Backhand Shots Research Articles

The effect of consistent and varied follow-through practice schedules on learning a table tennis backhand

ABSTRACTIn table tennis the follow-through action after a shot is an important part of skill execution. In this experiment, we aimed to extend literature around the contextual interference effect by investigating whether the way the follow-through is organised in practice affects learning of the backhand shot in table tennis. Thirty unskilled participants were allocated to blocked-variable practice, random-variable practice or a control-constant group and aimed backhand shots towards a target following ball projection from a machine. Each group completed these shots in a pre-test, a training phase with follow-through manipulations, a post-test, and a retention test. The random-variable group improved their shot accuracy from pre-test to post-test and from pre-test to retention test (both P < 0.01, d = 1.03), whereas neither the blocked-variable nor the control-constant group displayed any change in shot accuracy. Practising the follow-through in a random-variable fashion enhanced learning of the preceding shot compared with blocked-variable practice or no follow-through instructions. The benefits of learning motor skills under conditions of high contextual interference also apply to how follow-through actions are organised. The findings are valuable to coaches and suggest that instructions related to the follow-through action should be considered as well as the primary skill itself.

Specific Skills Development Using Appropriate Tools in the Tennis Game

This study had two purposes: first, to investigate the influence that different racket sizes and ball compressions had on the children’s abilities to perform backhand ground strokes from the base line and second, to evaluate their shots precision error due to inappropriate sized equipment. There was a quantitative repeated-measurements design experiment. Children were asked to perform 6 two-handed backhand shots using a combination between two sizes of rackets and balls with three different compression values. The precision was measured by a point system, where the shots were performed on a predefined target area. The aim was to shot and score as many points as possible. The smaller racket used in combination with the lowest pressurized ball provided the best performance. Moreover, this combination ensured the correct execution of the shots, also preventing injuries. The study demonstrated the positive influence of proper sized equipment to the correct and fast skills' development.

A study of intensity, fatigue and precision in two specific interval trainings in young tennis players: high-intensity interval training versus intermittent interval training

BackgroundThe aim of this study is to find the differences between two specific interval exercises. We begin with the hypothesis that the use of microintervals of work and rest allow...

Electromyographic Comparison of Squash Backhand Shot After Midcourt and Frontcourt Traditional Movement Patterns

Electromyography of sixteen muscles of the lower limb, trunk, and upper limb muscles were compared between Backhand shot after traditional midcourt movement pattern and traditional frontcourt movement pattern of a three female squash players (age: 14.5±0.5 years old; height 1.48±0.15 m; mass: 44.67±1.53 Kg), ranked in the Squash National Egyptian team. Surface electromyographic (sEMG) electrodes were placed according to SENIAM guidelines on the skin, superficial to right-sided postural proximal of the trapezius, posterior deltoid, anterior deltoid, triceps brachii, biceps brachii, pectoralis major, serratus anterior, rectus abdominis, external abdominal, glutaeus medius, gluteus maximus, biceps femoris, rectus femoris, tibialis anterior, gastrocnemius, and soleus muscle. EMG data were 16 bit A/D converted at 1000 Hz and stored on computer. EMG signals were amplified (gain of 400), band pass filtered (10 to 500Hz), full wave rectified using root mean square average, and normalized to the isometric maximum voluntary contraction (MVC). Mean and standard deviation of the muscles activity (%MVC) and work-loading (% Total activity area) were calculated from the start of the two tasks to the end of Backhand shot recovery phase. The results showed that there were significant differences between both tasks in muscle activity of biceps brachii and gluteus maximus muscle, and the percentage of work-loading of rectus abdominis, gluteus maximus and biceps femoris.

Grunting in tennis increases ball velocity but not oxygen cost.

Grunting is widely used by professional tennis players, but no research has been done to verify enhanced performance with grunting. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine if grunting enhanced ball velocity in groundstrokes and secondly, to determine if grunting increased the physiological cost of hitting (VO2, HR, VE/VO2, and RPE). Participants were 10 members of the men's (n = 5) and women's (n = 5) tennis teams at a Division I university who had just completed their indoor competitive season. Two hitting sessions were used as players repetitively hit forehand and backhand shots while either grunting or not grunting. Each hitting session consisted of five 2-minute periods with a 1-minute break in between each period. Ball velocity was measured with a radar gun. During each hitting session, players wore a portable metabolic measuring unit. HR was monitored using a Polar monitor, and RPE was assessed using Borg's 6-20 scale. Grunting increased ball velocity (kph) 3.8% compared with non-grunting condition (p < 0.034) with the mean ± SD being 83.4 ± 0.6.1 and 80.3 ± 0.8.7, respectively. The physiological responses (VO2, HR, VE/VO2, and RPE) for the 2 hitting conditions were not significantly different for any variable. When averaged across both hitting conditions, HR over the 5-time periods was higher in periods 3-5 than period (p < 0.018) 1, whereas VE/VO2 and RPE were greater in periods 2-5 than period 1 (p = 0.001). RPE significantly increased over time with periods 2-5 being greater than period 1 (p = 0.001). It was concluded that grunting increased ball velocity without increasing VO2 or VE/VO2 or RPE in comparison with not grunting. It may be worthwhile for players and coaches in tennis and other sports to experiment with grunting to determine possible improvement in performance.

