Preventing a loss of accuracy of the tennis serve under pressure

Haptic coordination: Squeezing a vibrating stress ball decreases anxiety and arousal

We evaluated the effect of haptic coordination on anxiety and arousal. Participants looked at a stressful or calming image and then repeatedly squeezed a vibrating stress ball for 20 s. Using a pre-post paradigm with a control group, we showed that squeezing the vibrating ball reduced anxiety and arousal, as assessed by the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory and electrodermal activity, respectively. The stability of haptic coordination was manipulated by varying the detuning between the spontaneous squeezing frequency and the intrinsic frequency of ball vibration. Coordination stability affected arousal and stress affected stability. The data were discussed in the light of Kahneman's attentional resource-sharing model.

Effects of left-hand contraction on tennis serve performance

Introduction

The tennis serve is commonly executed in high-pressure scenarios, often leading to performance decline; a condition commonly referred to as choking under pressure. One suggested effective method to avert choking involves contracting the left hand. We examined the effects of left-hand contraction on tennis serve performance using a wearable grasping material (polyurethane foam) which can be incorporated into sportswear.

Materials and methods

We assigned 40 right-handed skilled tennis players to either the contraction group (n = 20) or the no-contraction group (n = 20). They were instructed to perform a second-serve task during the pre-test and pressure test. The participants in the contraction group squeezed the grasping material for 20 s before executing the task in the pressure test. We measured performance, including total scores, the number of maximum score achievements, landing positions, and kinematic indices (i.e., ball speed, racket speed, and impact height).

Results

Although neither group demonstrated deteriorated performance on the pressure test, the contraction group experienced an increased number of maximum score achievements under the pressure situation compared with the pre-test (p = 0.021).

Discussion

Our results suggest that when under pressure, left-hand contraction may improve performance during tennis serves.

The Impact of Hemispheric Activity Priming on Choking Under Pressure in Badminton Tasks: A Study of Three Fundamental Skills

Choking under pressure occurs when an individual experiences a decrease in performance despite their efforts to perform well. The self-focus approach suggests that pressure increases conscious attention on the performance process, disrupting the automatic or overlearned nature of execution. Hemispheric asymmetries in the brain and skilled performance indicate that left-hemispheric activity decreases, while right-hemispheric activity enhances. Previous studies have attempted to prevent choking by inhibiting the left hemisphere or enhancing the right hemisphere's activity. This study examined whether increased hemispheric activity priming can extenuate motor skill failure under pressure in badminton tasks. The study involved 32 right-handed college students who completed five conditions in pressure-free blocks versus choking under-pressure blocks with priming intervention. Results showed a significant improvement in motor learning from pre- to post-tests, but participants still choked under pressure during skill execution. Furthermore, the priming strategy (hand squeezing) did not alleviate the pressure to benefit performance. The study provides evidence of performance decrements under pressure conditions, and the priming strategy did not alleviate choking.

Individual vs. Team Sport Failure-Similarities, Differences, and Current Developments

The construct of "choking under pressure" is concerned with the phenomenon of unexpected, sudden, and significant declines in individual athletes' performances in important situations and has received empirical attention in the field of sport psychology. Although a number of theories about the reasons for the occurrence of choking under pressure exist and several intervention approaches have been developed, underlying mechanisms of choking are still under debate and the effectiveness of existing interventions remains contested. These sudden performance declines also occur in team sport. "Collective sport team collapse," which describes the situation when an entire sport team underperforms significantly within an important competitive situation, has received less empirical attention, in comparison to individual choking research. While there are a few studies that have investigated causes of collective team collapse, understandably, there has been limited empirical investigation of preventative and intervention strategies. Although the two constructs appear to share several similar characteristics and mechanisms, research has not yet examined the conceptual, theoretical, empirical, and practical links between choking under pressure and collective sport team collapse. In this review article, we seek to examine these similarities and differences and identify new ways of thinking about future interventions. Furthermore, current empirical understandings in the field of choking under pressure and collective sport team collapse are presented and the most effective intervention approaches for both constructs are introduced. On the basis of this examination, we modestly make some initial recommendations for sport psychological practitioners and future research.

How to play under pressure: EEG monitoring of mental activation training in a professional tennis player

The aim of this study was to monitor the mental activation training during match pressure imageries using a protocol with (MT) and without mental training (wMT) performed in the office and on the tennis court based on the analysis of heart rate, brain waves and subjective ratings in a professional tennis player with high imagery experience. Results showed that both in the office (MTo/wMTo) and on the court (MTc/wMTc) the tennis player's heart rate increased in the match pressure imagery (I.3-8), being higher in the MTo. It decreased in the pressure imagery using mental tools (I.8-13) in the MT. In the case of brainwaves, beta and gamma waves increased in the match pressure imagery (I.3-8); while beta, gamma, delta and theta waves decreased in the pressure imagery using mental tools (I.8-13), being higher in the office. Entropy decreased in the match pressure imagery (I.3-8), being higher in the MTo. It increased in the pressure imagery using mental tools (I.8-13), being higher in the MTo. Regarding subjective ratings, the tennis player felt the pressure in the match pressure imagery, being higher in MT. In the pressure imagery using mental tools he regulated the activation to feel it at an optimal level (7). In the imagery reality, the olfactory and gustatory dimensions were the most difficult to feel in both imageries.