It is well documented that the accurate motor responses of table tennis players are based on a visual system that functions as an efficient cycle to select, capture and process information. Each time they return the ball, players use this information loop that repeats itself many times in the course of a match. As the acquisition or perceptual phase has often been considered to be of primary importance, eye movement studies have highlighted the role of visual tracking during the first part of the ball’s trajectory. However, there is a need consider incoming information from the periphery of vision that can be decisive in whether a serve is successfully returned. Therefore in two experiments, we used temporal and spatial occlusions in which the task was for players to predict the directions of the spin of the ball. Four kind of backhand serves where used: down-spin, no-spin, top-spin and side-spin. The results of the first experiment showed an increase in performance before the impact of the ball. In the second experiment, a decrease in performance was observed when the paddle and the body of the player were occluded. These results show that, for both novices and experts, the most important cues in detecting the spin of the ball are those shown from the paddle just before impact time.

How players detect the spin of the ball during the return of serve in table tennis.

GALMONTE, Alessandra;
2009-01-01

Abstract

It is well documented that the accurate motor responses of table tennis players are based on a visual system that functions as an efficient cycle to select, capture and process information. Each time they return the ball, players use this information loop that repeats itself many times in the course of a match. As the acquisition or perceptual phase has often been considered to be of primary importance, eye movement studies have highlighted the role of visual tracking during the first part of the ball’s trajectory. However, there is a need consider incoming information from the periphery of vision that can be decisive in whether a serve is successfully returned. Therefore in two experiments, we used temporal and spatial occlusions in which the task was for players to predict the directions of the spin of the ball. Four kind of backhand serves where used: down-spin, no-spin, top-spin and side-spin. The results of the first experiment showed an increase in performance before the impact of the ball. In the second experiment, a decrease in performance was observed when the paddle and the body of the player were occluded. These results show that, for both novices and experts, the most important cues in detecting the spin of the ball are those shown from the paddle just before impact time.
2009
9789536378999
visual cues; visual search; sport psychology
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11562/334859
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