Influence of the opposition on overhead smash velocity in padel players

Abstract

Although it is well established that velocity of execution is an important performance factor in ball sports and the presence of opposition influences it, there has been no research done to date on the ball velocity in padel shots. The overhead smash is one of the most successful shots in this sport, and the present study aimed to study the effect of opposition on smash performance in semi-professional and amateur padel players. Forty-four semi-professional (n=14) and amateur (n=30) players volunteered to participate in this study. The overhead smash velocity was recorded for both groups of players with and without opposition using a radar gun. The ball velocity decreased in both groups of players in the presence of opposition (from 133.1±8.2 km·h-1 to 120.72±9.8 km·h-1 in semi-professional players; and from 124.6±9.2 km·h-1 to 104.5±10.0 km·h-1 in amateurs, p<.001). Although the semi-professional players achieved a greater velocity in both situations (p<.001) compared to amateurs, the reduction of velocity in the presence of opposition was greater in the amateurs (p<.001). The greater velocities for the semi-professional padel players could be attributed to a technical and tactical superiority due to their greater experience and higher level of competition. Simulating conditions of opposition could help reduce the velocity-precision trade-off, helping the players increase their overhead smash velocities.

Analysis of Performance Parameters of the Smash in Male and Female Professional Padel

“…While the men finish off a powerful smash down the line aiming to bring the ball to their field after the bounce on the back wall, the women do the cross court smashes with the aim of getting the ball to go over the side wall of the court (3 m high) [ 20 ]. In this way, the down the line smash, if not done with a lot of power, can cause the ball to bounce off the back wall at the opposite end with less force, offering a very favorable position for the return by the defending players [ 29 ]. With the results, coaches should work mostly on the flat stroke for the men and women, although women have a lower chance of winning than men.…”

“…For example, the use of some contextual variables such as the score (winning, drawing or losing) or the importance of the point (key moment) can influence decision-making in moments of pressure (choking) affecting performance [ 41 ]. In addition, other variables that influence smash effectiveness such as the position of the opponents or the speed of the smash have not been evaluated [ 29 ].…”

“…They are played from the middle and the net area, to maintain a positional advantage and increase the chances of winning a point [16,28]. The success of the smash as a winner depends, amongst other factors, on the area, direction, velocity and accuracy with which is executed [22,29]. The smash has become a very important and decisive shot.…”

The Role of Padel in Improving Physical Fitness and Health Promotion: Progress, Limitations, and Future Perspectives—A Narrative Review

“…One interesting topic, but barely examined so far, is the velocity of execution, with only one previous study about the overhead smash available [ 51 ]. Likewise, available data from a pressurometry and biomechanical study of the foot [ 52 ], and the use of kinematic analysis to find out the existence of visual signals (pre-cues) before hitting the ball [ 53 ], comes from a single previous study.…”

Comparison of service tactic formation on players’ movements and point outcome between national and beginner level padel

“…More than 70% of the rallies in padel are resolved within the first 9 seconds [ 7 , 32 ], and the serve allows players to start the point in the net area, where the vast majority of points are scored (80%) [ 4 ]. This higher percentage of points won by high-level players is to be expected due to greater technical superiority when they hit volleys or smashes [ 43 – 46 ]. Also, servers won between 2–3% more points using the conventional formation.…”