The correlation between table tennis players' reaction agility and stroke effect.

This study aimed to examine the influence of sport skill levels on behavioural and neuroelectric performance in visuospatial attention and memory visuospatial tasks were administered to 54 participants, including 18 elite and 18 amateur table tennis players and 18 nonathletes, while event-related potentials were recorded. In all the visuospatial attention and memory conditions, table tennis players displayed faster reaction times than nonathletes, regardless of skill level, although there was no difference in accuracy between groups. In addition, regardless of task conditions, both player groups had a greater P3 amplitude than nonathletes, and elite players exhibited a greater P3 amplitude than amateurs players. The results of this study indicate that table tennis players, irrespective of their skill level, exhibit enhanced visuospatial capabilities. Notably, athletes at the elite level appear to benefit from an augmented allocation of attentional resources when engaging in visuospatial tasks.

We investigated the electromyographic response to synchronous indirect-localized vibration interventions in international and national table tennis players. Twenty-six male table tennis players, in a standing position, underwent firstly an upper arms maximal voluntary contraction and thereafter two different 30-s vibration interventions in random order: high acceleration load (peak acceleration = 12.8 g, frequency = 40 Hz; peak-to-peak displacement = 4.0 mm), and low acceleration load (peak acceleration = 7.2 g, frequency = 30 Hz, peak-to-peak displacement = 4.0 mm). Surface electromyography root mean square from brachioradialis, extensor digitorum, flexor carpi radialis, and flexor digitorum superficialis recorded during the two vibration interventions was normalized to the maximal voluntary contraction recording. Normalized surface electromyography root mean square was higher in international table tennis players with respect to national ones in all the interactions between muscles and vibration conditions (P < 0.05), with the exception of flexor carpi radialis (at low acceleration load, P > 0.05). The difference in normalized surface electromyography root mean square between international table tennis players and national ones increased in all the muscles with high acceleration load (P < 0.05), with the exception of flexor digitorum superficialis (P > 0.05). The muscle activation during indirect-localized vibration seems to be both skill level and muscle dependent. These results can optimize the training intervention in table tennis players when applying indirect-localized vibration to lower arm muscles. Future investigations should discriminate between middle- and long-term adaptations in response to specific vibration loads.

This multiple-case study addresses the question of how information from the environment is integrated with mental images. Chess players (N = 4) of different skill levels were submitted to a visual imagery task with familiar stimuli (chess positions) and unfamiliar stimuli (boards containing shapes). A position that remained unchanged and a grid in which moves were displayed using a standard chess notation familiar to the participants were visually presented. The participants’ task was to mentally reproduce a sequence of moves from the original position. Retention of updated positions was assessed with a memory task. Eye movements were recorded during the entire experiment. We found that (a) players performed better with familiar than with unfamiliar stimuli; (b) there was a strong correlation between skill level and performance in the familiar, but not the unfamiliar condition; (c) players used the external board as an external memory store; but (d) there was no difference in the extent to which players of different skill levels shifted their attention to the external board. Using control tasks unrelated to chess, we established that the skilled and unskilled players did not differ with respect to general cognitive abilities. These results emphasize the role of long-term memory in expertise and suggest that players use processes that enable them to smoothly combine information from the environment with mental images.

The diameter and weight of different brands of table tennis ball will affect the ball’s elasticity and stroke. The purpose of this study is to analyze the difference of the dynamic elasticity and stroke effect between the two brands of new plastic ball. A self-made experiment was designed to test the dynamic elasticity characteristics of DHS D40 + and Nittaku 40+. Table tennis players (N = 18) were randomly selected from the China Table Tennis College (Mage = 15.16 ± 2.41; Mheight = 1.59 ± 0.32 m; Mweight = 45.72 ± 5.17 kg). Each participant was righthand shake-hands grip. A speedometer was used to record the ball speed and a high-speed camera was used to measure the spin speed. Data normality was verified by using the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. The independent t-test was conducted to assess the differences of the dynamic elasticity and stroke effect between the two types of plastic ball. Results showed that the rebound speed and decrement rate of DHS D40 + and Nittaku 40 + both increased with the increased falling speed, respectively. When falling at high speed, there was a significant difference of dynamic elasticity between DHS D40 + and Nittaku 40+ (p < 0.01). There was also a significant difference in the ball speed and spin speed between the two types of new material seamed plastic ball during the backhand backspin stroke (p = 0.041, p = 0.022, respectively), and the ball speed and spin speed of DHS D40 + were higher than that of Nittaku 40 + ball. Compared with the DHS D40+, the Nittaku 40 + has a faster rebound speed, higher rebound height, and better dynamic elasticity. Therefore, under same striking conditions, when hitting the Nittaku 40 + ball, players need to increase the swing distance and hit the ball with more strength to improve the ball speed and rotation speed; increase the spin and decrease the ball’s rebound height of the serve.

