title: Sensitivity and Reliability of a Specific Test of Stroke Performance in Table Tennis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To develop a simple, reliable, and sensitive test to measure stroke performance (ball speed and accuracy) in table tennis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-two players were divided into 3 groups in accordance with their level: expert (EG), advanced (AG), and inexperienced (IG). The test consisted of 45 forehand shots where players were asked to reach 3 targets. The test was performed 2 times (separated by 8 min) during the first session (n = 52) to assess intrasession reliability. A second session (n = 28), at least 3 d later, was performed to test intersession reliability. Both speed and accuracy of the ball were measured to evaluate the absolute sensitivity and reliability of the specific test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  This study showed good reliability of the specific test for both ball speed and accuracy of EG and AG (ICC range .42-.96, CV range 2.0-9.0%). However, the reliability is low for IG. Ball speed and accuracy were greater in EG than in the other groups, and both variables were correlated with the level of the players.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results suggest that the specific test appears to be a simple and sensitive procedure to assess stroke performance in table tennis and that this test could be a relevant tool for coaches in table tennis.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Motricity, Interactions, and Performance EA4334, University of Nantes, Nantes, France.
authors.forename: Yann
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Le Mansec
authors.forename: Sylvain
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dorel
authors.forename: Antoine
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nordez
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jubeau
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D054874:Athletic Performance; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D011930:Reaction Time; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D013715:Tennis; D055815:Young Adult