EFFECTS OF USING DIFFERENT MOMENT OF INERTIA OF RACKET ON TENNIS SERVE

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the kinematics and kinetics of tennis flat serve by using different moment of inertia (0.0285, 0.0309, 0.0336, 0.0415 kg*m2) of racket. Inverse dynamics method was used to calculate net joint reaction forces, net muscle joint moments and powers of the wrist, elbow and shoulder during pre- and post- impact. The result indicated the trend that the less moment of inertia generated the greater speed of racket head, but the effect of moment of inertia on the racket’s angular velocity was not obviously. There were similar kinetic patterns among all players while using their own racket, but different patterns while using the racket with maximal moment of inertia. Further, there were relationships existed between racket’s angular velocity and the relative kinetic patterns.