Tennis Practice Research Articles

Design and Validation of an Observational Instrument for the Technical-Tactical Actions in Singles Tennis.

The competitive performance in tennis practice is determined by the effectiveness of technical tactical action. The main objective of the present study was to design and validate an observational instrument with the aim of analysing the technical-tactical in singles tennis. The instrument uses the stroke as a unit of measure, so that each time a player hits a ball, a total of 23 variables are analyzed. The variables collect information about: (a) matching context; (b) result; and (c) technical-tactical information of the stroke (five variables: sequences of the stroke of the point, kind of technical and tactical stroke, bounce area, hitting, and effectiveness area). The design and validation of the instrument consisted on five different stages: (a) review of the scientific literature and variables definition by experts, (b) pilot observation study, (c) qualitative and quantitative assessment of the instrument by experts, (d) review and confirmation of the instrument by experts (content validity), and (e) observation training and reliability evaluation. From 23 expert judges, divided into three panels, and four observers the instrument went from being composed of 38 variables (eight contextual, seven related to the result and 23 related to the game) to 23 (eight contextual variables, 10 of result and five of game), with minimum Aikens's V values of 0.94 and reliability of 0.81. The results show that the designed instrument allows obtaining valid and objective information about the technical-tactical actions of the players and their performance in singles tennis

LSTM-Guided Coaching Assistant for Table Tennis Practice.

Recently, wearable devices have become a prominent health care application domain by incorporating a growing number of sensors and adopting smart machine learning technologies. One closely related topic is the strategy of combining the wearable device technology with skill assessment, which can be used in wearable device apps for coaching and/or personal training. Particularly pertinent to skill assessment based on high-dimensional time series data from wearable sensors is classifying whether a player is an expert or a beginner, which skills the player is exercising, and extracting some low-dimensional representations useful for coaching. In this paper, we present a deep learning-based coaching assistant method, which can provide useful information in supporting table tennis practice. Our method uses a combination of LSTM (Long short-term memory) with a deep state space model and probabilistic inference. More precisely, we use the expressive power of LSTM when handling high-dimensional time series data, and state space model and probabilistic inference to extract low-dimensional latent representations useful for coaching. Experimental results show that our method can yield promising results for characterizing high-dimensional time series patterns and for providing useful information when working with wearable IMU (Inertial measurement unit) sensors for table tennis coaching.

Application of representative learning design for assessment of common practice tasks in tennis

ObjectivesThis study assessed the representativeness of four common tennis practice tasks. DesignCross-sectional. MethodIn pairs, ten elite junior male and female tennis players (12.8 ± 1.05 yrs old) performed four, 4-min practice tasks and a 2-set tennis match. The previously validated representative practice assessment tool (RPAT – see Krause et al., 2018) was used to gain subjective assessments of each practice tasks representative design. Additionally, three-dimensional ball and player movement data was collected using an 8-camera HawkEye system. Mixed models were conducted to compare each practice task to matchplay revealing significant differences across a range of shot and movement characteristics. ResultsWhile players hit the ball faster and with more spin they consistently made contact with the ball further behind the baseline and generated fewer winners in most practice tasks compared to matchplay. ConclusionCommon practice tasks are not representative of the shot and movement characteristics typical of matchplay. More careful design of practice appears to be needed.

Differences Between Expert and Novice Tennis Coaches’ Perceptual Capacities

The purpose of this study was to examine analytic perceptions of expert and novice tennis coaches. Four expert and four novice tennis coaches volunteered as study participants. Both a video analysis and a recall test provided data for this investigation. In the video analysis protocol, participants were asked to describe what they observed while viewing a 10-minute video of a tennis practice session. In the recall test, a series of 10 tennis related slides were viewed by each of the coaches. After viewing each slide for five seconds, the coaches were asked what they recalled from the slide. The completed written accounts from the video analysis and the recall test audiotapes were transcribed and served as the primary data. The researchers looked for recurring themes and categories using the generic qualitative study technique. Data analysis revealed six themes: (a) the quantity of cues perceived, (b) attention to critical features, (c) analytic depth, (d) recognizing meaningful patterns, (e) anticipating the future, and (f) from description to prescription. These findings, while new to the coaching literature, supported previous research in other fields regarding the importance and domain specificity of experts’ superior perceptual capacities.

