Body Part Dominance Information

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Body Part Dominance

Evaluation Test

TM


The Body Part Dominance of an athlete is by far the most significant limiting factor in developing sound technical fundamentals in the Formative (upto age 9) and Foundation years (9–13). The intrinsic link between physical abilities and technical skill development often determines how technically complete a player can become during the latter stages of their career. The implications of not addressing a players BPD is often seen in the Preparation years (12-‐16) and beyond in the form of limited strategical and tactical abilities all driven by ineffective technique and limiting physical capacities. While we traditionally use the dominant hand to distinguish Right and Left handed players, we can test other parts of the body – feet / leg / hip / shoulder and eye to establish a preference for the right or left side of the body. Addressing a players BPD before the end of their foundation years gives them the best possible chance to realise their athletic potential in tennis. The aim of this evaluation is to establish the dominant side of the body in your player and outline how this dominance both enhances and inhibits technical development in all strokes.

Coaching Point: The BPD outlined below, reference the strokes that the body part enhances. The opposite applies for those strokes that it inhibits. These have not been referenced for the sake of brevity. All examples are outlined for right handed player. To

establish which strokes a body part impacts for a left handed player, substitute right hand for left and opposite body part side. (E.g. right hip dominance enhances Forehand rotation for a right handed player; hence, left hip dominance enhances Forehand rotation for a left handed player). Likewise, you can establish which stroke a body part inhibits by substituting the opposite body part side when evaluating a player, or players of the same hand dominance. (E.g. right hip dominance enhances forehand rotation (right handed player); hence, left hip dominance inhibits forehand rotation). Each stoke has primary and secondary BPD influences. For groundstrokes, the three primary body parts that influence groundstrokes are hips, shoulders and hand (double handed backhand). Leg and foot dominance are secondary factors and eye dominance plays a tertiary role. When evaluating the impact leg dominance has on technique, observe weight shifts and initial natural stances (preferred leg) when moving to the ball and recovering. Leg dominance plays a more significant role for volleys as there is little to no hip rotation during execution; as well as the Serve, where leg extension will occur. Foot dominance will influence a player’s ability to plant their foot in a ‘heel to toe’ action when setting up for a shot as well as the ability to turn the foot out to achieve efficient movement around the court. Foot dominance can also assist by initiating leg extension in the serve. Hip and shoulder dominance can be observed in the initial phase of the forward swing on groundstroke's and upward swing in the serve.

CBD – Body Part Dominance

TM

Body Part Dominance & Technique


While both eyes track the ball, your dominant eye’s perspective is where your brain thinks the middle of your

body is. Your dominant eye impacts shot direction and the way in which you orientate your body when setting up to change direction of the ball in tennis. Favourable eye dominance and shot directions for the oncoming ball are (a):

• Left Eye Dominance – Forehand cross-‐court & Backhand down-‐the-‐line on groundstroke’s, • Right Eye Dominance – Forehand down-‐the-‐line, Backhand cross court on groundstroke’s, • Serve & Volley – often a player will tilt head prior to execution or turn head excessively on

backhand or forehand volley. Coaching Point: You will often see evidence of a player’s eye dominance by the way they wear a cap. It will be slightly off-‐centre due to the dominant eye aligning itself with the middle of the visor. This can be observed when standing in front of the player.

(a) When evaluating a player’s ability to successfully change direction of an oncoming ball (e.g. hitting down-‐the-‐line off a cross-‐court ball) a number of factors need to be considered. Hip and shoulder BDP, grips, swingline, stances and shot intention in addition to eye dominance.

Research Results (b) A study of 665 male and female players in 1997 showed:

70% were right eye and right hand dominant / 30% were left eye and right hand dominant.

Coaching Point: It is not our goal to balance the hand dominance of the athlete. However, Double

Handed Backhands do require the top hand to play a significant role when executing the stroke. Therefore, developing the non-‐dominant (top hand) ‘gross’ and ‘fine’ motor control skills are crucial. This also has benefits for the tossing action on Serve, counter-‐balance actions on Forehand, Single Handed Backhand and Volleys.

