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Racket orientation angle differences between accurate and inaccurate squash shots, as determined by a racket embedded magnetic-inertial measurement unit

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submitted on 2025-05-08, 06:36 and posted on 2025-05-08, 06:38 authored by Benjamin K. Williams, Ross H. Sanders, Joong Hyun Ryu, Philip Graham-Smith, Peter J. Sinclair

Ascertaining how racket orientation angle differences at ball-impact influence the accuracy of different squash strokes could assist player skill development and possibly reduce the number of unforced errors hit within a match. The purpose of this study was to identify differences in racket orientation angles of accurate and inaccurate forehand and backhand drive, volley and drop shots. A magnetic-inertial measurement unit embedded in a racket output orientation angles of twelve male junior players, with five accurate and five inaccurate shots per player per stroke analysed. Paired samples t-tests revealed that inaccurate backhand drop shots exhibited significantly (p < 0.05) less racket roll angle (racket face less open) at impact than accurate shots, indicating this parameter was a determining factor in the accuracy of this stroke. Racket orientation angle differences between accurate and inaccurate shots of the remaining strokes were too small to be used to distinguish shot accuracy. There was significantly greater variability in racket orientation angles during inaccurate forehand drop and backhand drive shots compared to accurate shots. These findings demonstrate how racket orientation angle differences at ball-impact can influence the accuracy of shots and highlights the need for consistent racket orientations to allow for an accurate shot.

Other Information

Published in: Sports Biomechanics
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
See article on publisher's website: https://dx.doi.org/10.1080/14763141.2021.1892175

Funding

Open Access funding provided by the Qatar National Library.

History

Language

  • English

Publisher

Routledge

Publication Year

  • 2021

License statement

This Item is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Institution affiliated with

  • Aspire Academy

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