Research article - (2013)12, 309 - 315
The Variability of the Serve Toss in Tennis Under the Influence of Artificial Crosswind
Pedro C. Mendes1,, Juan P. Fuentes2, Rui Mendes3, Fernando M.L. Martins4, Filipe M. Clemente5, Micael S. Couceiro6
1University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
2College of Sport Sciences, Spain
3Technical University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
4College of Education, Polytechnic Institute of Coimbra, Portugal
5University of Coimbra, Portugal
6Engineering Institute of Coimbra, Polytechnic Institute of Coimbra, Portugal

Pedro C. Mendes
✉ Instituto Politécnico de Coimbra, Escola Superior de Educação de Coimbra, Área de Educação Física e Desporto, Rua Dom João III – Solum, 3030-329 Coimbra, Portugal
Email: pmendes@esec.pt
Received: 31-08-2012 -- Accepted: 17-12-2012
Published (online): 01-06-2013
ABSTRACT

This study was made to analyze the variability and stability of the serve toss in tennis, on the x (side-to-side), y (back-to-front) and z (vertical) axes, with 12 experienced players under the influence of crosswind (induced aerodynamic flow) produced by an industrial ventilator. The players were analyzed individually after serving at maximum speed and accuracy to the intersection point of the centre line and service line (“T ”point). The results allow us to conclude that the experienced players tend to stabilize the vertical dimension of the service (z axis). Additionally, this study confirms the invariability of the player height ratio: height of impact (1:1.5) in experienced players even when constrained by the “artificial crosswind. ”Given the above, the vertical dimension of the tennis serve is assumed as a constant feature, which is guaranteed in the remaining varying dimensions (y and x axes) of the ball toss. Thus, the variability should be seen as part of the solution and not as something to be avoided by players and coaches.
Key words: Variability, tennis serve, performance, crosswind, motor control

Key Points
  • Analysis of the tennis serve variability under the effect of artificial crosswind
  • Twelve experienced tennis players performed a set of 20 free serves (without wind constraints), and four other sets of 20 serves under different practice conditions (with different crosswind intensities)
  • The players tend to stabilize in the z axis and vary in the y- (back-to-front) and x-axes (side-to-side) during the ball toss tennis serve in all the practice conditions (with and without crosswind)
  • The maintenance of a player height ratio: impact height of approximately 1:1.5 in experienced players, even when constrained by “artificial crosswind”.








Back		 |
Full Text		 |
PDF		 |
Share

Email link to this article

The Variability of the Serve Toss in Tennis Under the Influence of Artificial Crosswind
Pedro C. Mendes, Juan P. Fuentes, Rui Mendes, Fernando M.L. Martins, Filipe M. Clemente, Micael S. Couceiro
2013(12), 309 - 315.
DOI: https://doi.org/