Billie Jean King's Eye Coach

What Billie Jean King's Eye Coach does

Billie Jean King's Eye Coach (legally "The Eye Coach") is a privately held sports training equipment company based in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, that developed and sold the Eye Coach Simulator, a physical training device intended to improve eye-hand coordination and ball-striking skills for tennis and pickleball players of all ages. The company operated with a six-person team and sold its product directly to consumers through a Shopify-powered e-commerce storefront, with marketing primarily through organic Facebook and Twitter sharing. It carried an endorsement association with Billie Jean King and was led by founder and President Lenny Schloss, a former touring professional whose personal expertise and reputation were positioned as the company's central differentiator.

The business was a single-product, single-channel hardware retailer with no disclosed external funding, no parent company, no documented partnerships, and no enterprise or B2B distribution. Revenue was generated through direct unit sales of the Eye Coach Simulator to individual athletes, with the company claiming thousands of satisfied customers accumulated over its operating life. There is no evidence of software, subscription, data, or recurring-revenue components in the offering.

In 2024, the company announced it would permanently cease operations on December 31, 2024, following the retirement of founder Lenny Schloss after his 80th birthday. The company stated that without Schloss's continued leadership the business could not continue, and the brand, storefront, and product are being wound down rather than sold, acquired, or transferred.

Name

Billie Jean King's Eye Coach

Legal name

The Eye Coach

Website

https://theeyecoach.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Closed

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sports Training Equipment

NAICS

Sporting and Athletic Goods Manufacturing (33992), Sporting Goods Retailers (45911)

SIC

Sporting & Athletic Goods, Nec (3949)

akta.pro primary industry

Racquet Sport Training Aids & Practice Equipment Retail (CRAMAFAJ)

akta.pro secondary industry

Team Sports Training Aids & Coaching Equipment Retail (CRAMAEAL)

Keywords

• Sports training equipment
• Eye-hand coordination training
• Tennis training simulators
• Pickleball training devices
• Ball-striking skill trainers

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Operations

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

Billie Jean King's Eye Coach designs, sells, and ships a physical training simulator used by tennis and pickleball players to improve eye-hand coordination and sharpen ball-striking skills. The simulator is sold directly to individual players of all ages via the company's own e-commerce storefront. The company announced closure of operations on December 31st following founder Lenny Schloss's retirement after his 80th birthday.

Product overview

Billie Jean King's Eye Coach offers a single training simulator product designed to improve eye-hand coordination and sharpen ball-striking skills for tennis and pickleball players. The Eye Coach Simulator serves players of all ages and is positioned as a breakthrough product in sports training. The company has announced it will be closing its doors on December 31st.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Eye Coach Simulator A physical training simulator device designed to improve eye-hand coordination and sharpen ball-striking skills for tennis and pickleball players of all ages. Sold directly to individual players through the company's Shopify-powered online storefront.

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves3 records

Direct peers

• OnCourt OffCourt: Specialty retailer and developer of tennis training aids and practice equipment marketed to coaches, clubs, and recreational players. Directly comparable niche player in the racquet sport training aid category.
• Spinshot Sports: Manufacturer of tennis ball machines and practice simulators that automate ball delivery for solo training. Directly comparable to the Eye Coach Simulator because both target the same use case — improving stroke mechanics and consistency outside of partner play.
• PlaySight: Provider of connected tennis and pickleball court video simulation and analytics platforms used by clubs, academies, and tournaments. Adjacent training technology for racquet sports with comparable end customer (player + facility).
• Slinger Bag: Maker of a portable, app-connected tennis ball launcher designed for solo practice and training. Directly comparable hardware-driven training aid targeting the same consumer purchase occasions as the Eye Coach.
• Lobster Sports: Long-established maker of tennis ball machines and pickleball-specific practice equipment used by recreational players and coaches. Comparable as a dedicated racquet sport training equipment manufacturer in the same category as the Eye Coach.

Broad incumbents

• GAMMA Sports: Established manufacturer and retailer of racquet sports equipment (tennis, pickleball, badminton) including training aids, balls, and accessories. Comparable as a broader incumbent in the same training aid category where the Eye Coach competed.
• Pickleball Central: Leading specialty retailer of pickleball paddles, balls, training equipment, and accessories, serving both consumers and clubs. Comparable as a primary channel for pickleball training products where the Eye Coach sold its Simulator.
• Selkirk Sport: Major pickleball paddle and equipment brand with growing presence in training accessories and apparel. Comparable via overlapping end customer (pickleball players) and overlapping product category (racquet sport training gear).

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-eye-coach

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Billie Jean King's Eye Coach