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in the recent sports science literature, it is possible to notice that research branches related to performance analysis are widely developing [1]. The aim of this study was to analyze technical and tactical differences among male table tennis athletes of three categories: top-class world players (T), elite European juniors (J) and elite European cadets (C). 20 matches were randomly selected (T: 10, J: 5 and C: 5). Selected performance indicators were: stroke type, footwork type, and shot outcome. Selected matches have been watched in slow motion (0.2X) by an experienced table tennis coach, who collected the indicators of interest. The data were analyzed with the Excel software using contingency tables. The strokes most used by T were top forehand (19 %), top counter top forehand (16 %) and block backhand (14 %). A similar distribution was observed for J: top forehand (21 %), top counter top forehand (15 %) and block backhand (15 %). Conversely, C showed the top forehand as the most used stroke (22 %), followed however by the push forehand (16 %). Concerning the footwork type, the most used one was the one step (T: 32 %, J: 28 % and C: 31 %). Differences among groups were observed for the chassè (T: 24 %, J: 15 % and C: 15 %), and stroke without step (T: 18 %, J: 29 % and C: 28 %). Strong associations were observed between stroke and footwork types, and between stroke types and shot outcome, with the top forehand and top counter top forehand being the most successful strokes in all the groups. By studying the relationships between strokes, footwork types and shot outcomes in table tennis athletes of three different categories, it is possible to detect differences in the play style among the three categories of players. This analysis can help to improve the technical and the tactical skills of players to obtain better competitive results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous research showed a higher percentage of left-handed athletes in interactive and fast ball sports than in the general population. The aim of this study was to analyse the patterns of representation of left-handedness in top level competitors of the major racket sports. The hand used to hold the racket by the 100 world best male players (selected from 2012 rankings) in tennis (T), table tennis (TT), squash (S) and badminton (B) was recorded. The proportion of left-handers was calculated for each sport and logistic regression analyses were used to evaluate the probability for a player of holding the racket with the left hand given his position in the ranking. TT showed a higher percentage of left-handers (29%) than T (15%), B (16%) and S (14%). Logistic regressions showed that, when going up in the ranking, the probability of using the left-hand to hold the racket tended to increase in TT, B and S, and to decrease in T. The higher proportion of left-handers observed in TT when compared to the other sports can be attributed to the fact that, among the analysed sports, TT is a sport in which the opponents stand with the shortest distance. Furthermore, the technical and tactical components of performance are more determinant than physical fitness in TT, and these characteristics, taken together, may favor left-handed players. The very low number of left-handers among the very best tennis players may be explained by the fact that the disadvantage of a reduced experience against left-handed opponents is nowadays compensated by the player's professionalism. In conclusion, the present study confirmed that left-handed individuals are more represented in racket sports, and especially in TT, when compared with the general population. Finally, considering the specific position of each player in the ranking as determinant of left-handedness probability seems to be a promising approach to further analyse left-handedness in the best ranked players of different sports. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]