Abstract
The present study aims to assess the position of the racket, and racket height with respect to the floor, during the table tennis top spin stroke. A stereophotogrammetric system (Smart-D, BTS, 8 cameras, 550 Hz) was used to track the table tennis racket during cross-court (CC) and long-line (LL) shots. Ten national level players completed ten CC and ten LL top spin strokes responding to a robot machine. The racket motion throughout the shot showed specific technical characteristics: the minimum height of the racket was detected during the backswing phase; racket height at the end of backswing phase (maximal distance racket/table) was higher than the minimum; height at the racket maximum velocity (ball/racket impact) was greater than the net’s height. Furthermore, the maximum height of the racket occurred at the end of the forward swing. No differences in these kinematic variables between CC and LL were found. Conversely, a higher inclination of the racket at the moment of maximum speed was detected in LL vs. CC. From a practical perspective, the present findings suggest that table tennis players need to introduce specific exercises in order to increase the height of the racket during the forehand top spin stroke, to improve its effectiveness.
Highlights
The top spin forehand is one of the most aggressive shots used in table tennis [1]
The kinematic analysis of the table tennis top spin forehand stroke has been addressed in many previous studies
No significant differences between the two shot executions were observed for H-Min (p = 0.82), for H-RT (p = 0.64), for H-maximum velocity of the racket (MMV) (p = 0.62), H-Max (p = 0.56), and maximum racket velocity (p = 0.54)
Summary
The top spin forehand is one of the most aggressive shots used in table tennis [1]. It is characterized by fast rotation and high speed of the ball [2]. Iino and Kojima [1] assessed segmental and joint angular speeds during the forehand top spin shots against backspins (light and heavy) in advanced athletes. These authors found that a slight delay between the upper and the lower trunk during axial rotation was optimal for the outcome of the top spin shot. A correct execution of the top spin was associated with high angular velocities [1] and with a high energy transfer from the pelvis to the racket arm through the upper body and rotation of the upper limb [4]
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