Ball Speed during the Tennis Serve in Relation to Skill Level and Body Height

Year 2016, Volume: 7 Issue: 2, - , 13.05.2016

Mustafa Söğüt

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the possible relations between serve speed and tennis skill level, and body height. Participants were male (n= 16) and female (n= 17) junior (age= 13.58 ± 1.25) tennis players. Serve speed was evaluated through using a sports radar gun. Tennis skill level was assessed by means of International Tennis Number (ITN) on-court assessment protocol. Pearson’s correlation coefficient indicated significant and positive relationships between serve speed and ITN in both male (r= 0.678) and female (r= 0.490) participants. Results also revealed significant and positive correlation between serve speed and body height in male (r= 0.733) and female (r= 0.504) players. Thus, study highlighted the association between serve speed, skill level, and body height in junior male and female tennis players.

Keywords

Tennis, serve speed, skill level, body height