A comparison of some anthropometric characteristics and their proportional relations of elite badminton and tennis players

The purpose of this study was to investigate the somatotype characteristics and comparison of proportional relations of anthropometric parameters of elite badminton and tennis players.As a result of this study, the dominant grip strengths of badminton players were significantly lower (p<0.05) compared to tennis players. The largest adipose tissue thicknesses have been found in the abdominal, femoral and supraspinal region of Badminton players, however in calf region, tennis players had higher thickness degree (p<0.05). It has been found that badminton players have wider hip and calf breadths than the tennis players (p<0.05). Badminton players showed shorter forearm length than tennis players markedly, but their values was not statistically different. It has been found that bitrochanteric and femoral epicondyle diameters were wider in badminton players than tennis players; however tennis players have wider biacromial diameter. The proportion of forearm/whole arm in badminton players and the proportion of bitrochanteric diameter/ biacromial diameter in tennis players were higher (p<0.05). A significant difference were found in somatotype scales, endomorph and mesomorph components and it has been observed that players of both branches has balanced mesomorph values (p<0.05),As a result, the lower dominant grip strength of badminton players than tennis players can be dedicated to differences in weights and grip sizes between the racquets using in these branches. Furthermore, it can be said that the wider hip and calf breadths of badminton players results from the excess of jumping movements in badminton game and the continual movements of badminton players by toe tips in a close area.The wider biacromial diameter and longer whole arm length in tennis players can be associated with reaching actions in tennis game due to the wide court.We may also claim that, due to frequent forearm activities in Badminton, the players have shorter forarm lengths than tennis players and this gives an advantage of better working lever for the amount of strengt spent.