Uma história do tênis no Brasil

O estudo trata de investigar a prática esportiva do tênis nos primeiros clubes no Brasil, buscando evidências sobre os métodos utilizados para ensinar o esporte. Para tal, recorreu-se à revisão bibliográfica e a análise documental das fontes coletadas para a pesquisa. A interpretação das informações revelou que a prática do tênis desenvolveu-se de forma significativa nos clubes e alastrou-se para outros espaços sociais. Também há indícios que nos clubes foram experimentados e modificados métodos de ensino do tênis pelos instrutores/professores ao longo do tempo.

Reflections on the Reform and Practice of Tennis Classroom Teaching in Colleges and Universities

Tennis is one of the most important sports sports in the world, but also the world level competitions of conventional projects, has received great attention in the international sports circles, as well as in our country. But must see, in college tennis in China to carry out the situation is not optimistic, although also set up a tennis teaching course, but far less than other ball games (such as football, volleyball, basketball and table tennis) impact strength. The main influencing factors can be attributed to the mode of inheritance, and popularity, play in sports, the role of foreign exchange and other relevant factors of classroom teaching mentoring. Therefore, in order to expand the space for development of the sport of tennis, to eliminate the adverse factors as far as possible, to overcome all difficulties, and actively carry out research, tennis teaching reform and practice to create conditions for improving tennis teaching environment, In order to expand the influence rate of tennis, so as to achieve the desired goal.

Scapulohumeral rhythm in young tennis players

Intensive tennis practice, with its unilateral solicitation, leads to sport-specific adaptations particularly in shoulder range of motion and muscular strength at the dominant shoulder (Gillet et al., 2017). However, excessive or imbalance changes are known to increase the risk of shoulder injuries (Chorley et al., 2017). Shoulder injuries can be evaluated and prevented by monitoring the scapulohumeral rhythm (SHR). The SHR assess the contribution of the humerus and the scapula during the arm elevation. Commonly, a 2:1 ratio is observed and its alterations are related to shoulder injuries (Hosseinimehr et al., 2015). However, asymptomatic overhead adult athlete presents a lower SHR ratio in the dominant side compared with the nondominant one (Hosseinimehr et al., 2015). To our knowledge, the SHR in young competitive tennis players has not been characterized yet. A better description of the SHR in such a population may help to improve the shoulder injury prevention. This study aimed to describe the SHR of young competitive tennis players. We hypothesized that the SHR in the dominant side should be lower than the nondominant one.

Effectiveness of Forehand Technical Training Model toward Increased the Ability of Playing Tennis on the Training

This study was referring to the level of ability students' playing in Sport Department of Faculty Sport and Science UNIMED was low. It proved by the result of observations which conducted by the researcher showed that the error rate of forehand was 65%. It caused by the basic training model forehand-oriented techniques which used by lecturers are using conventional models and unstructured program. The results of the interviews also showed that the basic tennis practice model book owned by lecturers is one of the obstacles, confirmed by the distribution of need analysis questionnaire. So, innovation of the basic technical training model forehand tennis courts was needed for students who take tennis court courses. The novelty of this research was on the basic technique model of forehand tennis field effective towards the improvement of basic technique ability of students of FIK UNUMED. The specific targets to be achieved were testing the effectiveness of the basic tennis forehand exercise technique model and producing a basic forehand technique of training model that effectively improves students' technical skills. This study was conducting by quantitative approach with experimental form. The research design was randomized control group by pretest-posttest. It can be concluded that there were an increase of the effect of basic forehand technique training and conventional technique training on the basic technique capability of forehand in the students of FIK Department UNIMED.

Effects of recreational tennis practice on information technology industry employees’ fitness – a pilot study

Effects of recreational tennis practice on information technology industry employees’ fitness – a pilot study

Energy Requirement Assessment in Japanese Table Tennis Players Using the Doubly Labeled Water Method.