Research Results 87% were right hand dominant / 13% were left hand dominant.

3.6% of subjects held their racquet in the opposite hand to which they played tennis.

Shoulder dominance impacts all groundstroke’s and Serve. The preferred direction of rotation either enhances or

inhibits the natural execution of the stroke. Shoulders pull – externally rotate. Summary below:

• Left Shoulder Dominance – Enhances Forehand rotation (all grips), natural extension on the Single Handed Backhand (Grips: (1-‐8) Eastern & (8-‐8) Semi-‐Western) and extension on Double Handed Backhand (Grips: (1-‐1/8 East bhd / (7-‐7) East fhd & (2-‐2) Continental / (7-‐7) Eastern fhd) (c).

• Right Shoulder Dominance – Enhances Serve and rotation on Double Handed Backhand (Grip: (2-‐2) Continental / (6-‐6) Semi-‐Western fhd)

Coaching Point: Shoulder dominance is secondary to Hip dominance on groundstroke's and Serve.

(c) Refer to grip reference chart at end of document.

Eye Dominance

Hand Dominance

Shoulder Dominance


Hip dominance impacts all groundstroke’s and Serve. The preferred direction of rotation either enhances or inhibits

the natural execution of the stroke. Hips push – internally rotate. Summary below:

• Right Hip Dominance – Enhances Serve, Forehand rotation (all grips), natural extension on the Single Handed Backhand (Grips: (1-‐8) Eastern & (8-‐8) Semi-‐Western) and extension on Double Handed Backhand (Grips: (1-‐1/8) East bhd / (7-‐7) East fhd & (2-‐2) Continental / (7-‐7) Eastern fhd).

• Left Hip Dominance – Enhances rotation on Double Handed Backhand (Grip: (2-‐2) Continental / (6-‐6) Semi-‐Western fhd)

Coaching Point: Hip dominance is the primary driver, with shoulders playing a secondary role.

Research Results Over 50% of subjects demonstrated right shoulder and right hip dominance.

Leg and foot dominance impacts all groundstroke’s, Serve and the Volley. The preferred direction of weight shift and

foot orientation either enhances or inhibits the natural execution of the stroke. Summary below:

• Right Leg Dominance – Enhances Forehand recovery; Single Handed and Double Handed Backhand (all grips) on Square and Semi-‐Closed stance and weight shift on Semi-‐Open and Open stances; Forehand Volley (low, mid & high) and Overhead (static and dynamic). (d)

• Left Leg Dominance – Enhances Serve; Forehand on Square and Semi-‐Closed stance and weight shift on Semi-‐Open and Open stances; Backhand recovery and Backhand Volley (low, mid & high).

Coaching Point: When testing for leg dominance on groundstroke’s. Feed / hit balls to the player where they can move to the ball in a comfortable rhythm. Observe what stance they naturally adopt on various shots. Once the foot dominance is known, you may see evidence

of this when needing to change direction quickly and an inability for player to turn out the non-‐dominant foot to assist in efficient movement. You may also see evidence by a player’s inability to adopt a ‘heel to toe’ action on one particular stroke (forehand or backhand) or stance (semi-‐closed, square, semi-‐open or open).

Research Results 67% were right leg dominant, 33% were left leg dominant.

80% were right foot, 16% were left foot dominant and 4% were ambidextrous.

(d) Refer to Stance reference chart at end of document.

Hip Dominance

Leg & Foot Dominance


Eye Dominance Right Left Player: Make a circle with your index finger and thumb with dominant hand and place your hand in front of you at chest height. Focus on an object in the distance (other end of the court / room) with both eyes open. Place the circle around the object.

