The aim of the present study was to determine statistical differences in a set of badminton competition matches in five different modalities with regard to competition level (Group Phase vs. Eliminatory Phase). Data from 453 sets (125 in men’s singles; 108 sets in women’s singles; 77 sets in men’s doubles; 73 in women’s doubles and 70 in mixed doubles) from the RIO 2016 Olympics Games were recorded and classified in two groups of variables to analyze variables related to match (5) and set (15). A descriptive analysis and univariate test (Mann–Whitney U) for non-parametric data were conducted. The results show in men’s and women’s singles all the variables related to match were higher in the Elimination Phase than in the Group Phase ( p < 0.01). In Sets 1 and 3, the longest set duration, rally and average rally were found in the Elimination Phase than Group Stage ( p < 0.05). In women’s singles, these differences were also recorded in Set 2. For doubles, the results are more stable among groups. Men’s doubles had a longer duration of the match and set (sets 1 and set 2) ( p < 0.01), and also scored highest for average rally strokes (sets 1 3) ( p < 0.05) and shuttles used in the Elimination Phase vs. the Group Phase along the match ( p < 0.01). In women’s doubles, more shuttles were used in a match in the Elimination than in the Group Phase. Moreover, the same results are established for Set 2, including for average rally. Mixed doubles saw no match going to three sets. However, the greatest differences showed a longer rally and average rally being registered in the Elimination than in the Group Phase. In conclusion, the timing factors of the badminton singles and doubles games were different in the Elimination and Group Phases. This information may help players and coaches prepare and administer different types of workouts or, more specifically, competition schedules adapted to the characteristics of modern badminton.

The aim of the present study was to analyse the scientific production in the sport of badminton. Publications were collected from the main collection of "Web of Science" platform, specifically from Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI) and Art & Humanities Citation Index (A&HCI) databases for the period 2007-2017, obtaining a total of 122 items. The analysis assessed annual trend of published articles from 2007 to 2017, country distribution of publications, first author's institution distribution of publications, first author's productivity, average number of authors per article, major journals, average number of citations per article, thematic area, sample characteristics and modality. Among the most relevant conclusions are the number of publications on badminton has increased significantly from 2007 to 2017, more specifically in the last 4 years (2014-2017); Asian and European countries have the highest productivity index, both continents with great trend in badminton, coinciding, in turn, with institutions and first authors; health and training are the most studied thematic areas, whose main disciplines are sports medicine and theory of sports training. This type of studies provides baseline information on future research directions in badminton.

The aim of this study was to examine differences in the performance indicators between winners and losers in male and female high-level tennis players. One hundred twenty-eight tennis singles matches played on grass court surface of London 2012 Olympic Games were analyzed. Data were collected from the official website of the Olympics and the following groups of variables were analyzed: serve variables (n=7), serve return variables (n=3) and game related variables (n=5). The results showed that winners had greater (p<0.05) values of second serve (%), aces, first and second serve points won (%), points won on first and second serve return (%), break points played and break points won (%). Furthermore, they get more, winners with both groundstrokes and net points won (%) than losers in both sexes. Furthermore, losers committed more doubles faults than winners, and in male category more unforced errors, whereas female winners get higher serve maximum speed (p<0.05). Performance indicators according to the result of the match predicted that break points won, first serve points won (%) and first serve return points won (%) are the most relevant variables in males (SC = .434; SC = .340; SC = .327), whereas it was the break points won (SC =-.372) in females. Therefore, coaches should consider the variation of the competition statistics by gender if they want enhance the chances of success of their players.

Technical and tactical actions are decisive in terms of badminton player competitive performance. The main objective of this research was to design, validate, and estimate the reliability of an observational instrument for the analysis of the tactical and technical actions in individual badminton. The process was carried out in four different steps: first, there was a review of the scientific literature and a preliminary list of variables was made; second, a qualitative and quantitative assessment was completed by 10 badminton expert judges; in the third step, the content validity was estimated using Aiken’s V coefficient; finally, intra-observer reliability and interobserver reliability were tested by two observers specialized in badminton using the Cohen’s Kappa coefficient and the intraclass correlation coefficient. Strokes were used as the unit of measure by our observational instrument; every time badminton players hit the shuttlecock, 22 variables (eight contextual variables, seven variables related to the result of the match, and seven variables related to the game) are observed. The minimum Aiken’s value was 0.58, and reliability was 0.63. In spite of these values, none of the variables had to be removed, but there were modifications in terms of drafting in some of them. The main findings confirmed the validity and the usefulness of this instrument.

