Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Biomechanics of Tennis Strokes

  • Chapter
Biomedical Engineering Principles in Sports

Abstract

The primary goals of the sport biomechanist are to improve athletic performance and to reduce the risk of injury. Biomechanical research has typically involved descriptive studies of the kinematics and kinetics of sport skills, electromyographic studies of muscle activation, and modelling and simulation studies. A sport with a long history of biomechanics research is tennis. Engineering has played a prominent role in tennis research on rackets, balls, shoes, and playing surfaces.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 169.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 299.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Ariel, G., and Braden, V., 1979, Biomechanical analysis of ballistic vs tracking movements in tennis skills, in: Proceedings of a national symposium on the racquet sports, Groppel, J. ed., University of Illinois Press, Champaign, IL, pp. 105–124.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bahamonde, R., 1999, Producing an ‘explosive’ forehand and backhand, in: Applied proceedings of the XVII international symposium on biomechanics in sports: tennis.Elliott, B., Gibson, B., and Knudson, D. eds., Edith Cowan University, Perth, WA, pp. 17– 25.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bahamonde, R., 2000, Changes in angular momentum during the tennis serve, J, Sports Sci. 18: 579–592.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bahamonde, R., and Knudson, D., 1998, Kinetic analysis of the open stance and square stance tennis forehand, Paper presented to the 4th International Conference on Sports Medicine and Science in Tennis,Miami, FL.

    Google Scholar 

  • Blackwell, J. R., and Cole, K. J., 1993, Wrist kinematics differ in expert and novice tennis players performing the backhand stroke: implications for tennis elbow, J. Biomech. 27: 509–516.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Blackwell, J. R., and Knudson, D. 2002, Effect of the type 3 (oversize) tennis ball on serve performance and upper extremity muscle activity, Sports Biomech. 1: 187–192.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Blievernicht, J. G., 1968, Accuracy in the tennis forehand drive: cinematographic analyis, Res. Quart. 39: 776–779.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bragg, R. W., and Andriacchi, T. P., 2001, The lateral reaction step in tennis footwork, in: Proceedings of poster sessions: XIX International Symposium on Biomechanics in Sports, J. R. Blackwell, ed., University of San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, pp. 34–27.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brody, H., 1987a, Tennis Science for Tennis Players, University of Pennsylvania Press, Philadelphia.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brody, H., 1987b, Models of tennis racket impacts, Int. J. Sport Biomech. 3: 293–296.

    Google Scholar 

  • Buckley, J. P., and Kerwin, D. G., 1988, The role of biceps and triceps brachii during tennis serving, Ergonomics, 31: 1621–1629.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Casolo, F., and Ruggieri, G., 1991, Dynamic analysis of the ball-racket impact in the game of tennis, Meccanica, 26: 67–73.

    Article  MATH  Google Scholar 

  • Cox, R. H., Noble, L., and Johnson, R. E., 1982, Effectiveness of the slide and cross-over steps in volleyball blocking—a temporal analysis, Res. Q. Exerc. Sport. 53: 101–107.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cross, R., 2002, Customizing a tennis racquet by adding weights, Sports Eng. 4: 1–14.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Elliott, B., 1982, Tennis: the influence of grip tightness on reaction impulse and rebound velocity, Med. Sci. Sport Exerc. 14: 348–352.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Elliott, B. C, 1988, Biomechanics of the serve in tennis-a biomedical perspective, Sports Med.6: 285–294.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Elliott, B., and Christmass, M., 1995, A comparison of the high and low backspin backhand drives in tennis using different grips, J. Sports Sci. 13: 141–151.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Elliott, B., and Marsh, T., 1989, A biomechanical comparison of the topspin and backspin forehand approach shots in tennis, J. Sports Sci. 7: 215–227.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Elliott, B., Marsh, T., and Overheu, P. 1989a, A biomechanical comparison of the mulitsegment and single unit topspin forehand drives in tennis, Int. J. Sport Biomech. 5: 350–364.

    Google Scholar 

  • Elliott, B. C, Marsh, A. P., and Overheu, P. R., 1989b, The topspin backhand drive in tennis—a biomechanical analysis, J. Hum. Mov. Stud. 16: 1–16.

    Google Scholar 

  • Elliott, B., Takahashi, K., and Noffal, G., 1997, The influence of grip position on upper limb contributions to racket head velocity in a tennis forehand, J. Appl. Biomech. 13: 182–196.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fujisawa, T., Fuchimoto, T., and Kaneko, M., 1997, Joint moments during tennis forehand drive: an analysis of rotational movements on a horizontal plan, in: Abstracts ofXVIISB Tokyo Congress, International Society of Biomechanics,Tokyo, pp. 354.

