Anthropometric And Motor Fitness Correlates Of Tennis Skill Performance: An Analysis Of Backhand Volley, Backhand Stroke, And Slice

Abstract

This study explores the relationship between selected anthropometric characteristics and motor fitness variables with three essential tennis skills say backhand volley, backhand stroke, and slice. Recognizing the importance of physical and motor attributes in optimizing tennis performance, the research focuses on how variations in body structure (standing height, leg length, upper arm girth, and thigh girth) and fitness components (speed, grip strength, agility, power, flexibility, and reaction time) influence skill execution. Using Pearson correlation coefficients, the linear associations between these independent variables and the three tennis skills were analysed. The analysis revealed that standing height had a significant positive correlation with backhand volley performance (r = 0.275, p = 0.034), suggesting a performance advantage for taller players. Agility showed a moderate negative correlation with backhand volley (r = -0.250, p = 0.054), indicating that improved agility may enhance performance, though the result was not statistically significant. In the case of the backhand stroke, while the motor fitness data were not analysable due to data errors, significant positive correlations were observed with standing height (r = 0.349, p = 0.006) and leg length (r = 0.372, p = 0.003), implying a biomechanical advantage for taller players with longer lower limbs. For the slice shot, flexibility demonstrated a strong and statistically significant positive correlation (r = 0.715, p = 0.016), while agility also showed a meaningful relationship (r = 0.123, p = 0.422), underscoring the importance of mobility and body control. These findings underline the relevance of specific anthropometric and motor traits in improving tennis skills and suggest practical implications for athlete selection, skill development, and personalized training strategies in competitive tennis.