Execution redundancy: the effect of varying technique for a similar outcome on player’s groundstroke performance

Abstract

Execution redundancy, defined as varying technique for a similar outcome, is a newer defined type of variability which opens new avenues of thinking about tennis training. 19 club-level tennis players were put through different training interventions: low variability where players had to rally to hit a target and maintain technique; and, high variability where players did the same but varied technique slightly. The high variability group improved after a retention period of 1 week in a test of accuracy (measuring average distance of 4 balls hit to a target) and success (measuring number of balls over the net and within a target radius of 500cm). The results suggest that that varying technique for a similar outcome improves performance more than low variability, possibly due mechanisms surrounding increased exploration creating better adapted motor patterns. The results show positive support for variability of this kind of training, but care needs to be taken to ensure that sound biomechanical and technical principles are observed.