The application of information technology in collecting data on tennis performance

Abstract

This study focused on the application and accuracy of spatially marking tennis shots in a special computer interface based on the visual observation of video recorded tennis play. The interface program, graphically designed in the shape of a tennis court, is shown on a computer screen along with a video showing a series of balls being hit and landing on the court. The task of the observer was to mark on the interface the location where he/she felt the ball falls on the court. In effect, the interface functions as a coordinate system whereby tennis play (in this case balls falling on one side of the court) is catalogued into a series of coordinative points. These data are then converted into a spreadsheet allowing for statistical calculation and analysis. The results of the trial indicated that the accuracy of the designated points on the interface depended on the distance between where the ball fell and the nearest line delineating the court. Balls that landed less than 0.3 m from the nearest line featured a mean distance error of only 0.11 m. For the purpose of analysing game tactics, the interface was found to be an applicable tool in the collection of tennis match data.