A tennis field test to objectively measure the hitting accuracy based on an Excel spreadsheet: Practical guidelines and applications
Journal Title: International Journal of Racket Sports Science - Year 2019, Vol 1, Issue 2
Abstract
Stroke accuracy is highly related with tennis performance and has traditionally been quantified using general areas of scoring. Hence there is a need to develop methods that allow accuracy to be measured with higher resolution. The aim of the work is to develop a field test and an Excel spreadsheet associated that allows to evaluate the accuracy of the strokes with a resolution up to centimetres and to study how shots landings are distributed. The test consists of 4 series of 20 groundstrokes performed in the down the line or cross-court direction (this is modifiable). The 2D coordinates of bounce of the ball is recorded with a camera, digitalized using a specialized software and introduced in the Excel spreadsheet. Then it computes a series of parameters that describe the 95% confidence ellipse of the shot landing on the court. A real example of the test outcomes of two advanced players – performing forehands and backhands down the line- is shown. Consistent with previous literature both players obtained a better accuracy in the mediolateral direction than in the longitudinal direction and ellipses were oriented almost parallel to the sideline (ellipse tilts were below 12 degrees in all cases). Ellipse area was considerably greater for the backhand than for the forehand in player two (38.8 vs. 55.5 m2) but not in player one (51.5 vs. 50.8 m2). Finally, the centre location of the ellipse in the longitudinal axis was positive in all cases (near 200 cm) which suggest that both players preferred to make short shots rather than send the ball out of the limits of the baseline. We conclude that this methodology can be used by researchers that want to assess accuracy with high resolution and by coaches that want to evaluate -with high sensibility- the player progression after a training program.
Authors and Affiliations
Gabriel Delgado-García, Prof. Jos Vanrenterghem, Prof. Javier Courel-Ibáñez, Emilio J. Ruiz-Malagón, Santiago Ruiz-Alias, Víctor Manuel Soto-Hermoso
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP698518
- DOI https://doi.org/10.30827/Digibug.59705
- Views 90
- Downloads 0
Physiological, neuromuscular and perceived exertion responses in badminton games
The purpose of this study was to characterise the physiological, neuromuscular and perceived exertion variables during a badminton match and to assess the influence of these variables on the characteristics of the game....
Footwork technique used in elite table tennis matches
Notational and Match analysis are very well-recognized methods to collect information about the most common technical-tactical performance indicators in table tennis: footwork and stroke types. The aim of this study was...
Exploring the Link between Athletic Identity, Self-compassion, Communication, and Mental Toughness of Table Tennis Student-Athletes
Table tennis student-athletes should be mentally tough as they train and perform under extreme pressure. It is essential to identify other mental skills that will aid mental toughness development. Accordingly, the study...
Is the level of eye-hand coordination and executive functioning related to performance in para table tennis players? – An explorative study
The goal of this explorative study was to explore whether eye-hand coordination and executive functions (i.e. cognitive flexibility, attention control and information processing) are related to the performance level in p...
Does ischemic pre-conditioning during the recovery period between two successive matches preserve physical performance in badminton doubles players?
Changes in physical performance were assessed in response to two successive doubles badminton matches with implementation of ischemic pre-conditioning (IPC) or sham treatment during recovery period between matches. Eight...