SPEED AND SPIN OF 40MM TABLE TENNIS BALL AND THE EFFECTS ON ELITE PLAYERS

Abstract

The 40mm table tennis ball has been officially used by ITTF since October 2000. The aim of this study was to identify the characteristics of the large (40mm) ball and the effects on the technique of elite players. In this study, Singapore elite players received both topspin and backspin balls from a robot. Three video cameras were applied to capture video data of Singapore elite players for three-dimensional motion analysis at a rate of 200 fields/second. Both speed and spin of 38mm and 40mm balls were calculated. The men and women players of different styles using different techniques including attack, loop and service, were analyzed and compared quantitatively and the effects of these differences on these elite players is discussed.