The examination for evaluating skills during the rally of the Table Tennis game.

The purpose of this study was to examine the method for evaluating skills of table tennis players during the rally of the game. An incidence angle, speed and height of the balls passing above the net were investigated for both winners and losers. In this study, these three factors were defined as the characteristics of the hit ball. In order to observe those three factors, infrared laser units were set up 0.3 m from the net. The intervals of the time which were required for the balls to pass through two fixed units were measured. Those data were digitized and recorded in a personal computer. The above-mentioned characteristics of the hit ball were calculated. The results showed the following tendency. A winner's ball has a larger incidence angle than that of loser's one. On the other hand, the speed and height were not important factors in order to win the games. However, higher the skill levels, the higher the hit ball position and more the speed. It was found that a large incidence angle was necessary to win. In conclusion, observing an incidence angle gives coaches and players the possibility to evaluate skills of table tennis even in different skill levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]