The Role of Visual Motor Coordination in Predicting Forehand Drive Performance among Youth Table Tennis Athletes

Abstract

Problems: Hand eye coordination is a fundamental component in the performance of table tennis techniques, especially in the execution of forehand drive strokes that demand fast, precise, and stable sensorimotor integration. Purpose: This study aims to analyze the relationship between hand-eye coordination and forehand drive stroke accuracy in adolescent athletes who actively participate in table tennis extracurricular activities. Methods: The study used a correlational design involving 63 male participants through a total sampling technique. Data was collected through field tests using standardized instruments: eye-hand coordination test and forehand drive precision test. Data analysis includes normality tests as a prerequisite and Pearson correlation tests to test relationships between variables.  Results: The results of the descriptive analysis showed an average of 21 ± 7 (range 17-28) and forehand drive accuracy of 87 ± 5 (range 73-102). The results of the Pearson correlation test showed a significant positive relationship between eye hand coordination and forehand drive accuracy (r = 0.687, p = .018), indicating that improved visual-motor coordination ability was associated with improved accuracy of punch techniques. Conclusion: These findings confirm the importance of eye-hand coordination exercises in youth table tennis coaching programs to improve the performance of basic techniques. This study provides practical implications for trainers in designing sensorimotor-based exercises and adds to the empirical literature related to the determinants of stroke accuracy in racquet sports.