    Google Scholar 

  • Groppel, J. 1975, A Kinematic Analysis of Topspin and Backspin Techniques in the Tennis Forehand Drive,Unpublished master’s thesis, University of Illinois.

    Google Scholar 

  • Groppel, J., 1992, High Tech Tennis, 2nded., Leisure Press, Champaign, IL.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gregor, R. J., ed. 1997, Mechanics and energetics of the stretch-shortening cycle. [Special issue], J. Appl Biomech. 13: 387–496.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hatze, H., 1993, The relationship between the coefficient of restitution and energy losses in tennis rackets, J. Appl. Biomech. 9: 124–142.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hudson, J. L., 1995, Core concepts in kinesiology. J Phys. Ed. Rec.Dance66: 54–55, 59–60.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hopkins, P. W., 1981,A Comparison of Movement Times Between the Open and Closed Stance for the Tennis Forehand GroundstrokeUnpublished Master’s thesis, Penn State University.

    Google Scholar 

  • lino, Y., and Kojima, T., 2001, Torque acting on the pelvis about its superior-inferior axis through the hip joints during a tennis forehand stroke, J. Hum. Mov. Stud. 40: 269–290.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kibler, W. B., and Safran, M. R., 2000, Musculoskeletal injuries in the young tennis player, Clin. Sports Med. 19: 781–792.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kleinoder, H., and Mester, J., 1998, Stress for the hitting arm by wrist and forearm actions in tennis, [abstract] Int. J. Sports Med. 19: S58.

    Google Scholar 

  • Knudson, D., 1988, An Analysis of Grip Forces and Three-Dimensional Accelerations in the Tennis Forehandd Drive,Doctoral dissertation, University of Wisconsin-Madison.

    Google Scholar 

  • Knudson, D., 1990, Intrasubject variability of upper extremity angular kinematics in the tennis forehand drive, Int. J. Sport Biomech. 6: 415–421.

    Google Scholar 

  • Knudson, D., 1991a, The tennis topspin forehand drive: Technique changes and critical elements, Strategies5: 19–22.

    Google Scholar 

  • Knudson, D., 1991b, Forces on the hand in the tennis one-handed backhand, Int. J. Sport Biomech. 7: 282–292.

    Google Scholar 

  • Knudson, D., 1991c, Factors affecting force loading in the tennis forehand, J. Sports Med. Phys.Fit. 31: 527–531.

    Google Scholar 

  • Knudson, D., 1997, Effect of grip models on rebound accuracy of offcenter tennis impacts, in: Biomechanics in Sports XV,J. Wilkerson, K. Ludwig, and W. Zimmerman, eds., Texas Woman’s University, Denton, TX, pp. 483–487.

    Google Scholar 

  • Knudson, D., 1999a, Using sport science to observe and correct tennis strokes, in: Applied Proceedings of the XVII International Symposium on Biomechanics in Sports, TENNIS, B. Elliott, B. Gibson, and D. Knudson, eds., Edith Cowan University, Perth, Western Australia, pp. 7–16.

    Google Scholar 

  • Knudson, D., 1999b, An open and square stance case, TennisPro, 8: 10–11.

    Google Scholar 

  • Knudson, D., and Bahamonde, R., 1999, Trunk and racket kinematics at impact in the open and square stance tennis forehand, Biol. Sport, 16:3–10.

    Google Scholar 

  • Knudson, D., and Bahamonde, R., 2001, Effect of endpoint conditions on position and velocity near impact in tennis, J. Sports Sci. 19: 839–844.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Knudson, D., and Blackwell, J., 1997, Upper extremity angular kinematics of the one-handed backhand drive in tennis players with and without tennis elbow, Int. J. Sports Med. 18: 79–82.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Knudson, D., and Blackwell, J., 2000, Trunk muscle activation in open stance and square stance tennis forehands, Int. J. Sports Med. 21: 321–324.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Knudson, D., and Morrison, C. S., 2002, Qualitative analysis of human movement, 2nd ed. Human Kinetics,Champaign, IL.

    Google Scholar 

  • Knudson, D., and Shriver, P., 2001, Self-analysis, in: World-class tennis technique P. Roetert and J. Groppel, eds., Human Kinetics, Champaign, IL, pp. 247–262.

    Google Scholar 

  • Knudson, D., and White, S. C, 1989, Forces on the hand in the tennis forehand drive: application of force sensing resistors, Int. J. Sport Biomech. 5: 324–331.

