Snickometer in Cricket — Sound Technology for Edge Detection
The Snickometer (and its successor Ultra-Edge) uses sound to detect edges. Learn how it works, its accuracy, and how it differs from HotSpot.
What Is the Snickometer?
The Snickometer (or 'Snicko') is a cricket broadcast technology that uses a stump microphone to capture the audio of a delivery and displays the sound wave alongside the video frame. If the sound wave shows a spike at the precise moment the ball passes the bat, an edge is likely. The technology was invented by British engineer Allan Plaskett and first used in cricket broadcasts in the 1990s.
How Snickometer Works
- A sensitive microphone embedded in or near the stumps records audio at very high fidelity.
- The audio waveform is displayed alongside a slow-motion video of the delivery.
- The viewer (or third umpire) synchronises the waveform with the video frame showing the ball passing the bat.
- If there is a clear spike in the waveform at the moment of ball-bat proximity, an edge is likely.
- No spike = no contact; a spike = likely contact.
Ultra-Edge — The Modern Version
Ultra-Edge is the commercially updated version of the original Snickometer, developed by Hawk-Eye Innovations. It uses the same audio-waveform principle but with more precise synchronisation between the visual and audio feeds, improved microphone sensitivity, and real-time processing that allows results in seconds rather than minutes. Ultra-Edge is the version integrated into modern DRS protocols.
Snickometer vs HotSpot
| Feature | Snickometer / Ultra-Edge | HotSpot |
|---|---|---|
| Detection method | Sound (audio waveform) | Heat (infrared imaging) |
| Best for | Audible edges; contact with any surface | Visual confirmation of where contact occurred |
| Main limitation | Ambient noise; non-contact sounds (pad thud) | Thin edges below heat threshold |
| Used in DRS? | Yes (Ultra-Edge) | Optional; not in all series |
| Invented | 1990s (original Snicko) | 2000s |
Limitations
- Ambient noise can create false spikes — a boot scrape or thigh-pad contact at the same moment as the ball passing the bat.
- The microphone must be properly functioning and positioned for accurate results.
- Sound does not identify WHERE contact occurred (bat, pad, glove) — only THAT a sound occurred.
Frequently asked questions
Is Snickometer used by the third umpire for DRS?
Yes — in matches where DRS is operating, the third umpire uses Ultra-Edge (the successor to Snickometer) as part of the review evidence for caught-behind and LBW decisions. It is one of three main DRS tools alongside Hawk-Eye ball-tracking and HotSpot infrared imaging.
How quickly does Ultra-Edge produce a result?
Ultra-Edge results are available within 5–10 seconds of the third umpire calling for a review. The near-real-time processing was a significant improvement over the original Snickometer, which required manual synchronisation by a technician and could take 1–2 minutes.