The Problem with the Original Match Database
The Good & The Bad
My initial release of the match database was met with a ton of positive comments and compliments at /r/tennis. It was a long project and for it finally come out with such reception was very fulfilling.
However, as I continued working post-release, it become apparent that the section had major flaws. As I brain-stormed, it came down to the following:
The overall organization / layout of the match database didn’t feel intuitive.
The actual database section has really poor scroll-ability, and its a result of poor formatting and use of whitespace.
The original tier list while fun to make was not very practical. People truly only care about the best matches, and also the tier list was too text heavy.
So while the original release was a great proof-of-concept, unless these problems were fixed I felt that these flaws would always weigh down the potential of the match database.
Solutions
So with these flaws in mind, the new match database was designed with these goals in mind:
Better Streamlining of Matches - While the database portion is the foundation of the section, people are far more likely to watch tennis when specific matches are recommended.
Show, Don’t Tell - In particular with the tier list, it was too text heavy. IMO it’s a lot easier to identify and watch matches with visual thumbnails. This goes hand in hand with the previous point in making it easier to streamline matches.
More Emphasis on the Greatest Matches of All Time: Instead of rating every match, I needed to instead focus on the best ones. So emphasis was put on making these matches more visually appealing and important. In addition, after some research and referring to the community, I also completed the WTA side as well.
Simpler Main Hub - A tough part of the organization of the match database is how to best combine the “database” portion and the “match recommendation” portion. The navigation and layout needs to feel simple and intuitive.
Better Formatting of the Database:
Toss away the bullet format because it was taking away space. Yes, it’s ironic this is also a bullet point.
Adding more columns to fully utilize the white space.
Adding a sidebar plugin makes scrolling faster and easier.
The Overhaul is Complete (mostly)
There are some sections that need to be finished and tidied up, but for the most part the current iteration is what I’ve envisioned. This is what needs to be finished up:
WTA 250/500 Section needs to be updated & reformatted.
ATP 250/500 needs sidebar + alphabetical list of tournaments
Database is not fully updated with all the matches.
I’ve covered the big tournaments during release, but not with some of the random releases in between.
What’s Next?
For the most part, expect me to keep updating, adding new matches, categories and refining the section as a whole. The next goal for the Match Database is better optimization for mobile. In the current iteration, I’ve given up on this task because it’s impossible with Squarespace 7.0.
But apparently with the new release of Fluid Engine for 7.1, there will finally be mobile specific customization.
There is just one catch… I have to redo the entire website.
It’s not bad as it sounds, but I’m estimating 2-3 weeks, perhaps a month of work. But for now this won’t be the priority for at least a month or two. My main goal for the next month will be to actually promoting the site. I’ve always felt that it wasn’t quite right, so I put most of my time fixing it. Now that I’ve reached a point I’m happy with, I’m going to try to share my project more widely.