    Google Scholar 

  • Komi, P.V. 1984, Physiological and biomechanical correlates of muscle function: effects of muscle structure and stretch-shortening cycle on force and speed, Exerc. Sports Sci. Rev. 12:81–121.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nab, D., Hennig, E. M, and Schnabel, G. 1998, Ball impact location on a tennis racket head and its influence on ball speed, arm shock, and vibration, in: Proceedings II of the XVI ISBS Symposium,H.H. Riehle and M.M. Vieten eds., Universitatsverlag Konstanz, Konstanz, pp. 229–232.

    Google Scholar 

  • Plagenhoef, S. 1970, Fundamentals of Tennis.Prentice-Hall, Englewood Cliffs, NJ.

    Google Scholar 

  • Plagenhoef, S. 1979, Tennis racket testing related to tennis elbow, in: A National Symposium on the Racket Sports,J. Groppel ed., University of Illinois Press, Champaign, IL, pp. 291–310.

    Google Scholar 

  • Putnam, C, 1991, A segment interaction analysis of proximal-to-distal sequential segment motion patterns, Med. Sci. Sports Exerc. 23: 130–144.

    Google Scholar 

  • Reid, M., and Elliott, B., 2002, The one- and two-handed backhands in tennis, Sports Biomech.1: 47–68.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Riek, S., Chapman, A. E., and Milner, T., 1999, A simulation of muscle force and internal kinematics of extensor carpi radialis brevis during backhand tennis stroke: implications for injury, Clin. Biomech. 14: 477–483.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Roberts, E. M., 1991, Tracking velocity in motion, in: Biomechanics in Sports IX, C.L. Tant, P. E. Patterson, and S. L. York, eds., Iowa State University, Ames, IA, pp. 3–25.

    Google Scholar 

  • Roetert, E. P., Ellenbecker, T. S., Chu, D. A., and Bugg, B. S., 1997, Tennis-specific shoulder and trunk strength training, Strength Cond. 19: 31–39.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sprigings, E., Marshall, R., Elliott, B., and Jennings, L., 1994, A three-dimensional kinematic method for determining the effectiveness of arm segment rotations in producing racquet- head speed, J. Biomech. 27: 245–254.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Steindler, A., 1955, Kinesiology of the Human Body Under Normal and Pathological Conditions,Charles C. Thomas, Springfield, IL.

    Google Scholar 

  • Takahashi, K., Elliott, B., and Noffal, G., 1996, The role of upper limb segment rotations in the development of spin in the tennis forehand, Aus. J. Sci. Med. Sport. 28: 106–113.

    Google Scholar 

  • Van Gheluwe, B., and Hebbelinck, M., 1986, Muscle actions and ground reaction forces in tennis, Int. J. Sport Biomech. 2: 88–99.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang, L., Wu, H., Su, F., and Lo, K., 1998, Kinematics of upper limb and trunk in tennis players using single handed backhand stroke, in: Proceedings of XVI International Symposium on Bbiomechanics in Sports. Riehle, H. and Vieten, M. eds., University of Konstanz, Konstanz, pp. 273–276.

    Google Scholar 

  • Waninger, K. N. and Lombardo, J. A., 1995, Stress fractures of index metacarpal in an adolescent tennis player, Clin. Sports Med. 15:63–66.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilson, G., Elliott, B., and Wood, D, 1991, The effect on performance of imposing a delay during a stretch-shorten cycle movement, Med. Sci. Sport Exerc. 23: 364–370.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Winter, D. A., 1984, Kinematic and kinetic patterns of human gait: variability and compensating effects, Hum. Mov. Sci. 3: 51–76.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wood, G. A., 1982, Data smoothing and differentiation procedures in biomechanics, Exerc. Sports Sci. Rev.10: 308–362.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yamamoto, Y., 1996, The relation between preparatory stance and trunk rotation movements, Hum. Mov. Sci.15: 899–908.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zajac, F. E, and Gordon, M. E., 1989, Determining muscle’s force and action in multiarticular movement, Exerc. Sports Sci. Rev. 17: 187–230.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physical Education and Exercise Science, California State University-Chico, 95929-0330, Chico, CA

    Duane Knudson

  2. School of Human Movement and Exercise Science, The University of Western Australia, 6009, Perth, Australia

    Bruce Elliott

Authors
  1. Duane Knudson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Bruce Elliott
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey, USA

    George K. Hung

  2. Cislunar Aerospace, Inc., San Francisco, California, USA

    Jani Macari Pallis

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2004 Springer Science+Business Media New York

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Knudson, D., Elliott, B. (2004). Biomechanics of Tennis Strokes. In: Hung, G.K., Pallis, J.M. (eds) Biomedical Engineering Principles in Sports. Bioengineering, Mechanics, and Materials: Principles and Applications in Sports, vol 1. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-8887-4_7

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-8887-4_7

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4613-4706-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4419-8887-4

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation