DIFFERENCES IN TENNIS SERVE KINEMATICS BETWEEN ELITE ADOLESCENT MALE AND FEMALE PLAYERS

Authors

Molly Connolly, Victoria University, MelbourneFollow
Kane Middleton Dr, La Trobe University, MelbourneFollow
Machar Reid, Tennis AustraliaFollow

Category

Other

Document Type

Paper

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to compare kinematic differences in elite adolescent male and female tennis serves. A 3D motion capture system was used to capture whole body, racquet and ball toss kinematics while twenty elite adolescent tennis players (male = 10, female = 10) performed flat and kick serves. Females had greater vertical front hip velocity (FS: 0.2 m/s, KS: 0.2 m/s greater than males), whilst males experienced larger peak shoulder external rotation displacements in both flat (10° greater) and kick (8° greater) serves compared to females. Females tossed the ball higher (FS: 18 cm, KS 19 cm) whilst males impacted the ball more laterally (across the body) (FS: 17cm, KS: 12) and more forward (FS: 10 cm, KS: 13 cm) into the court. Females had greater lower body kinematics whereas males tended to rely on shoulder external rotation to produce ball speed.

Recommended Citation

Connolly, Molly; Middleton, Kane Dr; and Reid, Machar (2019) "DIFFERENCES IN TENNIS SERVE KINEMATICS BETWEEN ELITE ADOLESCENT MALE AND FEMALE PLAYERS," ISBS Proceedings Archive: Vol. 37: Iss. 1, Article 106.
Available at: https://commons.nmu.edu/isbs/vol37/iss1/106