The dynamic impact characteristics of tennis balls with tennis rackets

HAAKE, Steve, CARRE, M. J. and GOODWILL, S. R. (2003). The dynamic impact characteristics of tennis balls with tennis rackets. Journal of sports sciences, 21 (10), 839-850.

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Abstract

The dynamic properties of six types of tennis balls were measured using a force platform and high-speed digital video images of ball impacts on rigidly clamped tennis rackets. It was found that the coefficient of restitution reduced with velocity for impacts on a rigid surface or with a rigidly clamped tennis racket. Pressurized balls had the highest coefficient of restitution, which decreased by 20% when punctured. Pressureless balls had a coefficient of restitution approaching that of a punctured ball at high speeds. The dynamic stiffness of the ball or the ball-racket system increased with velocity and pressurized balls had the highest stiffness, which decreased by 35% when punctured. The characteristics of pressureless balls were shown to be similar to those of punctured balls at high velocity and it was found that lowering the string tension produced a smaller range of stiffness or coefficient of restitution. It was hypothesized that players might consider high ball stiffness to imply a high coefficient of restitution. Plots of coefficient of restitution versus stiffness confirmed the relationship and it was found that, generally, pressurized balls had a higher coefficient of restitution and stiffness than pressureless balls. The players might perceive these parameters through a combination of sound, vibration and perception of ball speed off the racket.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	dynamic testing, feel, tennis, tennis balls, tennis rackets
Research Institute, Centre or Group - Does NOT include content added after October 2018:	Centre for Sports Engineering Research
Identification Number:	https://doi.org/10.1080/0264041031000140329
Page Range:	839-850
Depositing User:	Ann Betterton
Date Deposited:	15 Dec 2008
Last Modified:	18 Mar 2021 11:01
URI:	https://shura.shu.ac.uk/id/eprint/641

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