The analysis of foot loadings in high-level table tennis athletes during short topspin ball between forehand and backhand serve

Abstract

The quality of backswing has a close relationship with forward swing. The purpose of this study is to help coaches to improve understanding of backswing motion and as a guidance to improve athletic performance in practice. Twelve high-level male table tennis athletes have been selected, and their foot loadings during short topspin ball were measured by Emed force plate. Anterior-posterior centre of pressure (COP) displacement in backhand serve showed significantly shorter compared with forehand at backward-end stage. Otherwise, for backhand serves, the COP velocity was much faster than forehand during backswing. Compared with backhand serves, our results showed that the forehand serve at backward-end has more sufficient preparation that can accumulate more power for improving the racket speed for forward swing. Results indicated that forehand serves of short topspin ball showed stronger and more stable than backhand.