Optimizing tennis player equipment

In tennis, there are:

RACKET SIZES

TENNIS COURT DIMENSIONS FOR KIDS

COURT SURFACES CATEGORIES

TYPES OF SHOE INSOLES

CHOICE OF EQUIPMENT AND ENVIRONMENT: A DETERMINING FACTOR IN TENNIS PLAYER PERFORMANCE

At the M2S laboratory at Rennes 2 University, we investigate the effects of equipment and environment on tennis biomechanics. The equipment used by the tennis player (racket, strings, chair, balls, playing surface, shoes, etc.) plays a considerable role both in terms of performance and injury risk. For example, in children, the size of the court and the height of the net influence the performance and biomechanics of the serve. Finally, the type of surface has an influence on physiological demands (heart rate, oxygen consumption, lactatemia).

A partnership with Wilson

In 2019, at the M2S laboratory, we worked with the famous equipment manufacturer Wilson on optimizing the characteristics of tennis shoes to improve players’ movement performance and limit the risk of injury to the lower limbs.

A partnership with the Ille et Vilaine tennis committee

In 2021, we collaborated with Nicolas Cantin and the Ille et Vilaine tennis committee to analyze the influence of racket size, net height and court dimensions on the serve biomechanics of young competitors aged 8 to 12.

Results

Main results

Reducing serve distance and net height is an effective training strategy for optimizing young players’ serve biomechanics and performance (ball speed, trunk rotation and leg action) without overloading the joints.

Our results encourage coaches and parents not to increase the racket size of young tennis players (8 – 12 years, local competitors) too quickly.

The torsional stiffness of a tennis shoe has no effect on the duration of a player’s stance or speed of movement. On the other hand, stiffer shoes increase the maximum angle of ankle inversion during lateral forehand movements, and can increase the risk of ankle sprains.

Studies

Infographies

Studies

Publications

Le matériel du joueur de tennis

Martin C. « Le matériel du joueur de tennis », Tennis : Optimisation de la performance, De Boeck Supérieur, 2018

Effects of playing surface (hard and clay courts) on heart rate and blood lactate during tennis matches played by high-level players

Martin C, Thevenet D, Zouhal H, Mornet Y, Delès R, Crestel T, Ben Abderrahman A, Prioux J. « Effects of playing surface (hard and clay courts) on heart rate and blood lactate during tennis matches played by high-level players », Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 25(1):163-170, 2011.

There is no rush to upgrade the tennis racket in young intermediate competitive players: the effects of scaling racket on serve biomechanics and performance

P. Touzard, C. Lecomte, B. Bideau, R. Kulpa, L. Fourel, M. Fadier, N. Cantin, C. Martin. "There is no rush to upgrade the tennis racket in young intermediate competitive players: the effects of scaling racket on serve biomechanics and performance", Frontiers in Psychology, 2023 Feb 10;14:1104146

Do serve distance and net height modify serve biomechanics in young tennis players?

M. Fadier, P. Touzard, C. Lecomte, B. Bideau, N. Cantin, C. Martin. "Do serve distance and net height modify serve biomechanics in young tennis players?" International Journal of Sports Science & Coaching, 2022, 1-8

Influence of shoe torsional stiffness on foot and ankle biomechanics during tennis forehand strokes

C. Martin, P. Touzard, N. Horvais, P. Puchaud, R. Kulpa, B. Bideau, A. Sorel. "Influence of shoe torsional stiffness on foot and ankle biomechanics during tennis forehand strokes", European Journal of Sport Science, 2022