A Relationship Between Player’s Physical Characteristics and Biomechanical Variables of Service in Tennis

With the purpose to establish a relationship between physical characteristics of the players and biomechanical variables of service in lawn tennis present study was structured. For the purpose of the study twelve intervarsity level players were recruited as the subjects. A camcorder was used to video record the movement of the subjects. 2D Data were collected from movement onset to the follow-through phase. Silicon Coach Pro7 motion analysis software was used to digitize the variables. Whereas for acquiring data on physical characteristics of the subjects; a stadiometer was used to record height; a portable weighing machine was used to scale body weight; a steel measuring tape was used to measure the arm and leg length. Pearson product moment correlation coefficient was applied to establish the relationship between physical characteristics of the subjects and biomechanical variables of service. Results of the study shows, at preparation phase there is significant relationship exist among age and ankle angle, height and ankle angle, weight and ankle angle whereas no significant relationship observed in the remaining pairs of variables. At wind-up phase a negative significant relationship exist among elbow angle and all selected variables of player’s physical characteristics. A negative significant relationship also documented between age and knee angle. On the other hand other pairs of variables show no significant relationship at wind-up phase. There is significant relationship exists among height and shoulder angle, height and hip angle, arm length and hip angle, leg length and hip angle, whereas negative significant relationship documented in between arm length and knee angle, leg length and knee angle. Insignificant relationship reported in the tested pairs in the study in between player’s physical characteristics and different joints angles at force-generation phase. At follow-through phase significant relationship found between weight and wrist angle, whereas insignificant relationship observed in the remaining pairs tested in this study.