages. In 1953, the year before the league adopted the clock, scoring averaged a mere 79 PPG. Thanks to the change, that number jumped to 93 PPG only one year later, and the NBA has never looked back since.

Year Introduced: 1990
Sport: Golf

Though the first titanium driver was released in 1990, it wasn't until 1996--when Callaway and TaylorMade developed their first iterations of the club--that these new drivers would take off in popularity. Allowing for a larger sweet spot and a faster swing due to its light-weight material, titanium drivers have now become the weapon of choice for all professional golfers.

Year Introduced: 1994
Sport: Football

For quarterbacks, communication is half the battle, so in 1994 the NFL decided to help them out a bit by allowing in-helmet headsets. By speaking with their coaches via radio waves, QBs have been able to more easily relay play calls to the huddle, and make necessary adjustments on the fly.

Year Introduced: 1980
Sport: Tennis

Remember these wooden nightmares? Compared to the sleek, composite models that Rafa and Roger are playing with today, the racquets that McEnroe and Borg would take to the court look straight from the Stone Age. Thanks to a lighter, sturdier frame and a larger hitting surface, the newer racquets allowed for more spin, harder hitting and better control than their wooden counterparts, quickly rendering them obsolete.

Year Introduced: 1950s
Sport: Track and field

The changes to track shoes have been subtle over the years, but even the smallest additions can help when the difference between first and last can be just one or two seconds. Through years of testing and experience, athletes and sports scientists have worked to find the perfect blend of light-weight shoes with optimal grip that allows you to hit the corners harder and faster. Usain Bolt uses synthetic microfibers and smoother spike plates to help him get the job done.

Year Introduced: 1993
Sport: Hockey, Soccer

Soccer has been criminally late in adopting goal-line technology, but the NHL has been on top of the innovation since '93. By using an overhead camera, referees can consult instant replay to decide whether or not the ball (or puck) crossed the goal line--a crucial determinant in the outcome of every game. It's always good to see when an organization is committed to getting things right. FIFA, what's taking you so long?

Year Introduced: 2008
Sport: Swimming

Composed of spandex, nylon and polyurethane, the LZR Racers were the high-performance, form-fitting bodysuits that nearly swept the Beijing Olympics in 2008. That's not an exaggeration either: 98 percent of the swimmers who medalled that year were wearing an LZR suit, and after only one year in competition, it had already helped break 97 world records. However, it would soon go on to be deemed an unfair, technological advantage, and FINA, swimming's governing body, ruled in July of 2009 that the suits could no longer be used in competition. We'll never forget this momentthough. RIP LZR.

Year Introduced: 1974
Sport: Baseball

First performed by Dr. Frank Jobe, Tommy John Surgery has been revolutionary in lengthening the shelf-life for a pitcher's career, giving surgeons the ability to switch out crucial tendons in a player's arm for healthier ones from other parts of the body, such as the hips or knees. Up-and-coming flamethrower, Stephen Strasburg, is just one of the many pitchers who has successfully returned from the procedure, along with former All-Stars like Chris Carpenter and Eric Gagne.

Year Introduced: 2009
Sport: F1 Racing

Ever get sick of stop-and-go city traffic? If only you had KERS. An automotive system that recovers wasted kinetic energy, KERS works by collecting all of the heat you build up from hitting the brakes and then storing that power to boost acceleration later on. Basically, it's like saving a Mushroom for the finish line when you're playing Mario Kart. Due to the system's weight, though, most F1 racers have been slow to include the innovation in their cars.

Year Introduced: 1937
Sport: Cycling

Switching speeds on a bike seems like a pretty basic feature today, but back in the day, even the most serious riders didn't have such a luxury. 1937 was the first year that the Tour de France allowed the derailleurs system, more commonly referred to today as gears. Up until then, the riders had actually been forced to get off their bikes in order to switch out wheels for the uphill and downhill sections of the race.

Year Introduced: 1978
Sport: Basketball

With the 1970s came high-flying athletes like Dr. J, Daryl Dawkins and David Thompson who weren't afraid to play above the rim. Unfortunately, their show-stopping highlights also had the potential to be exactly that: show-stopping. Breaking a rim is no doubt legendary, but the delays they created during games were starting to become an issue. In 1978, the NCAA was the first to use a breakaway rim, with the NBA following in 1981. Since then, no one has been able shatter the glass--though that certainly didn't stop Shaq from trying.

