Effects of stance angle on postural stability and performance with national-standard air pistol competitors.
The effects of stance angle on postural stability and shooting processes were studied using eight national-standard male air-pistol shooters. Each shooter performed 60 shots each in four stance angles (0°, 15°, 30° and 45° from the line of fire). Postural stability was determined by measuring change in centre of pressure with a dual-force platform system assessing centre-of-pressure (COP) excursion (average difference of the centre of pressure from the mean) and COP speed (total COP path divided by time). Shooting process measures were determined by using a NOPTEL ST-2000 optoelectronic system. Score was assessed with a Sius Ascor S10 electronic scoring system. The results revealed no significant difference among the various stance angles; COP excursion or COP speed, p>0.05. Results indicated a significant stance angle effect with the shooting process measure, hit fine (percentage of hold within an area the size of the 10-ring when centred over the actual shot; p = 0.025) and the shooting performance measure adjusted score (raw score adjusted for true zero; p=0.008). Moreover, best overall performance was with a stance angle of 15°. These findings suggest that stance angle may affect pistol stability and performance in air-pistol athletes.
a Department of Sports Science , Warnborough College , Dublin , Ireland.
Richard Nelson
RN
Hawkins
D000328:Adult; D056352:Athletes; D054874:Athletic Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D005389:Firearms; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology*; D011312:Pressure; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D013177:Sports / Q000502:physiology*; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis