Reaction and Response Speed Tests in Racket Sports: Instrument, Reliability, and Learning Applications
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.26858/cpjok.v18i2.978Keywords:
Reaction Time; Response Speed; Racket Sports; Reliability; Learning AssessmentAbstract
Reaction time and response speed are fundamental components of performance in racket sports because they influence athletes’ ability to perceive stimuli, make decisions, and execute motor actions effectively. However, the increasing variety of assessment instruments has created challenges regarding instrument selection, reliability, and educational applicability. This study aimed to analyze reaction-time and response-speed assessments in racket sports by examining the types of instruments used, their reliability, and their applications in learning and coaching contexts. The study employed a literature review approach based on Information Processing Theory, Schema Theory, and Ecological Dynamics Theory. Data were collected from Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, Google Scholar, and SINTA-indexed journals published between 2015 and 2025. A total of 25 relevant studies met the inclusion criteria and were analyzed through qualitative thematic synthesis. The results identified four major categories of assessment instruments: computerized reaction tests (40%), sensor-based systems (28%), sport-specific reaction tests (20%), and mobile application-based tests (12%). Reliability analysis showed that most instruments demonstrated good to excellent measurement consistency, with Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC) values ranging from 0.78 to 0.96. Empirical findings further revealed that elite athletes exhibited faster reaction times (190–225 ms) than intermediate athletes (225–255 ms) and novice athletes (270–305 ms). In addition, reaction assessments were widely applied for talent identification, training evaluation, learning outcome assessment, and skill development monitoring. In conclusion, reaction-time and response-speed assessments are reliable, valid, and pedagogically valuable tools that support athlete development and evidence-based learning in racket sports. The integration of digital technologies further enhances measurement accuracy and educational effectiveness.
References
Abernethy, B., Baker, J., & Côté, J. (2018). Transfer of pattern recall skills may contribute to the development of sport expertise. Applied Cognitive Psychology, 32(4), 456–463. https://doi.org/10.1002/acp.3418
Araújo, D., Davids, K., & Hristovski, R. (2020). The ecological dynamics of decision making in sport. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 48, 101650. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychsport.2019.101650
Baker, J., Wattie, N., & Schorer, J. (2020). A proposed conceptualization of talent in sport. Frontiers in Psychology, 11, 578082. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.578082
Button, C., Seifert, L., Chow, J. Y., Araújo, D., & Davids, K. (2020). Dynamics of skill acquisition: An ecological dynamics approach (2nd ed.). Human Kinetics. https://us.humankinetics.com
Casey, A., & Goodyear, V. A. (2019). Can cooperative learning achieve the four learning outcomes of physical education? A review of literature. Quest, 71(2), 184–198. https://doi.org/10.1080/00336297.2018.1497579
Chow, J. Y., Davids, K., Button, C., & Renshaw, I. (2021). Nonlinear pedagogy in skill acquisition: An introduction (2nd ed.). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003155928
Davids, K., Araújo, D., Vilar, L., Renshaw, I., & Pinder, R. (2023). An ecological dynamics approach to skill acquisition in sport. Sports Medicine, 53(2), 223–239. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-022-01784-4
DeVellis, R. F., & Thorpe, C. T. (2017). Scale development: Theory and applications (4th ed.). Sage Publications. https://us.sagepub.com
Faber, I. R., Elferink-Gemser, M. T., & Nijhuis-Van Der Sanden, M. W. G. (2019). A first step to talent identification in table tennis. Journal of Sports Sciences, 37(2), 154–161. https://doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2018.1496222
Farrow, D., & Robertson, S. (2017). Development of a skill acquisition periodisation framework for high-performance sport. Sports Medicine, 47(6), 1043–1054. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-016-0646-2