Electromyographic analysis of the upper extremity in water polo players during water polo shots

The purpose of this study is to understand electromyographic parameters of selected shoulder and arm muscles in water polo shots. The study was carried out with a group of 12 water polo players. Signals were recorded by surface electromyography (EMG) from the pectoralis major (PM), anterior deltoid (AD) and middle deltoid (MD), biceps brachii (BB), triceps brachii (TB), and wrist flexor (WF) muscles. The average and standard deviation of the normalized electrical activity and duration of the muscles were determined during four different water polo shots in water polo players. Post hoc analysis among muscles revealed that PM and AD showed significantly different amplitude values among water polo shots. Because the PM and AD must relax to perform the horizontal abduction necessary in the backhand shot, the amplitude was significantly lower than during overhead, push, or penalty shots. Similarly, the push shot requires elbow extension of a horizontally adducted and internally rotated shoulder; therefore, the AD has greater amplitude during this shot and TB was activated for longer periods of shots required for the elbow extension. There was little difference observed in WF and BB. Thus, this result suggests that these muscles played a similar role during penalty, overhead, and push shots. Therefore, coaches should emphasize the strength, endurance, and flexibility training of the PM and AD that may improve shooting velocity. However, the stabilizing role of the BB and TB is an important factor for overall performance and should also be considered.

Effect of tactical initiative on predicting passing shots in tennis

This study aimed to demonstrate that one of the main sources of information that tennis players use to anticipate their opponents' strokes is prior knowledge of the upcoming events likely to develop when the player has the opportunity to impose his or her playing intent. Seventeen experienced male players were faced with simulated on-court situations with three different delivery conditions such that their tactical initiative was high, moderate or weak (reflecting the possibilities of controlling rallies). Each situation finished with a passing shot from the opponent that the participant had to intercept with a volley stroke in the absence of visual information (vision occluded before the opponent's stroke). Analysis of directional responses showed that the participants were more accurate if they were in firm control of the rallies (high level of tactical initiative). Forecasts were also found to be more accurate for down-the-line backhand shots. These findings increase our understanding of anticipation in tennis. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

In search of invariant athletic behaviour in sport: an example from championship squash match-play.

Analysis of competitive sport performance from a priori observation is frequently used to prepare an athlete for a future contest. This practice necessarily assumes that the observed athletic behaviours are invariant, in that the data from an earlier contest apply to the next. We report different analyses of championship squash matches from 1987 and 1988 in search of such invariance and thus a general signature of athletic behaviour. The results show that once the preceding condition to an athletic response (shot) becomes more detailed, by either accounting for where on court the previous shot was played to, or by pairing the previous shot with its own antecedent, the corresponding response becomes more predictable (P > 0.25). This is especially the case for a squash champion when the forehand and backhand characteristics of his shot response are accounted for. The finding that the champion is more consistent if his forehand and backhand shot responses to a preceding shot are analysed separately, shows that the level of analytic detail is an important consideration if the derived information from sport analysis is to prepare an athlete reliably for future sport competition. Finally, we consider sport competition from an ecological perspective with regard to the natural organization and stability of non-linear systems in an attempt to explain the empirical data.

Wheelchair Racquetball: A Preliminary Time Motion Analysis

Wheelchair racquetball players in the A and B divisions of the 1989 Canadian Racquetball Championships were videotaped and their performances were analyzed. The results indicated that the athletes had an exercise-to-pause ratio of 1:1.5 at the A level and 1:2.3 at the B level. Rallies were slightly longer at the higher level, with substantially longer pause periods at the B level. There was a higher percentage of longer rallies at the A level, although both divisions of play had comparable percentages of forehand and backhand shots. A-level players demonstrated greater distances covered per rally, greater wheelchair speed, and a higher degree of wheelchair maneuverability measured by the number and magnitude of directional changes. In particular, A-level players showed a greater tendency to use small directional corrections, particularly turns to the right of less than 45 °. It is suggested that this action allowed a less restricted backswing for powerful forehand shots.