A test battery to assess on court displacements of youth tennis players (original) (raw)
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Effects of different maturity status on change of direction performance of youth tennis players
Biology of Sport
The aim of this study was to examine the maturational status (i.e., peak height velocity [PHV]) differences in neuromuscular performance (i.e., vertical jump, linear sprint, change of direction (COD) using different tests, and change of direction deficit [CODD]) of young tennis players. One hundred and two tennis players (70 boys and 52 girls; age 13.9 ± 2.0 years, body mass 53.3 ± 12.7 kg, height 163.1 ± 11.9 cm) participated in the study and were divided into Pre-PHV (n = 26), Circa-PHV (n = 33) and Post-PHV (n = 43) groups. Testing included speed (5, 10, and 20 m), COD tests (i.e., modified 5-0-5, pro-agility and hexagon), and bilateral/unilateral countermovement jump (CMJ). Pre-and Circa-PHV players presented lower levels of performance in jumping ability (i.e., both bilateral and unilateral CMJs; P < 0.001; ES: 0.85 to 0.98), linear sprints (5 to 20 m; P < 0.05 to < 0.001; ES: 0.67 to 1.19) and COD ability tests (modified 5-0-5 test, proagility and hexagon) compared to the Post-PHV players. Moreover, Pre-PHV players presented lower CODD% (p < 0.05; ES: 0.68-0.72) than Post-PHV for both forehand and backhand sides, and Circa-PHV showed lower values in the CODD of the rolling situation to the forehand side (p < 0.05; ES: 0.58). Among the COD tests, the pro-agility test seems to be a simple, easy-to-implement and reliable test, which can provide interesting information about the COD with higher entry speeds. Moreover, specific training strategies related to the PHV and focused not only on the neuromuscular training and COD workouts, but also on maximizing motor skill proficiency, should be recommended.
Identifying a Connection Between Mobility Degree, Balance, Strength, and Tennis Serve: a Pilot Study
GYMNASIUM, 2019
Tennis serve is the only hit that depends exclusively on the hitter. This aspect leads to the necessity of identification and understanding of the importance of all the elements. The hypothesis is that serve speed is predictable by force of upper and lower limbs. A group of 24 amateur young tennis players, (age of 14 ±2) was subjected to a series of mobility, balance, strength and serve speed testing. The Pearson correlation coefficient was used to identify connections between serve speed, considered as a dependent variable, and mobility, balance, and strength, as independent variables. The hip external rotation angle of the non-dominant arm, one-leg jumps, and one arm ball throws have shown strong positive associations with serve speed (p < 0.05). The anticipation of serve speed had an 81% variance of precision. A combination of body mobility and force may lead to the reasonable expectation the serve speed individual capacity.
Motor abilities of young female tennis players of the national team of Serbia
Facta universitatis. Series physical education and sport, 2013
The basic aim of this research was to determine the differences in motor abilities of female tennis players of the national team of Serbia aged 12, 14 and 16. The research sample consisted of 15 female tennis players, five national team players for each age category. Overall 14 measures for the estimation of motor abilities were applied as follows: three for the estimation of speed, four for the estimation of power, two for the estimation of endurance and five for the estimation of agility/coordination. On the basis of the ANOVA, the obtained results determined statistically significant intergroup differences in the tests for the estimation of power (Sig. < .01) and in the tests for the estimation of speed and coordination (Sig. < .05). Better results in almost all tests were obtained by the tennis players of the oldest age category, except in the test for the estimation of the coordination, this being movement speed on the forehand side, where the best results were obtained by the female tennis players aged up to 12. After the administered Post Hoc Test for the estimation of intergroup differences the results have shown that female tennis players aged up to 16 were the best in the tests of power and speed, and the youngest national team players (up to 12) in the test of coordination. It can be concluded that growth (puberty) as well as the training process caused the presence of all intergroup differences in motor abilities of female tennis players of different age categories.
The effect of racquet swing weight on serve kinematics in elite adolescent female tennis players
Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, 2014
Objectives: Collision models for hitting implements denote how ball speed and swing weight increase proportionally when swing speed and impact location are held constant. The biomechanical effects of swing weight interventions are less understood. This study examined the effects of swing weight on serving arm mechanics, racquet kinematics, impact location and ball speed in the tennis serve. Design: Repeated measures design, where racquet swing weight parameters distinguished between serve conditions. Methods: Eleven elite adolescent female tennis players performed serves in three conditions: (1) regular, unperturbed racquet; (2) 5% increase in swing weight; and (3) 10% increase in swing weight. A 500 Hz Vicon motion analysis system captured three-dimensional serving arm, racquet and ball kinematics. Results: When racquet swing weight was increased, the peak shoulder internal rotation and wrist flexion velocities during the forwardswing both decreased. The peak accelerations of shoulder internal rotation, elbow extension and wrist flexion also appeared to share an inverse relationship with swing weight. As swing weight increased, the impact location shifted significantly closer to the racquet tip and resultant racquet at impact decreased. Ball speed remained similar in all conditions. Conclusions: The assumptions underlying the collision model appear to be violated by the biomechanical effects of a swing weight intervention in a sample of elite adolescent female players. Consequently, added swing weight fails to effect faster serves. From a dynamical systems perspective, the inherent response of the movement system deserves consideration prior to, and during, the administration of swing weight interventions.
