Characterising the Service Bounce using a Speed Gun

The angled bounce of a sports ball off a hard surface such as a typical tennis court has been the subject of many studies, for example Thorpe and Canaway (1986), Brody (1983), conferences and in-house reports. During play the tennis ball is hit at a variety of speeds, often with spin imparted to contact and bounce off the tennis court from a range of angles. The characteristics of these angled bounces, which depend on the physical properties of the ball and the court have a decided influence on the subsequent game. Perhaps of most importance is the nature of the ball’s first bounce following service when maximum ball speeds are encountered.