Kinematic Indicators and Their Relationship with Ball Release Velocity in the Slice Serve Performance in Tennis
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.25130/sc.2026.17.1.11Keywords:
- Slice serve - kinematic indicators - tennis.Abstract
The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between the kinematic indicators of the slice serve in tennis and the ball's launch speed off the racket. Three-dimensional motion capture techniques were used with three GoPro Hero 6 cameras to record the player's movement during the slice serve. The cameras were set at a frequency of 120 frames per second. A total of 18 serve attempts were recorded, and the best six were selected for biomechanical analysis using the SkillSpector 3D analysis software. Data were extracted for key moments during the preparatory, main, and final phases of the slice serve in tennis. The results showed a positive correlation between ball launch speed and the following variables: horizontal displacement of the racket during the three phases (preparatory, main, and final), horizontal displacement of the ball during the same phases, resultant displacement of the ball across all three phases, resultant displacement of the body during the main and final phases, horizontal velocity of the racket during the preparatory phase, horizontal and resultant velocities of the ball during the main and final phases, and the angle of the right shoulder during the preparatory phase. The findings also indicated a negative correlation between ball launch speed and the following variables: right ankle angle during the preparatory phase, vertical displacement of the racket, left shoulder angle during the main phase, and the resultant velocity of the racket during the final phase of the slice serve in tennis.
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