A study of the accuracy of anticipated tennis serve placement and cognitive reaction time

Abstract

Examining factors influencing precisions of recognizing placements of tennis serves can be critical and impactful in both amateur and professional tennis competitions. To study these influential factors scientifically, 76 college students with primary experience of playing tennis were recruited to recognize pivotal tennis serving motions captured by a high-speed camera system. Participants were then monitored by a computerized cognitive neural response testing system recording both their accuracy and reacting time. Factorial ANOVA and t-tests, with the statistical significances set at α = .05, were conducted to analyze test results. Variations of ball placements, serving sides and serving hands caused participants to have statistically significant (p < .05) responses. For example, in responding to a right-handed server serving wide from advantage side, participants needed longer average reaction time (p < .05). Interactions between the factors were also shown impactful. Results of this study can contribute in both training campaigns as well as practical game situations. © 2010 International Federation for Medical and Biological Engineering.