The aims of this study were to evaluate movement patterns of topspin forehand, to define the main principles of performing this shot, and to determine the essential differences in individual types of topspin forehand. In total, 10 female high-level athletes participated in this study. The BTS analysis system was used with a novel model for the range-of-motion measurement. An acoustic sensor was attached to the racket for identification of a ball-racket contact. Players, performing topspin forehand, attempt to achieve maximal racket velocity based on the principles of proximal-to-distal sequences and summation of speed with a stretch-shortening character of cycle. The essential differences between type of topspin forehand occurred in the range of motion. Increased power of topspin shot was accompanied by a significant increase in range of motion in most of the studied joints and body segments, in particular in the rotation movement of the upper body, pelvis and shoulders, flexion and rotation in the shoulder and elbow joints, and flexion and rotation in knee joints.
Keywords: biomechanics; proximal-to-distal sequencing; stretch-shortening cycle; three-dimensional motion analysis.