The analysis of force transfer between feet during backhand short serve in elite badminton players

Abstract

The original badminton scoring system has been changed into the rally 21-point scoring system since 2006. The alteration allows badminton players to capably score a point in the first shot as service, causing them to equip themselves with faster-and-more precise style of play. Backhand short serve is most frequently used, especially in doubles, to improve the game situation as the players get an opportunity for attacking their opponents, and easily getting a score. The backhand short serve is executed by an upper part of the body which diagonally sends a shuttlecock over the net to land in a receiver’s area within boundary line. Components of the service, however, are accompanied by not only the upper part of body but also the lower one. Therefore, the aim of this study was to study the accomplice of the lower part through analyzing the force transfer between feet at back swing, forward swing and contact during backhand short serve in elite badminton players. Fourteen Thai elite badminton double players (eight men and six female) were chosen to participate in the study. Two force plates which got set up in front of a badminton court behind short service line, and eight motion capture cameras installed around the court were used. The results revealed that there was a significant difference in anterior-posterior peak ground reaction force between left and right foot at back swing phase (p=0.00), at forward swing phases (p=0.00) and at contact (p=0.00), and there was distinction in each phase of left foot between back swing with forward swing phase, back swing phase with contact, and forward swing phase with contact of medial-lateral peak force (p=0.008). Finally, right foot was found to show difference between back swing phase with contact, and forward swing phase with contact of vertical peak force (p=0.013). In conclusion, the ground reaction force was transferred from right foot to left foot for controlling the center of mass upon effective serving, and for preparing to hit the next shot.