Scaling equipment and the playing space according to junior badminton players’ characteristics and needs is a key aspect to design optimal learning environments. The purpose of the study is to analyze the incidence of reducing the court size (from 13.40 m × 5.18 m to 11.88 m × 5.18 m) and net height (from 1.55 m to 1.30 m) for under-11 badminton players on the following technical and tactical variables: (a) service area; (b) stroke effectiveness; (c) kinds of technical strokes; (d) players’ hitting area; (e) shuttle landing area; (f) shuttle flight; and (g) rally length. Twenty-eight badminton players (mean age of players: 9.81 ± 0.93) were selected and played a badminton competition (B) with the current federative rules and a mini-badminton competition (MB) with the altered net height and court dimensions. The results showed that a lower net height and a shorter court would increase the frequency and variability of strokes and play patterns, introducing quantifiable changes considered beneficial for children in their first stages, both in training and competition.

The aim of this study was to compare the serve statistics profile of male and female high-level tennis players. In all, 111 tennis singles matches of the Roland Garros 2015 tennis tournament were collected and 10 variables related to first and second serve were analyzed according to service box (deuce and advantage sides) and landing location (wide, body and T-areas). The results show: (a) men served faster than women; (b) men served a higher percentage of serves at T-area on deuce side (35.0 vs 27.7%) and at the wide zone on advantage side (44.1 vs 36.7%) with first serves, while women hit more to the body on both sides; (c) men won a higher percentage of points with their first serve compared to women at any zone on both sides, except for the T-area on deuce side; (d) with their second serve, men placed a greater percentage of serves in the T-area on deuce side (28.0 vs 21.8%) and wide on the advantage side, whereas women directed more to the body on the advantage side (41.4 vs 33.5%); (e) men won a higher percentage of points with their second serve when they placed it to the body zone on deuce side (54.1 vs 47.1%) and at the T-area on the advantage side (64.4% vs 44.1%). Our conclusions are that with respect to gender, players showed differing serve patterns. Men served faster, with higher success and placed their serves more frequently to the external areas of the service boxes, while women directed a higher percentage of serves to the body of their opponent. Zusammenfassung Das Ziel der Untersuchung bestand im Vergleich der Aufschlagstatistik zwischen männlichen und weiblichen Spitzenspielern. 111 Tenniseinzelspiele auf Sandplätzen (Roland Garros 2015) wurden nach 10 Beobachtungskriterien für den ersten und zweiten Aufschlag von der Einstandund Vorteilseite und hinsichtlich der Aufschlagrichtung (außen, Körper oder Mitte) analysiert. Die Ergebnisse zeigen: (a) Männer servierten schneller als Frauen; (b) Männer platzierten einen höheren Prozentsatz der ersten Aufschläge in den T-Bereich auf der Einstandseite (35,0 % vs. 27,7 %) und von der Vorteilseite nach außen (44,1 % vs. 36,7 %), während Frauen auf beiden Seiten mehr auf den Körper platzierten; (c) Männer gewannen beim ersten Aufschlag einen höheren Prozentsatz an Punkten als Frauen, mit Ausnahme von Aufschlägen in den T-Bereich auf der Einstandseite; (d) mit dem zweiten Aufschlag von der Einstandseite platzierten die Männer häufiger in die T-Zone (28,0 % vs. 21,8 %), während die Frauen auf der Vorteilseite mehr auf den Körper aufschlugen (41,4 % vs. 33,5 %); (e) Männer gewannen mit ihrem zweiten Aufschlag einen höheren Prozentsatz an Punkten, wenn sie ihn von der Einstandseite auf den Körper (54,1 % vs. 47,1 %) und von der Vorteilseite in die T-Zone platzierten (64,4 % vs. 44,1 %). Daraus lässt sich schließen, dass die Spieler je nach Geschlecht unterschiedliche Aufschlagmuster aufweisen. Männer servierten schneller und mit höherer Erfolgsrate. Sie platzierten ihre Aufschläge häufiger in die Außenbereiche des Aufschlagsfelds, während Frauen zu einem höh...

The aim of this study was to analyse statistical differences in men’s and women’s singles badminton competitions at the London and Rio Olympic Games. Forty-five matches (128 sets in total) played at the 2012 and 2016 Olympics in badminton were analysed. Variables related to the match (6) and each set (13) were determined. The results show the longest rally in sets 1 and 3, the biggest come back to win the game in set 2, and that the duration of set 3 for men was longer in Rio than in London. All of the women’s sets had longer duration, and the rally length and the number of strokes per rally was also longer in Rio versus London. In conclusion, the timing factors of badminton singles were dissimilar in London 2012 and Rio 2016 for both men and women. This information may help players and coaches manage different workout types or, more specifically, competition schedules that are adapted to suit modern badminton’s characteristics.