Total daily energy expenditure (TEE) and physical activity level (PAL) are important for adequate nutritional management in athletes. The PAL of table tennis has been estimated to about 2.0: it is categorized as a moderateactivity sport (4.0 metabolic equivalents [METs]) in the Compendium of Physical Activities. However, modern table tennis makes high physiological demands. The aims of the current study were to examine (1) TEE and PAL of competitive table tennis players and (2) the physiological demands of various types of table tennis practice. In Experiment 1, we measured TEE and PAL in 10 Japanese college competitive table tennis players (aged 19.9 ± 1.1 years) using the doubly labeled water (DLW) method during training and with an exercise training log and self-reported energy intake. TEE was 15.5 ± 1.9 MJ·day-1 (3695 ± 449 kcal·day-1); PAL was 2.53 ± 0.25; and the average training duration was 181 ± 38 min·day-1. In Experiment 2, we measured METs of five different practices in seven college competition players (20.6 ± 1.2 years). Three practices without footwork were 4.5-5.2 METs, and two practices with footwork were 9.5-11.5 METs. Table tennis practices averaged 7.1 ± 3.2 METS demonstrating similarities with other vigorous racket sports. In conclusion the current Compendium of Physical Activities underestimates the physiological demands of table tennis practice for competition; the estimated energy requirement should be based on DLW method data.

四ローラ式ボール発射機の発射機構の開発

Ball shooting machine (pitching machine) is used for practicing ball sports, and it is widely prevalent. However, there are few pitching machines that can throw a ball with a gyro spin, such as a football or rifle bullet, in which the axis of the ball spins in the same direction as the ball travels. In this study, a new ball shooting machine, which can throw in the ball in a wide range of speeds and all pitch types (no, top, down, side and gyro spin balls) was invented by introducing a launch mechanism using four rollers (two launch and two gyro rollers). The shooting machine is able to arbitrarily change the rotational speed of the four rollers and the crossing angle of both gyro rollers. Shooting tests were conducted using the prototype shooting machine to confirm the ability of its performance. From the experiment results, the prototype machine had a maximum ball speed of 42.5 m/s, a spin rate of exceeding 5000 rpm, and a ball of any pitch type could also be shot. In addition, the position accuracy (shot accuracy) at the targeted fall position in the opponent's court was high because the gyro spin and other pitch types (no, top and side spins) were less than 140 mm and 40 mm (the diameter of one table tennis ball), respectively. The prototype machine had the necessary launching performance for table tennis practice of a college student level.

Comparison of Energy Expenditure of Youth Playing Tennis During Practice and Match Settings.

Researchers have investigated the energy expenditure of tennis practice and match play in adults but not youth. VO2 was recorded for 36 youth, ages 9 to 18, during 10-minute bouts of tennis practice and match play. A GLM was used to compare VO2 between practice and match play and among age groups (9-12 years, 13-15 years, and 16-18 years); also to compare the difference in adult and child-derived MET values (ΔMET). VO2 was higher for tennis match play vs. practice (P < .05) and there was a trend for 16 to 18 year olds having lower VO2 than 9 to 12 year olds (P = .055). ΔMET did not differ between settings but varied by age group (P = .004); it was highest in 9- to 12-year-olds and lowest in 16- to 18-year-olds. Youth expend more energy while playing a tennis match than practice, regardless of age. Child-derived MET values equaled those of adults once youth reached ages 16 to 18.

The asymmetry of pectoralis muscles is greater in male prepubertal than in professional tennis players

It is generally accepted that preadolescents have a limited capacity to develop muscle hypertrophy in response to exercise compared with older populations; however, studies are scarce and conflicting. The main aim of the present study was to assess if playing tennis is associated with the hypertrophy of dominant pectoralis muscles (PM) in professional (PRO) and in prepubescent tennis players (PRE). A secondary aim was to assess if the degree of asymmetry of PM is greater in PRO than PRE. The volume of PM of both sides was determined using magnetic resonance imaging in 8 male PRO (21.9 years), 6 male PRE (11 years, Tanner 1–2) and 12 male non-active controls (6 adults: 23.5 years; and 6 prepubescents: 10.7 years, Tanner 1–2). PRO and PRE had 15 and 30% greater volume, respectively, in the dominant than in the contralateral PM (P < .01). No significant side-to-side differences in PM volume were observed in the non-active controls (3%, P = .34 in adults and 5%, P = .17 in children). The degree of side-to-side asymmetry in PM volume was greater in PRE than in PRO (P < .05). In conclusion, tennis practice is associated with marked hypertrophy of dominant PM in tennis players, even at prepubertal age, whilst non-active age-matched control subjects display similar volumes in both sides. The larger asymmetry observed in PRE than in PRO may indicate a greater relative loading in the children or increased contralateral hypertrophy in the professionals. This study demonstrates that prepubertal children respond with marked hypertrophy to loading by tennis.