Year Introduced: Early 1900s
Sport: Golf

The NBA's attempt to switch up their playing ball may have ended in failure, but for golf, changes like this have been crucial to the game, most notably in material and design. The shift to dimpled golf balls made of surlyn or urethane material, for example, has been helpful in improving driving distances and accuracy. Unfortunately, they still can't fix your slice.

Year Introduced: 1979
Sport: Hockey

Believe it or not, until 1979 NHL athletes weren't required to wear a helmet when they were playing. Seems crazy, we know, but, thankfully, league president John Ziegler rectified the situation in response to the numerous head injuries that players had been suffering over the years. We're glad that the league finally got around to solving that problem, but they might want to do the same with full face shields while they're at it. Duncan Keith's teeth would appreciate it.

Year Introduced: 1986
Sport: Football, Basketball, Hockey

Instant replay has not only influenced how we watch the game at home, it's changed what happens on the field, swinging decisions on scoring and influencing countless outcomes. The NFL was one of the leading adopters of the technology, introducing an early version of the rule in 1986, with the NBA and NHL wisely following along in later years. Of course, as we saw from the replacement refs this year, the men in stripes can always still manage to screw things up.

Year Introduced: 1990
Sport: Skiing, Snowboarding

Skis and snowboards have undergone numerous design changes over the past few decades, with materials like wood, metal, fiberglass and, finally, carbon fiber being used by riders hit the slopes. Carbon fiber sets itself apart from the others for its weightless feel and enhanced durability, and is the big favorite among top free skiers and boarders. And don't you want to be just like them?

Year Introduced: 2003
Sport: Baseball, Basketball, Hockey, Football, Golf, Tennis

Currently unapproved by the FDA, Regenokine is a method of blood-spinning used to reduce chronic pain and arthritis by enriching the patient's blood with platelets and anti-inflammatory agents. In short, if you have aching joints, then this is your answer. Just ask Kobe Bryant. Many thought that the superstar guard's failing knees would be his downfall before he received Regenokine treatment in 2011. Two All-Star selections and hundreds of buckets later, it's safe to say that he's proved the doubters wrong.

Year Introduced: 1996
Sport: NASCAR, NHRA, F1 Racing

Spurred by the tragic death of Blaine Johnson in 1996, and of Dale Earnhardt in 2001, major motor sports organizations began to implement new technologies designed to prevent dire skull and spine injuries to their drivers during crashes. While many were tested, the HANS device established itself as the premiere option for serious motorists looking to protect their necks.

Year Introduced: 2012
Sport: Baseball

They may look clunky and oversized compared to the earlier models, but helmets like the S100 Pro Comp have become nothing short of necessary for baseball players looking to protect their domes. While the original version of the helmet was released in 2003, it wasn't mandatory to wear until this year (although many players opted to wear the helmet last season, marking the S100 Pro Comp's unofficial debut). Good thing too, given that the less-protective models could only withstand ball speeds of up to 68 mph. Unless it's R.A. Dickey throwing at your head, you're probably going to need more help than that.

Year Introduced: 2006
Sport: Tennis

Implemented to address a long history of disputed line calls, Hawk-Eye and Cyclops machines use a team of cameras and ball-tracking technology to accurately predict where a tennis ball has landed on the court. The technology has been a success thus far, with only marginal criticism coming from players and spectators. It was particularly influential during the 2008 Wimbledon final when Rafael Nadal used his challenges to overturn a number of key points, leaving Roger Federer visibly frustrated. Those cameras are lucky that Fed is noJohnny Mac.

Year Introduced: 1930s
Sport: Baseball, Football, Track and Field, Basketball, Hockey, Cycling

While the purist inside us may not like to admit it, steroids have had an undeniable impact on every major, competitive sport on the planet. The list of offenders goes on and on, starting with Ben Johnson, Marion Jones, Lance Armstrong and nearly every single baseball player who suited up in the '90s (shouts to Ken Griffey Jr. for always staying clean, though). Unfortunately, the techniques used to mask doping have also become equally advanced, so it appears that chemical advantages have just become a part of the game. Like it or not, 'roids are here to stay.