BACKGROUNDShoulder is the most injured part in table tennis players, and it takes multiple roles in transmitting power and striking the center of the ball during the stroke. Proprioception is strongly correlated with high level of athletic performance. It is customary to assume that there is a correlation between proprioception and muscle strength and therefore proprioceptive assessment and rehabilitation is often neglected.AIMTo investigate the correlation between isokinetic muscle strength and proprioception in the internal and external rotation muscle groups of elite Chinese male table tennis players, to provide reference for physical training and rehabilitation of elite table tennis players.METHODSA total of 19 national elite table tennis players from the Chinese National Table Tennis Team were recruited in this research. All of them had more than 10 years training experience and had participated major competitions such as the National Games and World Youth Championships. IsoMed 2000 was used to test the peak torque of internal and external rotation isokinetic concentric contraction of the athletes' bilateral shoulder joints at low speed (60°/s) and high speed (180°/s) respectively; IsoMed 2000 was used to conduct the Joint Position Reproduction test to evaluate the athletes' proprioceptive ability capacity at low speed (60°/s) and high speed (180°/s) respectively. If the data satisfied the normal distribution, the correlation between the differences in peak torque s and angles in different directions was analyzed using a Pearson simple linear model; otherwise, Spearman correlation analysis was used. The comparison of proprioceptive ability between the table tennis racket-holding hand and non-racket-holding hands was performed using independent samples t-test if the data satisfied a normal distribution; otherwise, the Mann-Whitney U test was used.RESULTSThere was no direct linear correlation between the strength and proprioceptive correlation analysis at slow speed (60°/s) and fast speed (180°/s) in the racket-holding hand; At the slow speed (60°/s) and fast speed (180°/s), there was no correlation between muscle strength and proprioception in the non-racket-holding hand except for the internal rotation variable error (VE) and external rotation relative peak torque, which showed a moderate positive correlation (r = 0.477, P < 0.05), (r = 0.554, P < 0.05). The internal rotation’s constant error (CE) and VE were 1.06 ± 3.99 and 2.94 ± 2.16, respectively, for the racket-holding hand, and -3.36 ± 2.39 and 1.22 ± 0.93, respectively, for the non-racket-holding hand; the internal rotation’s CE, VE of the racket-holding hand was lower than that of the non-racket-holding hand, and there was a highly significant difference (P < 0.01).CONCLUSIONThere was no correlation between muscle strength and proprioceptive function in the internal and external rotation of the racket-holding hand’s shoulder in elite Chinese male table tennis players. These results may be useful for interventions for shoulder injuries and for the inclusion of proprioceptive training in rehabilitation programs.

Gender differences in coping among elite table tennis players

Movement variability and skill level of various throwing techniques

Athletes’ risk decision-making significantly influences competitive performance; however, current research remains controversial regarding how framing effects, competitive state, and time pressure affect risk decisions among athletes of different skill levels. Through two experiments, this study investigated the effects of frame type (positive/negative), competitive state (leading/trailing), and time pressure (high/low) on risk decision-making among tennis players of varying proficiency levels. Both Experiments 1 and 2 recruited 120 tennis players (40 participants each in expert, skilled, and novice groups, with a male-to-female ratio of 3:1). The findings revealed that: (1) The novice group exhibited the highest susceptibility to framing effects, maintaining this characteristic even under high time pressure; (2) the skilled group demonstrated distinctive “transitional characteristics,” showing susceptibility to framing effects without time pressure but shifting toward extremely conservative decisions under high time pressure; (3) the expert group displayed the most stable decision-making patterns, primarily basing decisions on competitive state—adopting conservative strategies when leading and aggressive strategies when trailing, with minimal influence from framing effects and time pressure. The study demonstrates significant differences in risk decision-making characteristics across skill levels: novices possess immature decision-making mechanisms and are readily influenced by emotional and external factors; skilled players are in a developmental phase of decision-making ability, exhibiting notable context dependency; whereas experts demonstrate mature decision-making mechanisms, capable of making stable strategic choices based on competitive state. These findings provide novel theoretical perspectives for understanding the developmental patterns and influencing factors of athletes’ risk decision-making.

