Comparison of table tennis serve and return characteristics in the London and the Rio Olympics

The aim of this study was to evaluate the changes in table tennis serves and return of serves between the London (2012) and Rio (2016) Olympic Games. The sample consisted of 30 matches corresponding to 60 player-games with 3,009 serves and 2,961 returns from rounds four to finals. Notational analyses were conducted to examine the stroke positions, ball placements, and stroke efficacies for serves and returns as well as stroke types for returns....