Exploring the impact of equipment modifications on novice tennis players. A scoping review

Ana Piquer-Piquer ¹ Miguel Crespo ² Jesus Ramón-Llin ^1* José Francisco Guzmán Luján ¹ Rafael Martínez-Gallego ^1,2

• ¹ University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
• ² International Tennis Federation (ITF), London, United Kingdom

Tennis equipment modifications, such as smaller rackets and low-compression balls, are increasingly used because they can better align with beginners' physical capabilities, enhancing learning and engagement. This scoping review aims to map current research on equipment modifications for beginner tennis players, identifying how they impact skill acquisition, game performance, biomechanical variables, psychological aspects, and coaches' perspectives. Searches across Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed, and SPORTDiscus, combined with expert inputs following PRISMA procedures, yielded 35 studies. Studies involved empirical interventions related to scaled tennis equipment for beginners, published in English or Spanish, and narrative reviews or studies lacking empirical data were excluded. Results indicate that equipment modifications enhance control, technique, and engagement in skill acquisition, improves tactical play with more aggressive strokes, and reduces joint stress, minimizing injury risk. Psychological benefits include increased enjoyment and self-efficacy, while coaches strongly support these adaptations. These findings suggest practical implications for junior tennis development, though future research should expand real-game application, participant diversity, and detailed psychological and biomechanical assessments to further optimize player progression.