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do tennis players' cries prevent them from predicting the ball's trajectory?

The groans of some players at each strike exasperate their opponents who complain that it affects their strategy. Countless studies have looked at the subject: power of the blows, destabilization, psychological effect … The controversy is not about to fall.

What could be more annoying than the shouts of tennis players every time they hit the ball ?! André Agassi and Monica Seles were thus renowned for their moans, just like Maria Sharapova or Serena Williams today. To the point of exasperating their opponents : Martina Navratilova, former world number 1, even recently declared that playing while shouting as loud is akin to "cheating", because you have to be able to hear the sound of the ball bouncing on the racket to anticipate its behaviour. In addition, some accuse the “screaming” players of expressly wanting to deconcentrate and destabilize the opponent with their howls.

Is shouting cheating?

Faced with the controversy, scientists have looked into the question: do shouts have a real influence on the game? First, we tried to find out if the calls actually contribute to performance. according to a 2014 study, shouting during the service would increase the speed of the ball 3.8%, and even 4.9% during service according to other researchers. " The exhalation force concomitant with the contraction of the abdominal muscles gives more power when striking "Confirms Victor Thompson, sports psychologist.

6.4 points less per game against a noisy opponent

Second question: can cries negatively destabilize the opponent? It has indeed been shown that auditory perception plays a major role in sports performance. Players wearing earplugs see this way their reaction time slowed down. A 2010 study ensures that when a sound masks that of the ball on the racket, players have an additional reaction time of 21 to 33 milliseconds and make 3 to 4% more trajectory errors.

The authors calculated that this corresponded to a “handicap” equivalent to 6.4 points less per game. However, the cause of this delay in ignition is not entirely clear: is it due to the fact of not hearing the sound of the ball or the distraction caused by the cry, this diverting the visual attention of the opponent on his racket?

A "compilation" of the worst tennis players who shout during matches. © Eren Aksu, YouTube

Anticipate the trajectory according to the volume of the call

A new study from the University of Jen (Germany) brings a new stone to the building. The researchers showed videos of exchanges to tennis players who had to predict the trajectory of the ball, when shouts had been added artificially or not for certain strokes. If the trajectory prediction error rate (right or left) remains about the same, the researchers found that the louder the cry, the more players anticipate a longer strike, even when the cry does not mask the sound of the ball on the racket. " This means that players have incorporated the fact that shouting gives more strength Says Florian Müller, the sports psychologist who conducted the study.

Trust effect or big sham?

Finally, the cry could also play on confidence. Sports psychologist Louise Ellis explains that shouting gives moreenergy and helps to release psychological tension. It would be a “natural” reflex for some players. But not only : " I had a coach who told me to shout every time, like that even if I lost the match, I had theair to try everything »Explained to ESPN Vince Spadea, a former American player.

Sanctions for players who shout too loud?

The problem is that all of these moans, some of which can exceed 100 decibels, the noise of a chainsaw, also irritates spectators. If there is no specific rule on the subject, the rules of the WTA, the American Association of Tennis Players, specifies that " any permanent distraction can be considered as discomfort for the game ". And, accordingly, be punished with a penalty point. A rule yet never applied to the grunts of the players. A few years ago, however, the WTA took up the question saying that it wanted " strengthening youth education So that the phenomenon stops. According to the current director Steve Simon, there would already be " far fewer female players shouting ". Finally the return to silence?

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