Split-Step Timing of Professional and Junior Tennis Players

Effectiveness and Kinematic Analysis of Initial Step Patterns for Multidirectional Acceleration in Team and Racquet Sports

The ability for quick multidirectional accelerations is crucial for athletic performance in team and racquet sports. So far, there has been little research dedicated to different initial step patterns usually applied by players. Therefore, the present study investigated the kinematic characteristics and effectiveness of the following step patterns: Jab Step (JS), Pivot Step (PS), Gravity Step (GS) and Counter Step (CS). Twenty-two male competitive team and racquet sport athletes completed maximum lateral accelerations utilizing the step patterns. Following familiarization with each step pattern, three 5 m sprints (5 m STs) into both directions (left & right) were completed. Sprint times, the translation of the center of mass (CoM) and joint angles were obtained using three-dimensional motion analysis. 5 m STs of the CS were faster compared to the GS and PS for both directions. A detailed distance-time analysis revealed that for shorter distances only the JS was faster than the GS. Regarding the sequence in which the maximum angular velocities (max. w → ) in the hip, the knee, and the ankle were reached during the push off, there was a proximal-to-distal sequence for the JS and the CS, but a distal-to proximal sequence for the GS and the PS. The results reveal that the JS and the CS are superior for accelerations towards the lateral direction. Specifically, they indicate that the JS is more suitable for covering very short distances and the CS is superior for covering further distances. In addition, the distal-to-proximal sequence of max. w → during the push-off in the GS and the PS might indicate lower kinematic efficiency.

The spatiotemporal control of expert tennis players when returning first serves: A perception-action perspective

The aim of the current experiment was to examine the spatiotemporal control of expert tennis players while executing first service returns within a representative experimental setting. We recruited and tested 12 male expert tennis players in hard courts. A comprehensive analysis of the timing (eleven temporal variables analysed at 300 Hz) and performance success of the return actions were carried out, while simultaneously considering task constraints such as the accuracy and the speed of the serves. Temporal organisation of return actions were scaled relative to the server's racket-ball contact (5 ms), an adaptation of fly-time of the split-step, which resulted in consistent landings (133 ms), and initiation of lateral movements towards the ball - with no response errors - after the server's stroke (around 177 ms). Poorer returns occurred when responding to accurate serves accompanied by late trunk movements towards the ball. Returners scaled the timing of the response to the unfolding action of the serve in order to support both spatial and temporal accuracy. These novel findings highlight the significance of the study of fast-ball sports in representative settings and offer further detail on the spatiotemporal control of skilful perception-action.

Technical analysis of adaptive neuron fuzzy intelligent system in tennis serve

Serving is the most important hitting technique in tennis, and a good service receiving can instantly reverse the active and passive relationship between serve and receive on the tennis court, and control the rhythm of the court. The purpose of this study is to use an adaptive neuron fuzzy intelligent system to analyze some techniques of tennis serve. In this study, eight male players from the school tennis team were selected as the experimental subjects, whose sports level was above the national tennis level II. Ten weeks before the simulation test, the training time and frequency of 8 subjects were the same. In other words, 5 times a week, 2.5 hours±0.5 hours. The work engineering of adaptive fuzzy system firstly, in the off-line modeling stage, the adaptive fuzzy system uses the rule self splitting technology to generate the initial fuzzy rules, and uses the improved adaptive neural network algorithm to optimize the calculation; then according to the error between the system input and the predicted output, the independent variable is adjusted and replaced; at the same time, the adaptive fuzzy system is further used for calculation In the process of tennis serving, the nonlinear control variables are obtained online and applied to the fuzzy system for control. Next, in the experiment, the system was used to record the body’s movement and service scores during service. The experimental results show that during the service process, the maximum trunk torsion amplitude can reach 48.26 ° and the minimum is only 5.41 ° and the service score accounts for 81.41% and 80.47% of the total scores of the two sections respectively. This shows that the fuzzy system in this study can effectively analyze the service posture and score of athletes. It is concluded that the accurate calculation and analysis of tennis serve by adaptive neuron intelligent fuzzy system in this study is conducive to improve the tennis serviceability and competition performance of players. This research has made a certain contribution to the intellectualization of sports.

Set-to-set Performance Variation in Tennis Grand Slams: Play with Consistency and Risks

The study analysed the set-to-set variation in performance using match statistics of 146 completed main-draw matches in Australian Open and US Open 2016-2017 men’s singles. Comparisons of technical-tactical and physical performance variables were done between different sets; and the within-match coefficients of variation (CV) of these variables were contrasted between match winning and losing players. All comparisons were realized via standardized (Cohen’s d) mean differences and uncertainty in the true differences was assessed using non-clinical magnitude-based inferences. Results showed that there was possibly to very likely decreases in the serve, net and running related variables (mean difference, ±90%CL: -0.16, ±0.14 to -0.45, ±0.24, small) and an increase in the return and winner related variables (0.17, ±0.24 to 0.24, ±0.14, small) in the last sets when compared to the initial sets, indicating the influence of match fatigue and the player’s choice of match tactics and pacing strategy. Besides, winning players were revealed to have lower CV values in most of performance variables (-0.16, ±0.24 to -0.82, ±0.23, small to moderate) except for the second serve, winner, and physical performance variables (0.25, ±0.26 to 1.6, ±0.25, small to large), indicating that they would sacrifice the consistency to gain more aggressiveness and to dominate the match.

How do professional tennis players move? The perceptions of coaches and strength and conditioning experts

The purpose of this study was to explore the processes associated with successful on-court movement in professional tennis. To date, research has only provided generalised insight into the physical demands of tennis movement and the requisite physical skills. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 15 international tennis and/or strength and conditioning coaches involved in the development of tennis-specific movement in professional men's and women's tennis. A descriptive, qualitative approach was adopted, with interviews transcribed verbatim and analysed using an inductive to deductive thematic analysis. The highlighted ideas and concepts enabled the dynamic construction of higher-order themes representative of "good" tennis movers, alongside the conceptual development of a common movement "goal" or "outcome". The established higher-order themes portrayed three "styles" of "good" movers in modern professional tennis: those who were "fast" around the court, those who "read the play" well, and those who were "efficient" in their movement. The established themes provide a framework for interpreting and categorising the movement of professional tennis players as well as its underpinning skill.

Returning Serve in Tennis: A Qualitative Examination of the Interaction of Anticipatory Information Sources Used by Professional Tennis Players

Research has largely focused on the individual contribution of either kinematic or contextual information sources to the anticipatory skill of an expert athlete during a time-stressed situation. Very little research has considered how these two sources of information interact with each other to influence anticipation. The current study used a qualitative interview methodology to investigate this interaction. Eight former or current top 250 professional male tennis players participated in a 30–60 min interview about the interaction of kinematic and contextual information sources and their influence on anticipation. Using an open-coding analysis approach, codes were identified by each researcher from the transcribed interviews and then brought together to identify common themes. The primary themes were consciousness, tactical awareness, contextual information sources, kinematic information sources, mentality/confidence, returner technique or strategy, and build pressure on the server. Secondary themes coded from the participants were returning characteristics and practice. Consequently, a temporal model was developed which demonstrated the sequence and interaction of both kinematic and contextual information sources known to influence expert tennis player’s anticipation.