Test–retest Reliability for Hitting Accuracy Tennis Test

Abstract

Strecker, E, Foster, EB, and Pascoe, DD. Test-retest reliability for hitting accuracy tennis test. J Strength Cond Res 25(12): 3501-3505, 2011-The purpose of this investigation was to assess a test-retest reliability of the hitting accuracy tennis test (HATT). Twelve National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) division I tennis players (4 men and 8 women) volunteered to participate in this investigation. Skill tests consisted of 15 consecutive ground strokes in all 4 directions (forehand [FH] and backhand [BH]; crosscourt and up the line) with not >1 minute between directions. The court was divided into 12 areas, and each area was assigned a value according to a grid system based on offensive, defensive, and neutral shots ranging from 1 point to 6 points. Total score, unforced errors, and shot index (total number of shots that landed on optimal performance areas 5 and 6 minus total number of unforced errors) were used for statistical analysis. The order of shot direction was randomized between participants and trials. The analysis of variance with repeated measures (p value ≤ 0.05) of this investigation showed no statistical difference between trials on any of the measurements. The results also suggest that division I level tennis players have the ability to hit accurately specific targets on a tennis court using either FH or BH with minimal daily variation. Therefore, we conclude that the HATT for trained tennis athletes is a simple, reliable, and accurate assessment tool to measure tennis skill performance based on accuracy. The HATT is also an easy, inexpensive training device that coaches can use to monitor players development.

Technical and tactical skills related to performance levels in tennis: A systematic review

“…Compared with other factors, the combination of technical and tactical skills is more likely to differentiate players whose performance levels differ (Vaeyens, Lenoir, Williams, & Philippaerts, 2008). This hypothesis is supported by the findings of other studies, suggesting that these skills may be important for identifying talent and for sporting prowess (Meylan, Cronin, Oliver, & Hughes, 2010;Strecker, Foster, & Pascoe, 2011).…”

“…A player's ball velocity and success rate, combined with ball accuracy, are key determinants of his or her stroke quality (Landlinger, Stöggl, Lindinger, Wagner, & Müller, 2012;Strecker et al, 2011;Vergauwen, Madou, & Behets, 2004). The key role of ball velocity in relation to tennis performance is supported by the findings of Ulbricht, Fernandez-Fernandez, Mendez-Villanueva, and Ferrauti (2016), who measured correlations between players' physical qualities and tennis performance.…”

“…Previous studies have demonstrated that both technical and tactical skills are important for reaching the top ranks in tennis (MacCurdy, 2006;Strecker et al, 2011). The continued interplay of technical and tactical skills assumes critical importance in the winning of every point in a match.…”

Validation of the Hunt Squash Accuracy Test used to assess individual shot performance

“…Reid et al (2013) measured both unforced and forced errors while evaluating the effect of tennis-court surface on technical performance, however neither term was defined. Strecker, Foster, and Pascoe (2011) described tennis unforced errors as the execution of errors that a player should not have executed, but did not establish how that was defined. In contrast, Hughes and Meyers (2005) gave definitions for all possible outcomes from a rally in tennis.…”

Analysis of Technical Level of Romanian Squash Players

“…Squash is lacking in scientific literature in evaluating the shots characteristics accurately competing with other racket sport like tennis (Strecker, Foster, & Pascoe, 2011) or badminton (Sakurai & Ohtsuki, 2000).…”