Gender Differences in Kinematic Parameters of Topspin Forehand and Backhand in Table Tennis
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2020
Background: The identification of gender differences in kinematics and coordination of movement in different body segments in sports may improve the training process by emphasizing the necessity of its differentiation, and consequently individualization, developing, and improving the technique in women and men. Indicating differences can also help in determining the risk of injury in order to prevent from them by diversifying training programs. However, there is no information regarding this problem in the existing literature pertaining to table tennis. Therefore, the aim of the study was to evaluate the differences in the values of selected angular and kinematic parameters during topspin forehand and topspin backhand shots between male and female table tennis players. Methods: Six male and six female advanced table tennis players performed topspin forehand and topspin backhand shots, both receiving a backspin ball. The angular parameters in four events (ready position, backswing, m...
Journal of Sports Science and Medicine
The hexagon agility test is widely used in tennis players’ fitness evaluation, although its validity has not been fully stablished. This study aimed to assess the relationships between sprinting, jumping, and change of direction (COD) ability and hexagon test performance. Thirty-five under-16 tennis players completed a testing battery including the hexagon test, 20-m linear sprint, bilateral and unilateral countermovement jumps (CMJ), triple leg-hop for distance, T-Test, 5-0-5 and Pro-Agility test on two different sessions, separated by one week. The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and the standard error of measurement (SEM) were used to assess the reliability of the test. Pearson’s product correlations (r) were used to analyze the relationships between the hexagon test and the other fitness tests. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. The hexagon test showed high relative reliability (ICC = 0.88) and low SEM values (0.17 s). Significant small to large correlatio...
Effects of Maturation on Lower Limb Neuromuscular Asymmetries in Elite Youth Tennis Players
Sports, 2019
Neuromuscular asymmetries have been previously associated with reduced performance. Similarly, maturation has shown that youth athletes may experience a loss of motor control, which could also lead to compromised physical performance. The present study aimed to evaluate and quantify the level of asymmetry among chronological and maturational groups. Forty-one youth tennis players performed the single leg countermovement jump (SLCMJ), star excursion balance test (SEBT) and a change of direction speed (CODS) test. Differences were found between the strongest and weakest limbs across all tests (p < 0.001), and also for SEBT in the posteromedial direction (p = 0.02), SEBT composite score (p < 0.01) in maturation groups, and for SEBT posterolateral direction (p = 0.03) and SEBT composite score (p = 0.01) in chronological groups. The SLCMJ showed the largest inter-limb asymmetries for the circa peak height velocity (PHV) group (19.31 ± 12.19%) and under-14 (U14) group (17.55 ± 9.90%...
Kinematic differences between professionals and young players in the tennis serve
ITF Coaching & Sport Science Review, 2021
The aim of the present study was to measure and examine the differences in lower limb kinematics between the flat, slice and topspin serves, in the kinematic features of the lower limbs, at two different times of the service movement, maximum knee bending and point of contact of the racket with the ball, in 12 young tennis athletes, aged 12-16 years and in 12 professional players that they were playing on the main draw of Roland Garros. The results showed no significant differences in time between the three types of service in young athletes. Comparing the time of young athletes 34.56ms with the time of high level athletes with 30.67ms, the results showed that the professionals performed the service faster than the young athletes having a significant difference.
European Journal of Sport Sciences, 2022
The present study aimed to examine the differences in ankle and knee joint kinematics between the flat, slice, and topspin tennis serves. Twelve young tennis players (six boys, and six girls) aged 12-16 years old, performed flat, slice and topspin serve whilst three-dimensional body kinematics were recorded using an optoelectronic camera system. Ankle plantarflexion/dorsiflexion and knee extension/flexion angular positions were recorded at two-time instants: first, at the time of maximum knee flexion and, second, at time of ball to racket contact. Analysis of variance designs showed that the knee flexion angle of the back leg differed significantly between the three service types (P < 0.001). Further, the rear leg ankle angle at maximum flexion also significantly differed between the three serves (P < 0.004). It was observed that tennis players perform topspin and slice serves with smaller joint angles than flat serves, probably, because the former is being used as a second serve in the game. Τhe ankle, which is the closest point of the kinetic chain at the start of power generation, plays an important and different role in the performance of the three serve types. Therefore, the synergy of the ankle joint is very important in the initial phase of serve for the transfer of forces. Coaches should review the technical issues of serve movement based on the flexibility of the ankle joint because the limited ankle range of motion does not help to transfer forces from the ground.
Do serve distance and net height modify serve biomechanics in young tennis players?
International Journal of Sports Science & Coaching
The aim of this study was to determine whether decreasing serving distance and net height would immediately influence serve biomechanics and performance in young intermediate tennis players. Ten young tennis players (9 to 12 years) performed maximal effort flat serves from three court conditions (“red”, “orange” and “green”: serving distance at 6.40, 9.00 and 11.89 m from the net and net height at 0.80 m, 0.80 m and 0.91m, respectively). A radar measured ball speed while serve kinetics and kinematics were calculated with a 20-camera optical motion capture system. Repeated measures ANOVAs were used to analyze the effect of the three conditions on ball speed, serve kinematics and kinetics. No significant differences in shoulder and elbow kinetics were observed between the three conditions. Ball speed, maximal flexion angle of the back knee and maximal angular velocities of back knee extension and trunk flexion significantly improved when players served from the red conditions in compa...