Coach: Observe which eye lines up the circle around the object. This is the dominant eye. (If you are unsure, ask player to close the right then left eye. The open eye that can see the object through the hand is the dominant eye)

Shoulder Dominance Right Left Player: Stand facing a wall or fence with your feet 1½ shoulder widths apart with your knees slightly bent. With outstretched arms, place your hands together against the wall or fence at shoulder height. Coach: Stand 2-‐3 meters away from player. Throw ball towards player, aligned with the middle of their body. Instruct them to listen for the bounce of the ball then quickly turn around and catch the ball with both hands and then dominant hand only while keeping feet on the ground. (Player may pivot feet slightly. Allow this, but not at the expense of a complete hip turn). Repeat 3 -‐4 times, throwing ball to right and left side of body. Observe the direction they turn their shoulders to catch the ball. This is the dominant direction. Right Shoulder Dominant -‐ Right turn (clockwise) Left Shoulder Dominant – Left turn (counter-‐clockwise)

Hand Dominance Right Left Player: Which hand do they hold the racquet in?

Coach: Other questions to ask: Which hand do you…write, draw, open car door, brush hair, clean teeth, cut scissors, poor jug, throw, catch, open fridge, hold knife / fork, with? Listen for and differences in these activities to gauge strength of dominance.

Hip Dominance Right Left Player: Stand facing a wall or fence with your feet 1½ shoulder widths apart with your knees slightly bent. Hands by side, eyes forward. Coach: Stand 2-‐3 meters away from player. Throw ball towards player, aligned with the middle of their body. Instruct them to listen for the bounce of the ball then spin around and catch the ball with both hands by jumping. Repeat 3 -‐4 times, throwing ball to right and left side of player’s body. Observe the direction they spin their hips to catch the ball. This is the dominant direction.

Other Tests: Stand with feet 1½ shoulder widths apart. Ask then to do a 1800 spin, then a 3600 spin. Observe direction. Right Hip Dominant -‐ Left turn (counter-‐clockwise) Left Hip Dominant – Right turn (clockwise)

Body Part Dominance Test


Leg Dominance Right Left Player: Test 1: Stand facing the coach with your feet 1½ shoulder widths apart with your knees slightly bent looking your coach in the eyes. Slowly fall forward. Test 2: Stand facing the coach with your feet 1½ shoulder widths apart with your knees slightly bent looking up at the coach’s racquet. Take one step forward and jump up and touch the racquet with dominant hand. Coach: Stand 2-‐3 meters away from player. Observe which foot the player steps forward with. This is the dominant leg. Test 2: Stand to the side of the player. Reach up with racquet in hand, ask player to step forward and jump up and touch racquet. Adjust height so they have to leap as high as they can (may need to stand on chair). Observe the leg they step and jump with naturally. Repeat with opposite leg. Observe difference in vertical leg drive off both legs.

Foot Dominance Right Left Player: Test 1: Kick a tennis ball to your coach across the court (half court) Test 2 & 3: Stand on singles side-‐line facing the centre-‐line of the service box. Kick a tennis ball back and forth to coach. Follow their instructions. Coach: Stand 2-‐3 meters away from player. Observe with foot the player kicks with. This is the dominant foot. Ask player to kick with opposite foot. Observe control, accuracy and movement. Test 2: Stand on centre-‐line of the service box. Kick a tennis ball back and forth to player along the ground. Force them to move left and right opening the toes and kicking ball with inside of foot. Move to right side – right foot open toe. Move to left side – left foot open toe. Observe balance, control and accuracy. Test 3: Stand on centre-‐line of the service box. Kick a tennis ball back and forth to player along the ground. Force them to move left and right, close off foot and kicking ball with outside of foot. Move to right side – left foot closed toe. Move to left side – right foot closed toe. Observe balance, control and accuracy.

Observe player hitting and correlate their Body Part Dominance profile and the relative strength and weaknesses of their strokes. More often than not there will be a significant correlation in technical strengths and the players BPD profile.

(b) Research by Catherine Garipuy France 1997.


Grip Reference & Overview


Forehand Stroke Overview Backhand

Forehand Stroke Swingline Backhand

Documents

Body Part Dominance Information