Influence of the opposition on overhead smash velocity in padel players.
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2019
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Kinesilogy
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Abstract
Although it is well established that velocity of execution is an important performance factor in ball sports
and the presence of opposition influences it, there has been no research done to date on the ball velocity
in padel shots. The overhead smash is one of the most successful shots in this sport, and the present study
aimed to study the effect of opposition on smash performance in semi-professional and amateur padel players.
Forty-four semi-professional (n=14) and amateur (n=30) players volunteered to participate in this study. The
overhead smash velocity was recorded for both groups of players with and without opposition using a radar
gun. The ball velocity decreased in both groups of players in the presence of opposition (from 133.1±8.2
km·h-1 to 120.72±9.8 km·h-1 in semi-professional players; and from 124.6±9.2 km·h-1 to 104.5±10.0 km·h-1
in amateurs, p<.001). Although the semi-professional players achieved a greater velocity in both situations
(p<.001) compared to amateurs, the reduction of velocity in the presence of opposition was greater in the
amateurs (p<.001). The greater velocities for the semi-professional padel players could be attributed to a
technical and tactical superiority due to their greater experience and higher level of competition. Simulating
conditions of opposition could help reduce the velocity-precision trade-off, helping the players increase their
overhead smash velocities.
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Ball velocity, Racquet sports, Paddle tennis, Performance modification, Performance analysis