Introduction: This study was undertaken to identify common physical characteristics that could distinguish between singles and doubles players to provide a competitive advantage in badminton. The study was carried out during Proton-BWF World Championships held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in August 2007. Methods A total of 109 players (18 men`s singles, 20 women`s singles, 35 men`s doubles and 36 women`s doubles players) participate giving response rates of 33-39% per event category. The anthropometric measurements were taken from 40 body dimensions according to the ISAK protocols; body mass, stretched stature (height), sitting height, arm span, 8 skinfolds, 8 lengths, 13 segment girths and 7 bone breadth. Absolute size and calculated variables were determined for each player. Arm, waist, mid-thigh and calf girth were all corrected by the corresponding skinfold site, to get a better indicator of musculoskeletal size at each site. Body composition was calculated using the four compartment fractionation model which subdivides the body mass into four compartments; bone mass, muscle mass, adipose mass and residual mass. Body shape (somatotype) was determined using selected anthropometric measures to describe the relative dominance of endomorophy (fatness), mesomorphy (musculoskeletal robustness) and ectomorphy (linearity) of the players. Body proportion differences between individuals were examined using the Phantom Stratagem by removing size and gender differences. Information about relative size was gained through calculation of Phantom Z-scores (Zp), where anthropometric characteristics of each player were normalized to the Phantom height of 170.18 cm. The Phantom-Z scores (Zp-scores) for each anthropometric variable were used to demonstrate the number and direction of standard deviations that the groups (singles versus doubles) of players varied against the Phantom. The anthropometry of players may be different due to the requirements for singles versus doubles play. Therefore, doubles versus singles players by gender comparisons were conducted. Least squares means were calculated using Proc GLM (SAS Statistics) procedure for comparisons of event (double versus single), and then gender by event. Results The analysis showed that both male and female singles badminton players were taller, had a smaller body mass and had longer segments than the doubles badminton players. The sum of eight skinfolds was smaller for singles than doubles for both males and females. When considering the least squares means results, the males had significantly greater corrected muscle mass than females but there were no differences between singles and doubles as event groups. There were differences by gender and event separately for Cormic index, but no gender by event differences. There was only one variable, ratio score (a measure of leanness calculated as the body mass in kg divided by the sum of eight skinfolds in mm) that showed differences for gender, event and gender by event. Ratio scores were over 1.0 for males and for singles as a group, and were higher when comparing male singles versus doubles and female singles versus doubles. For both male and female competitors, singles badminton players have a higher ratio score than their doubles counterparts. Therefore, ratio score may be a possible variable to help determine whether a player should play in doubles or singles, with higher ratio scores being more desirable for singles play.
© Copyright 2008 2008 International Convention on Science, Education and Medicine in Sport: Proceedings, Vol. III. Published by People´s Sports Publishing House. All rights reserved.