Anthropometry for Table Tennis
While skill is undoubtedly the most important factor for a successful table tennis player, fitness and body size and shape can also be important. Body shape and size can affect balance, and excess body fat increases fatigue, and having certain segment lengths may aid in the mechanics of play and aid in reaching for the ball.
table tennis player Suggested Anthropometric tests for Table Tennis
- skinfold testing for measuring excess body fat.
- body weight to monitor body fat and muscle mass changes.
- height and arm span
Anthropometry and Olympic Athletes
London 2012 Olympic Games
Here is some information from the analysis of the anthropometric data (height, weight and age) from the table tennis participants at the London 2012 Olympic Games. The players were shorter and lighter that the average Olympian.
| Sport | Age | Height (cm) | Weight (kg) | BMI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OVERALL AVERAGE (all sports) | 26.1 | 176.9 | 72.8 | 23.3 |
| Table Tennis (all) | 27.6 | 172.1 | 66.2 | 22.2 |
| Table Tennis (females) | 26.7 | 165.6 | 58.5 | 21.2 |
| Table Tennis (males) | 28.6 | 178.5 | 73.8 | 23.2 |
Rio 2016 Olympic Games
Here is average data from the analysis of the anthropometric data of the table tennis players at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
| Age (years) | height (m) | weight (kg) | BMI | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AVERAGE (all sports) | 26.8 | 1.77 | 72.0 | 22.9 |
| table tennis (all) | 28.3 | 1.72 | 65.2 | 21.8 |
| table tennis (females) | 28.1 | 1.65 | 57.5 | 20.9 |
| table tennis (males) | 28.4 | 1.79 | 72.6 | 22.7 |
Related Pages
- Fitness for Table Tennis
- Anthropometry for Table Tennis
- Olympic Games Anthropometry for other sports in 2012
- All about fitness testing, including anthropometry testing
- List of Table Tennis Polls
- Fitness for Sports
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