Fosnot, C. T. (2018). Constructivism: Theory, perspectives, and practice (3rd ed.). Teachers College Press. https://www.tcpress.com
Gabbett, T. J. (2021). The training-injury prevention paradox revisited. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 55(13), 722–723. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2020-103743
González, C. C., Martínez-Gallego, R., & Pérez-Turpin, J. A. (2023). Reliability of mobile application-based reaction time assessment in athletes. Sensors, 23(7), 3514. https://doi.org/10.3390/s23073514
Hüttermann, S., Noël, B., & Memmert, D. (2022). Visual attention and anticipation in elite racket sport athletes. International Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 20(5), 1337–1350. https://doi.org/10.1080/1612197X.2021.1918270
Malagoli Lanzoni, I., Bartolomei, S., Di Michele, R., & Merni, F. (2019). Performance indicators in competitive table tennis. International Journal of Performance Analysis in Sport, 19(1), 1–15. https://doi.org/10.1080/24748668.2018.1559363
Martínez-Gallego, R., Guzmán, J. F., James, N., Ramón-Llin, J., & Vuckovic, G. (2022). Reliability and validity of perceptual-cognitive testing in tennis players. European Journal of Sport Science, 22(4), 563–572. https://doi.org/10.1080/17461391.2021.1887369
Memmert, D. (2021). Teaching tactical creativity in sport: Research and practice (2nd ed.). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003149392
Müller, S., & Abernethy, B. (2017). Expert anticipatory skill in striking sports. Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport, 88(1), 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1080/02701367.2016.1267892
Pinder, R. A., Davids, K., Renshaw, I., & Araújo, D. (2021). Representative learning design and functionality of research. Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 43(4), 320–332. https://doi.org/10.1123/jsep.2020-0305
Pluim, B. M., Reid, M., Bergeron, M. F., & Crespo, M. (2018). The physiology of tennis performance. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 52(1), 34–39. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2017-098429
Schmidt, R. A., & Lee, T. D. (2019). Motor learning and performance: From principles to application (6th ed.). Human Kinetics. https://us.humankinetics.com
Serrien, B., Baeyens, J. P., & Clijsen, R. (2020). Reliability and validity of reaction time measurements in sports performance testing. Journal of Human Kinetics, 72(1), 5–14. https://doi.org/10.2478/hukin-2019-0095
Sternberg, R. J., & Sternberg, K. (2018). Cognitive psychology (7th ed.). Cengage Learning. https://www.cengage.com
Vučković, G., James, N., Hughes, M., & Murray, S. (2021). Sensor technology applications in performance analysis of racket sports. Sensors, 21(15), 5098. https://doi.org/10.3390/s21155098
Wang, J., Liu, W., & Zhang, Y. (2022). Effects of reaction training on badminton performance: A systematic review. Frontiers in Sports and Active Living, 4, 874321. https://doi.org/10.3389/fspor.2022.874321
Williams, A. M., & Jackson, R. C. (2019). Anticipation and decision making in sport. Current Opinion in Psychology, 16, 45–50. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.copsyc.2017.03.004
Williams, A. M., Ford, P. R., & Eccles, D. W. (2020). Perceptual-cognitive expertise in sport and its acquisition. International Review of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 13(1), 1–27. https://doi.org/10.1080/1750984X.2019.1582082
Woods, C. T., McKeown, I., Rothwell, M., Araújo, D., Robertson, S., & Davids, K. (2020). Sport practitioners as sport ecology designers. Frontiers in Psychology, 11, 654. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.00654
Young, W. B., Dawson, B., & Henry, G. J. (2015). Agility and change-of-direction speed in sport. Strength and Conditioning Journal, 37(1), 17–23. https://doi.org/10.1519/SSC.0000000000000115
Zhang, Y., Liu, X., & Wang, H. (2021). Digital technologies in sports performance assessment: Current applications and future perspectives. Sensors, 21(19), 6512. https://doi.org/10.3390/s21196512
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 M. Sahib Saleh, Syahruddin, Muhammad Isnawan Syafir (Author)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
