Experimental designs in sport implement research: Application to the tension loss in tennis strings

Abstract

The aim of this study was to quantify the influence of five experimental variables (style of play, sheath and central structure of synthetic strings, racket frame, and game court) on the tension loss in tennis strings in field situations, using experimental design methodology. Sixteen experiments were defined using a fractional factorial design 2(5–1). The tension loss in tennis strings was calculated by the difference between the tension measured just before and just after one hour of play. Multiple linear regression was performed to express the tension loss as a function of the five experimental variables and their first‐order interactions. The results showed that the tension loss was influenced by three main experimental variables: game court, racket frame, and string‐sheath, and by four two‐factor interactions, including the style of play and string central structure interaction term. The tension loss in tennis strings was minimal when playing with an 18‐main‐string racket frame strung with an S1‐coated string on a hard court. This work suggested that experimental designs could help researchers to highlight the sport implements’ behaviour in field situations.