Epidemiology of National Collegiate Athletic Association men's and women's tennis injuries, 2009/2010-2014/2015.

This study describes the epidemiology of men's and women's tennis injuries reported by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Injury Surveillance Program (ISP) during the 2009/2010-2014/2015 academic years. Injuries and athlete-exposure (AE) data originated from 19 varsity men's programmes (38 team-seasons); women's tennis data originated from 25 varsity programmes (52 team-seasons). Injury rates, injury rate ratios (IRRs) and injury proportions ratios (IPRs) were reported with 95% CIs. The ISP captured 181 and 227 injuries for men's and women's tennis, respectively, for injury rates of 4.89 and 4.88/1000 AE for men and women, respectively. There were 32.2% and 63.9% reductions in men's and women's tennis practice injury rates between 2009/2010-2011/2012 and 2012/2013-2014/2015, but no reductions in competition injury rates. Competition injury rates were higher than practice injury rates in men's (IRR=2.32; 95% CI 1.72 to 3.13) and women's tennis (IRR=1.77; 95% CI 1.35 to 2.33). Most injuries in men's and women's tennis occurred to the lower extremities (47.0% and 52.4%, respectively), compared with the trunk (16.6% and 17.6%, respectively) and upper extremities (23.8 and 23.8, respectively). Injury rates in NCAA men's and women's tennis were similar overall. Practice injury rates in men's and women's tennis have declined, although competition rates have not changed. These findings may help inform injury prevention programmes in the future.

Body composition of table tennis players: comparison between performance level and gender

The purpose of this study was to compare whole-body and segmental body composition variables of trained Brazilian table tennis players, according to different performance levels and gender. Sixty-four table tennis players (45 male and 19 female) were distributed in three groups according to performance level: international level players (ILP; 12 male; 8 female), national level players (NLP; 14 male; 6 female) and regional level players (RLP; 19 male; 5 female). The anthropometry measurements and body composition analysis were performed using Dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. Male players demonstrated higher fat-free mass (FFM), and lower fat mass (FM) and body fat percentage (%BF, p < 0.05) compared to female players in all competitive levels, however, non-significant differences were found between whole-body composition and performance level. In the comparison between the dominant and non-dominant arms, FFM, fat-free soft tissue mass (FFSTM) and bone mineral density (BMD) were higher in the dominant arm (p < 0.05) compared to the non-dominant arm in all competitive levels, however, the male ILP group presented lower FFM and FFSTM in the dominant arm compared to the NLP, while the female ILP group presented higher BMD compared to the NLP and RLP. In conclusion, male table tennis players presented higher FFM and lower FM and %BF than female players and the dominant arm presented higher FFM and BMD than the non-dominant, possibly due to the mechanical impact-load imposed by time of table tennis practice.

Scapulothoracic kinematics during scaption after one year of tennis practice in elite girl players

Scapulothoracic kinematics during scaption after one year of tennis practice in elite girl players

Propuesta de enseñanza del Tenis de Mesa en Educación Primaria y Secundaria (Proposal to the table tennis teaching in primary and secondary school)

El Tenis de Mesa es un deporte que cada vez se practica más en todo el mundo, tanto en el campo federativo y competitivo como en el educativo y recreativo. La utilización, cada vez más frecuente, del Tenis de Mesa como contenido en las clases de Educación Física en centros de enseñanza Primaria y Secundaria, hace que cobre especial importancia su adecuada enseñanza, puesto que a través de su práctica se puede formar a la persona en los distintos ámbitos: motor, afectivo, cognitivo y social. Enseñanza que, en nuestra opinión, debe partir de las características del deporte y de sus potencialidades educativas, aunque como es bien sabido, el deporte puede ser, o no, educativo, dependiendo de la utilización que hagamos del mismo. Por lo que, y siguiendo a Tabernero, Márquez, y Llanos (2002), la figura clave de la iniciación deportiva va a ser el técnico/profesor. Por este motivo, abogamos por una práctica educativa del Tenis de Mesa.Abstract: The table tennis is a sport which is practised increasingly in the world, so much in the federative and competitive fields as educative and recreative ones. The frequent use of the table tennis as content in the physical education lessons makes that its suitable teaching receives special importance, because with its practice we can educate people in different fields: motor, affective, cognitive and social. We think that this teaching must begin from characteristics of the sport and its educational possibilities, even though, as it is known, sport can be, or not, educative, depending on the use that we made of it. Following to Tabernero, Márquez, y Llanos (2002), the main person will be the coach/teacher in the sports initiation. For this reason we defend an educational practice of the table tennis.

