Technical and tactical actions of representatives of different styles of play in table tennis

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of this work was to identify the combinations and strokes that players representing different styles of play used most often to score, and to identify the differences between them. Methods: A total of 146 games and 6565 winning actions of 7 champions, table tennis players representing different playing styles were analyzed. The study used the modified Wu Huanqin game analysis method. It consists of complex observing the game, counting the winning actions of a given player, sorting and identifying them, depending on the accuracy of the observation. Three levels are included, with increasing detail in assessing players' actions. For all variables, percentage win rates were calculated. Comparative analyses were performed. Due to the specificity of the database, chi square tests and fraction tests were used. Results: The most important differences between analyzed players were identified, which are the basis for classifying them into different playing styles. These differences, as shown in the work, relate to tactical actions in different phases of the game: service actions, returns or in the so-called stalemate phase. They are related to the use of different strokes and their combinations to score points by players of different styles of play. Conclusions: The research carried out made it possible to identify the most important strokes and their combinations with which table tennis players score points and to identify differences between the playing styles. The results obtained in the work can be valuable information for coaches and players, regarding the possibility of applying effective tactical actions in the game, the direction of development of a particular style, or even, as a consequence, the possibility of taking specific actions in the game against specific styles.