Evolution of the trophy position along the tennis serve player’s development

The trophy position is a coaching cue for the tennis serve that
usually corresponds to the racquet high point (RHP) during the
preparatory action for the stroke. Mastering this position and its
time of occurrence seems essential in overarm movements like in
the tennis serve. Clinicians and coaches have a real interest in
understanding the trophy position and its evolution during the
development of the elite players at different ages. A 3D motion
system was used to measure the kinematics of the serve. A group
of high-level tennis players were selected for three different age
groups: 8 adults (ITN 1), 8 teenagers (ITN 3) and 8 children (ITN
5–6). Results show a modified pattern sequence of the tennis serve
between children and adult players. RHP appears earlier relative to
impact for children (−0.54 ± 0.10 s) than for adults (−0.36 ± 0.11 s)
and teenagers (−0.33 ± 0.05 s) (p = 0.007). At RHP, children present
lower trunk transverse plane rotation (p < 0.003) and higher
shoulder external rotation (p < 0.003). These positions for the
child players may represent an increased risk of shoulder and
trunk injury than for older players and contribute to a lower
racquet resultant velocity at impact.