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Evaluate serve mechanics to improve consistency and maximize energy transfer to the ball.

Dimensions

Required Inputs for processing:
  • handedness: the handedness of the batter [‘left’, ‘right’]

Quick Reference

Events Phases Metrics

Events

MetricDescriptionColumn Name
Initiationthe start of the tennis serve
Ball Releasethe estimated timing of ball toss release
Low Armthe low point of the dominant arm prior to ball contact
Max Shoulder ERthe instant of maximum shoulder external rotation between ball release and apex
Apexmaximum height of the dominant-side wrist joint center during the serve
Terminationend of the tennis serve

Phases

PhaseStageStartEndEvent or Phase
PreparationStartInitiationInitiationEvent
PreparationReleaseInitiationBall ReleasePhase
PreparationLoadingBall ReleaseLow ArmPhase
PreparationCockingLow ArmMax Sho ERPhase
AccelerationAccelerationMax Sho ERBall ContactPhase
AccelerationContact BallContact BallContactEvent
Follow ThruDeccelerationBall ContactTerminationPhase
Follow ThruFinishTerminationTerminationEvent

Metrics

MetricUnitsDescriptionColumn Name
HandednessN/AHandedness of the athlete.
Stance PositionN/AClassification of serve stance position. Options are ‘platform’ or ‘pinpoint’
Loading Phase Max Knee Flexion Front LegdegreesMaximum amount of front leg knee flexion during the loading phase of the serve
Loading Phase Max Knee Flexion Back LegdegreesMaximum amount of back leg knee flexion during the loading phase of the serve
Loading Phase Trunk TiltdegreesMaximum amount of trunk side-side tilt towards the rear during the loading phase of the serve
Loading Phase Pelvis TiltdegreesMaximum amount of pelvis side-side tilt towards the rear during the loading phase of the serve
Loading Phase Shoulder Hip SeparationdegreesMaximum difference in rotation of the shoulders and hips during the loading phase of the serve
Loading Phase Ball Release AngledegreesAngle between wrist and shoulders at the instance of ball release. 90 degrees would be exactly in front of the non-dominant shoulder, 180 degrees would be sideways completely horizontal.
Cocking Phase Max Shoulder External RotationdegreesMaximum amount of shoulder external rotation during the cocking phase of the serve
Cocking Phase Shoulder HyperangulationdegreesMaximum amount of shoulder horizontal abduction during the cocking phase of the serve
Acceleration Phase Max Knee Extension Velocity Front Legdegrees/secondMaximum knee extension velocity of the front leg during the acceleration phase of the serve
Acceleration Phase Max Knee Extension Velocity Back Legdegrees/secondMaximum knee extension velocity of the back leg during the acceleration phase of the serve
Contact Phase Elbow FlexiondegreesAmount of elbow flexion at apex
Contact Phase Shoulder AbductiondegreesAmount of shoulder abduction at apex
Contact Phase X FactordegreesAngle between the shoulders to hips in the transverse plane (twisting) at apex
Contact Phase Trunk TiltdegreesDegrees of side-side trunk tilt at apex
Peak Torso Forward Angular Velocitydegrees/secondPeak forward angular velocity of the torso segment in the serve direction
Peak Upper Arm Forward Angular Velocitydegrees/secondPeak forward angular velocity of the upper arm segment in the serve direction
Peak Forearm Forward Angular Velocitydegrees/secondPeak forward angular velocity of the forearm segment in the serve direction
Kinematic SequenceN/ASequence of peak forward angular velocities. Optimal sequence is ‘torso-upper_arm-forearm’
Contact Phase Wrist Velocitymeters/secondLinear speed of the wrist joint center at apex
Contact Phase Wrist HeightmetersHeight of the wrist at apex measured from the ground
Forearm Forward Angular Velocitydeg/sTime series values of the instantaneous forward angular velocity (serve direction) of the forearm segment. Evaluate near apex (ball contact event) to visualize kinematic sequencingforearm_forward_angular_velocity
Upper Arm Forward Angular Velocitydeg/sTime series values of the instantaneous forward angular velocity (serve direction) of the upper arm segment. Evaluate near apex (ball contact event) to visualize kinematic sequencingupper_arm_forward_angular_velocity
Torso Forward Angular Velocitydeg/sTime series values of the instantaneous forward angular velocity (serve direction) of the torso segment. Evaluate near apex (ball contact event) to visualize kinematic sequencingtorso_forward_angular_velocity

Notes

  • Kinematic data typically captured at 240Hz for Tennis Overhand Serve