Despite a growing interest in emotions in sport psychology, little has been written about the contextual elements triggering athletes’ emotional experience. This single case study aimed to analyze the inducers of an elite table tennis player’s emotional experience throughout his career. He was ranked among the 15 best players in the world, and his career spanned more than 20 years. Inspired by the critical-incident method, we conducted a lengthy interview with the player, during which he related the most significant moments of his career. The categorization of the 96 critical incidents collected highlighted four inducers of positive emotions and five inducers of negative emotions, emerging over five periods (exponential progression, first difficulties, major difficulties, second career, and end of career). These findings contribute to the development of an innovative single-case-study design, allowing an understanding of the contextual origin of athletes’ emotions over the long term. Finally, highlights are discussed and recommendations for the practice of sport psychology are formulated.

The Purpose of the study was to compare the selected Physical and Physiological variables of High and Low Performance of Men Table Tennis Players. For the purpose of the study fifteen university (15) and fifteen non-university (15), male table tennis players were selected. Their age was ranged between 18-25 years. The selected physical and physiological variables were BMI (body mass index), flexibility, and Vital Capacity. Flexibility was measured through Sit and Reach Test, BMI was measured through a Bioelectrical Impedance analyzer and vital capacity was measured through Spirometer. The flexibility of the subjects was measured in centimeters. Body Mass Index of subjects was measured latent scores. Vital capacity of the subjects was measured in liters. Mean and standard deviation was used as descriptive statistics and an independent t-test was as a statistical technique in the study. The level of significance was set at 0.05. The result showed no significant difference in Body Mass Index and Flexibility between the university and non-university players but showed a significant difference in Vital Capacity.

An investigation of the lower limb and trunk movements in the long chest pass for female basketball players of different skill levels

Commercial games possess various methods of game balancing. Each of them modifies the game's entertainment value for players of different skill levels. This paper deals with one of them, viz. a way of automatically adapting a game's balance which is based on the theory of incongruity. We tested our approach on a group of subjects, who played a game with three difficulty settings. The idea is to maintain a specific difference in incongruity automatically. We tested our idea extensively and may report that the results coincide with the theory of incongruity as far as positive incongruity is concerned. The main conclusion is that, owing to our automatically maintained balanced difficulty setting, we can avoid that a game becomes boring or frustrating.

Interpersonal coordination analysis of tennis players from different levels during official matches

In a series of 3 experiments, the authors examined the ability of badminton players of different skill levels (12 experts and 12 nonexperts) to anticipate the direction of badminton strokes. Participants viewed either film or point-light displays under a range of temporal or spatial occlusion conditions. World-class players were able to consistently pick up useful predictive information from the advance (precontact) kinematics of both the lower body and the racquet when the motion of those features was presented in isolation, whereas recreational players' use of the same information depended on the concurrent presence of linked segments. Participants' information pickup closely matched key biomechanical changes in the movement pattern being viewed, although, contrary to a common-coding view of perception and action (e.g., W. Prinz, 1997), some important differences were evident between the characteristics of the experts' movement prediction and those of expert movement production.

The attribute of speed serves the motor performance and gives it the required effectiveness, and the attributes of strength and speed together serve the motor performance so that it performs properly and effectively, thus the ability to score points in the shortest possible time and win against the competitor. The importance of the research lies in preparing special exercises to develop attention aspects and the forehand and backhand skills in table tennis for players according to the correct performance of the skill. From this standpoint, the researcher turned to this study, believing that these special exercises will contribute to developing the physical and skill levels of table tennis players. The research problem was noticed by the researchers through their previous experiences as practitioners of the game in the weakness of attention aspects among table tennis players. The researcher believes that the reason for this is that most coaches do not use modern devices during their training for skills, as they usually rely on traditional methods in implementing and teaching the skill to beginners. Therefore, the researcher decided to add some modern techniques during her study of this problem by trying to use special exercises to develop attention aspects and some table tennis skills for players. The research aims to prepare special exercises to develop attention aspects and some table tennis skills for players, and to identify the effect of special exercises in developing attention aspects and some table tennis skills for players, Conclusions, the results showed that there is a positive effect of special exercises in developing attention aspects (focus – transfer – distribution) among table tennis players aged (12-14) years. The results also showed that there is a positive effect of special exercises in developing some table tennis skills for players aged (12-14) years.