Slow-motion serve at the Erste Bank Open 2026: every serve as a slow-mo video

In short: At the Erste Bank Open 2026, guests in the Marx Halle could watch their own serve in slow motion. In a serve box with a net, an iPhone filmed every serve, and a few seconds later the slow-motion video was ready at the sharing station and went to the guest's phone via QR code. Over eight tournament days, 629 slow-mo videos were created. The slow-motion serve is a new FiestaPics experience that we developed for this event.

The idea: your own serve, like on TV

At a tennis tournament, fans watch the pros in slow motion on the big screen. We turned the perspective around: here the guest steps onto the court, serves and then watches themselves in slow motion. From the ball toss and the swing to the moment of contact, every detail becomes visible.

What mattered to us was not a close-up of racket and ball, but the person. The video shows the whole body during the serve, filmed from the front at an angle. That way everyone recognises themselves straight away, whether they have played tennis for years or are holding a racket for the first time.

The location: tennis atmosphere in the Marx Halle

Around the Erste Bank Open, the Marx Halle in Vienna's third district became a tennis experience venue. Under the roof of the historic brick and steel hall there were courts, hands-on stations and brand stands. Right in the middle stood the blue serve box with the slogan "Serve deinen Serve. Glaub an dich" ("Serve your serve. Believe in yourself"), next to banners with #glaubandich.

The light in the hall, with its large skylights, was ideal for the videos: bright and natural during the day, and in the evening spotlights showed off the steel structure.

How the slow-motion serve works

We deliberately kept the process simple so that many guests get their turn in a short time:

1. Step into the serve box. The guest gets a racket and a ball and stands at the baseline. A safety net around the box makes sure no ball flies into the hall.

2. Press the buzzer. A buzzer starts the recording. That way the video begins exactly when the guest is ready, not after a fixed countdown.

3. Serve. An iPhone on a tripod films the serve at a high frame rate. The software automatically turns it into a slow-motion video.

4. Video to the phone. The finished video appears on an iPad at the sharing station next to the box. Via QR code it goes straight to the guest's phone and can be shared right away.

A promoter on site explains the process and helps if a serve should be repeated.

629 videos in eight days

From 24 to 31 October, the station ran on all eight tournament days. In the end there were 629 slow-mo videos. Guests of all ages took part: club players with a clean toss, families, groups of friends and many who simply wanted to see what their serve looks like in slow motion.

The slow motion is what makes it special. Even a serve that looks unspectacular in real time looks like big tennis when slowed down. Many guests watched their video several times at the sharing station and sent their friends straight into the box for the next attempt.

Built for long event days

A tournament runs for many hours over several days. The technology has to run reliably without someone readjusting it after every guest. That is why we tested the setup in our own proof of concept beforehand and designed it for continuous operation: a fixed camera position, a dedicated internet connection for sharing and short cable runs at the box.

The goal was clear: every guest should go home with a video. If a serve does not work out, there is simply a second try.

What we take away from the first event

The slow-motion serve shows what matters to us at FiestaPics: we do not just rent out equipment, we develop the right experience for each event. At a tennis tournament, that is not a classic photo backdrop but your own serve.

The concept can be transferred to other sports: the tee shot in golf, a shot on goal in football or a throw in basketball. And we are already working on the next stage, for example with an automatic trigger.

Slow motion for your event

Are you planning a brand activation, a sports event or a corporate event and looking for an idea that fits your theme? Tell us what your guests should experience, and we will develop the right station. If you want slow motion without the sport, you will find it in our 360° Ground Spinner and 360° Headspinner; branded videos are available with the video booth. We work all over Austria.

FAQ: slow-motion serve at events

What is the slow-motion serve?

A station where guests hit a tennis serve. An iPhone films the serve, it is turned into a slow-motion video, and the video goes to the guest's phone via QR code.

Who starts the recording?

A buzzer starts the recording. A promoter on site helps and can also trigger the recording.

How much space does the station need?

You need an area for the serve box with its safety net and space next to it for the sharing station. We plan this with you in advance based on the location.

Does it work for beginners and children?

Yes. It is not about the perfect serve but about the experience. In slow motion, every serve looks good.

Does it work with other sports?

Yes. The principle can be applied to golf, football, basketball and other movements.