Epidemiology of tennis injuries: An eight-year review of Davis Cup retirements

Tennis practice, especially at elite levels, may place players at risk for debilitating musculoskeletal injuries. The aim of this study was to analyse the epidemiological pattern of retirements due to medical conditions sustained by tennis players during Davis Cup matches in the 2006–2013 period. All uncompleted matches due to a medical condition (injuries and illnesses) occurred in the above-mentioned competition were collected from the official source, registered and analysed according to published guidelines. The overall incidence of match retirements was 1.66% (12/719). The injury rate was 6.05/1000 playing hours; and 6.64/1000 match exposures. Musculotendinous lesions were the most common type of injury (66.66%). The incidence of lower-limb injuries was higher than upper-limb and trunk lesions. The incidence of retired matches due to medical conditions was higher in hard courts than in clay courts (2.97% and 0.90%, respectively; p = 0.04), while the median value of inactivity of injuries was 32.0 days (range 3–297). In conclusion, the incidence of retirements due to medical conditions in Davis Cup matches was low supporting the assumption that elite tennis is a low-risk sport activity. Findings provided scientific evidences of injury patterns among male professional tennis players and may contribute to conduct better injury prevention strategies.

Shoulder motion during tennis serve: dynamic and radiological evaluation based on motion capture and magnetic resonance imaging.

Rotator cuff and labral lesions in tennis players could be related to posterosuperior internal impingement or subacromial impingement during tennis serve. However, it is unknown which of these impingements are responsible for the lesions found in the tennis player's shoulder. Moreover, there is a lack of validated noninvasive methods and dynamic studies to ascertain impingement during motion. Ten intermediate or ex-professional tennis players were motion captured with an optical tracking system while performing tennis serves. The resulting computed motions were applied to patient-specific shoulder joints' 3D models based on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data. During motion simulation, impingements were detected and located using computer-assisted techniques. An MRI examination was also performed to evaluate the prevalence of shoulder lesions and to determine their relevance with the simulation findings. Simulation showed that internal impingement was frequently observed compared to subacromial impingement when serving. The computed zones of internal impingement were mainly located in the posterosuperior or superior region of the glenoid. These findings were relevant with respect to radiologically diagnosed damaged zones in the rotator cuff and glenoid labrum. Tennis players presented frequent radiographic signs of structural lesions that seem to be mainly related to posterosuperior internal impingement due to repetitive abnormal motion contacts. The present study indicates that the practice of tennis serve could lead with time to cartilage/tendon hyper compression, which could be damageable for the glenohumeral joint.

Comparison of shoulder rotation range of motion in professional tennis players with and without history of shoulder pain

A glenohumeral internal rotation deficit of the dominant shoulder relative to the non-dominant shoulder (GIRD) is considered a risk factor for shoulder injury in overhead athletes. The aim of this study was to investigate whether professional tennis players with a history of self-reported shoulder pain show differences in rotation range of motion (ROM) of the dominant and non-dominant shoulder compared to asymptomatic controls. Forty-seven professional tennis players belonging to the Association of Tennis Professionals World Tour took part in the study: 19 with shoulder pain history and 28 without. Passive shoulder ROM was measured using a process of photography and software calculation of angles. The dominant shoulder had reduced internal rotation (IR) ROM and total rotation ROM, and increased external rotation (ER) ROM compared to the non-dominant side. These differences did not correlate significantly with years of tennis practice, years of professional play, nor the players' age. However, glenohumeral rotation ROMs correlated negatively with the duration of tennis practice and players' age. Although tennis players with shoulder pain history showed less IR ROM in both shoulders compared with the no-pain group, no significant differences between groups were found for ER ROM, side-to-side ROM asymmetries, years of tennis practice or years of professional play. In professional tennis players, limited IR ROM rather than a GIRD, seems to be associated with shoulder pain history, duration of tennis practice and the players' age, when compared to a similar cohort with no history of shoulder pain.