Sports anthropological and somatotypical comparison between higher class male and female badminton and tennis players

Abstract

The present study was to clarify whether there are sports anthropometric differences due to the different requirement profiles in tennis and badminton. 80 athletes (20 female and 20 male badminton players and 20 female and 20 male tennis players) were examined. Both badminton players and tennis players were from the second or third division. Anthropometric data and computed constitutional and somatotypical parameters in this work correspond to international standards.

The male badminton (tennis) players are characterized by the triplet combination 3.4 – 3.3 – 3.4 (3.4 – 3.2 – 3.8) in the somatochart of Parnell, by the triplet combination 2.3 – 3.2 – 2.7 (2.3 – 3.2 – 3.1) in the Heath & Carter somatochart.

In the present study, the women’s badminton average somatotype resulted by Parnell (Heath & Carter) of 4.1 – 3.3 – 2.8 (3.7 – 3.1 – 2.0), with the tennis ladies of 4.2 – 2.8 – 3.5 (3.5 – 2.6 – 2.9).

In summary it can be said that the male and female badminton players compared with the tennis players were smaller and had shorter arms and shorter legs (but longer lower legs) and a longer torso. In addition, the body of badminton players appeared strong and robust, and the calf muscles seemed more pronounced.

Tennis players possessed significantly thicker and larger humeri and feet. In the somatotypology the picture is that of the tall, ectomorphic tennis player is compared to the smaller, but more robust badminton player.