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Introduction: This study aimed to analyze the variations in pre- and postcompetitive anxiety and self-confidence considering match outcomes, the performance according to the result and the correlation among performance and psychological variables. Methods: The sample consisted on 12 matches in which 11 high-level padel players from Finland (top 24) voluntarily participated. CSAI-2R and STAI-S were used to assess psychological variables and technical-tactical performance was evaluated by a certified padel coach. Results: Losing players presented higher cognitive (p = .004), somatic (p = .020) and state (p = .001) anxiety and lower selfconfidence (p = .014), and winning players showed higher state anxiety (p = .022), after than before the matches. Post-match, winning players exhibited higher self-confidence (p = .015) than losing players. Winning players made more winners (p = .010) than losing players. There are direct correlations between unforced errors and post-state anxiety (p = .015), unforced errors and state anxiety (p = .009) and winners and cognitive anxiety (p = .033), in winning players; between generators of forced error and post-cognitive anxiety (p = .034), forced errors and cognitive anxiety in losing players (p = .001). There are indirect correlations between forced errors and pre-cognitive anxiety (p = .009), winners and somatic anxiety (p = .046), unforced errors and state anxiety (p = .042) in losing players. Discussion: The outcomes imply the need for intervention programs to equip players, especially those facing defeat, with tools for anxiety management and self-confidence enhancement. Likewise, coaches are advised to incorporate exercises that promote the occurrence of winners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research aimed to determine the ideal racquet size by modifying racquets based on a body-scaling approach employing arm-to-racquet length ratios. Twelve boys aged between 13 to 14 years (13.17±0.83) with one to two years of badminton experience volunteered to participate in the study. To calculate arm-to-racquet length ratios, participants' arm lengths for both hands were recorded. Participants were divided into six pairs and played a badminton match using three types of racquets which were racquets A (1.1:1.0), B (1.0:1.0), and C (0.9:1.0). Participants' hitting opportunities, successful strokes, winning strokes, rally length, and unforced errors were notated manually via video replay. Based on the one-way ANOVA with repeated measures, the results showed that the use of racquet B which had a pi ratio of 1.0:1.0 for arm length-to-racquet length ratios during badminton matches, recorded the highest mean scores in hitting opportunities, successful strokes, and winning strokes than racquets A (1.1:1.0) and C (0.9:1.0), p<.05. The results also demonstrated that the use of racquet B reduces the unforced errors during matches compared to racquets A and C, p<.05. It is suggested that giving children equipment that suits their physical characteristics (e.g., racquet length with arm length) might improve their performance and allow them to play badminton more efficiently. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Raquette, a two-stick version of the ubiquitous Native American stick-and-ball game from which lacrosse evolved, was played in New Orleans and elsewhere in Louisiana from the mid-eighteenth century until the early twentieth century. Invented by Native Americans in the Southeast, both enslaved and free people of color remade raquette into a uniquely Creole sport in the eighteenth century before white Creoles began play in the middle of the nineteenth century. Anglo-Americans seldom participated in the sport, so the enjoyment of raquette repeatedly rose and fell (and ultimately collapsed) with the fortunes and vitality of the larger Creole culture. Raquette displayed the improvisational character of a premodern sport throughout almost its entire history, dying out chiefly because it failed to adopt the institutional structure, formalized rules, and other characteristics that distinguish modern sports from their premodern predecessors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Manipulating task constraints by scaling key features like space and equipment is considered an effective method for enhancing performance development and refining movement patterns in sport. Despite this, it is currently unclear whether scaled manipulation of task constraints would impact emergent movement behaviours in young children, affording learners opportunities to develop relevant skills. Here, we sought to investigate how scaling task constraints during 8 weeks of mini tennis training shaped backhand stroke development. Two groups, control (n = 8, age = 7.2 ± 0.6 years) and experimental (n = 8, age 7.4 ± 0.4 years), underwent practice using constraints-based manipulations, with a specific field of affordances designed for backhand strokes as the experimental treatment. To evaluate intervention effects, pre- and post-test match-play characteristics (e.g. forehand and backhand percentage strokes) and measures from a tennis-specific skills test (e.g. forehand and backhand technical proficiency), were evaluated. Post intervention, the experimental group performed a greater percentage of backhand strokes out of total number of shots played (46.7 ± 3.3%). There was also a significantly greater percentage of backhand winners out of total backhand strokes observed (5.5 ± 3.0%), compared to the control group during match-play (backhands = 22.4 ± 6.5%; backhand winners = 1.0 ± 3.6%). The experimental group also demonstrated improvements in forehand and backhand technical proficiency and the ability to maintain a rally with a coach, compared to the control group. In conclusion, scaled manipulations implemented here elicited more functional performance behaviours than standard Mini Tennis Red constraints. Results suggested how human movement scientists may scale task constraint manipulations to augment young athletes' performance development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Badminton is a popular racquet sport. Unlike any other racquet sports, the object in play – the shuttlecock – has highly unique flight characteristics. Badminton shuttlecock is high drag projectile that decelerates rapidly in-flight. Shuttlecock trajectory is highly skewed as it falls at a much steeper angle than it rises. The design of the shuttlecock introduces unique aerodynamic characteristics. Shuttlecocks usually come in various speed grades, ranging from faster to slower. These shuttlecocks share the same appearance but perform very differently. Synthetic or plastic shuttlecock is more economical alternative to feather shuttlecock. However, their aerodynamic behaviour is more complex than feather shuttlecocks. Despite the popularity, limited studies have been undertaken to understand the complex aerodynamic behaviour of both feather and synthetic shuttlecocks, especially the flow characteristics around the shuttlecocks. Hence, the main purpose of this study is to understand the complex flow behaviour around a series of synthetic and feather shuttlecocks. An experimental study was undertaken to understand the effect of skirt porosity on the drag coefficient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In tennis, the relative positioning of players on court constrains their opportunities to perform successful actions. In this study we proposed and validated an empirical function that captures the spatial-temporal relationship between tennis players during competitive performance. This parameter, termed goal-directed displacement index (GDD Index), is defined over time by the product of both players' distances to the central line of the court and to the centre of the net. Results showed that the GDD index successfully described tennis players' patterns of interaction, as well as identified breaks in patterns of play during competitive performance, due to changes in relative positioning on court. Our analysis revealed two different patterns of interpersonal interactions, cross and down-the-line rallies, and two ways for a break to emerge in game dynamics, parallel variation (transition from a cross court rally to a down-the-line rally) and angle opening (lateral displacement). Data suggest that the elaboration of specific individual profiles of performance for different players, using the GDD index, could improve performance analysis in tennis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Copyright of Motricidad: European Journal of Human Movement is the property of Asociacion Espanola de Ciencias del Deporte and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The article focuses on the tennis racquets technology, in terms of materials used for designing racquets. It offers information on the Delta X10 280 CORE model of tennis racquet from sports equipment firm ProKennex and the TeXtreme Warrior 107T tennis racquet from sports equipment firm Prince. It informs that the International Tennis Federation (ITF) has a custom-built racquet performance machine known as 'MYO.' It also presents views of Tyler Herring of Prince on the issue.

The article presents a study that focuses on the comparison between the isometric grip strength and precision with the use of rackets of increasing grip size in prolonged simulated match. It indicates the measurement of maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) before and after the match. The study shows that the loss of handgrip MVIC depends on the grip size of the racket.