The Importance Of Stroke In Tennis

Tennis attracts millions of players and fans worldwide, it is one of the most popular sports in the world (Martin et al, 2013). It is a complex sport requiring the player to coordinate moving and hitting the ball with control and optimal power. The player needs to have physical, technical, tactical and mental capabilities as well as needing speed, agility, power and a high aerobic and anaerobic capacity (Fernandez et al, 2013).

There are different strokes in tennis that require different areas of the body to work depending on what stroke is played. The most crucial shot is the serve (Kovacs, 2011); this shot starts the point and gives the player an opportunity to have an advantage. It is the only stroke that is not affected by the opponents …show more content…
It influences stability of the shoulder joint and transfers forces from the legs to the arms (Ebaugh et al, 2010). These movements are crucial for a tennis serve and therefore show its importance in maintaining optimal function in this area (Schacter, 2010). Reinold et al (2013) has suggested that exercises strengthening the scapula stabilising muscles (serratus anterior and trapezius muscles) have shown to be beneficial for overarm athletes. By building up the dynamic stability of these muscles it may prevent them from being overstretched during the serving …show more content…
Research into the positioning of the scapula during the serve is limited, but there may be a possibility that it can have an effect on the whole body. Understanding the relationship between the scapula positioning and the rest of the body may help players to improve the velocity of the serve with minimal effort, therefore preventing the amount of shoulder injuries seen in overhead athletes (Forthomme et al, 2008; Oyama et al