Hot Spot is an infrared imaging system used by the third umpire to determine if the ball has touched the bat or the player’s pads. The technology creates a black-and-white image where a bright white mark appears at the exact point of high-friction contact.
Example: The umpire overturned the out decision after the Hot Spot replay showed no white mark on the edge of the bat.
Pro-Tip: This technology is extremely accurate because it detects the actual heat generated by the impact of the ball. It is a key part of the Decision Review System (DRS), helping officials make the correct call on very thin ‘feathers’ or faint edges that the human ear cannot hear.
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