Induced variability during the tennis service practice affect the performance of every tennis player individually and specifically

Abstract

The aim of this study was to know if the induced variability during the tennis flat serve has specific and individually effects on the performance achieved. The participants were eight tennis players. Each one performed seven series of twenty flat serves. The shot’s situations were modified within each series, by changing implement and mobile instruments and support points. The ball’s speed was registered and the bounces on the court filmed. These data were later digitalised to calculate the accuracy through radial error. Intra-subject data were analysed and the significance of the produced change was evaluated after every performance series where the variability was applied, compared to the 1^st series where the variability was not applied ‒the tennis players performed as they usually do. Accuracy results show greater falls in amateur tennis players than in expert players in the series of variable performance. Falls are also registered in the ball’s speed in the series of variable performance in both groups, but they are more pronounced in the amateur players’ group. Through these results, we can confirm that induced variability as a means of learning or training affects each player in different ways depending on his/her game level. For this reason, it would be convenient to quantify and individualise the variability load based on the different effects it produces in each player’s performance.