Improving ice hockey slap shot analysis using three-dimensional optical motion capture: A pilot study determining the effects of a novel grip tape on slap shot performance

摘要

There have been significant improvements in ice hockey equipment technology within the last decade; however, little is known about how these improvements are affecting puck mechanics. The purpose of this study was to develop a testing protocol using three-dimensional motion capture to improve ice hockey shot analysis by providing additional information to traditional shot analysis techniques. Then, the feasibility of this protocol was tested by performing a pilot study that analyzes the effects of a new grip tape on slap shot performance. Four elite hockey players performed four slap shots in each of the four conditions: (1) bare hockey stickormal hockey gloves, (2) traditional hockey tape stickormal gloves, (3) Greptile tape stickormal gloves and (4) Greptile tape stick/Greptile gloves. Reflective markers attached to the puck, stick and target were tracked by a three-dimensional optical motion capture system recording at 200Hz. Linear and angular velocities of the puck, accuracy and puck topple were not different between condition 1 and the remaining three grip conditions; however, there were accuracy differences between conditions 1 and 3. In addition, there were no correlations between angular velocity and shot accuracy, and puck topple and shot accuracy. Due to the small sample size, the effects of Greptile tape on slap shot performance must be further tested in order to compare the four conditions with more advanced statistics; however, the developed research strategy, using three-dimensional motion analysis, provides an approach to researchers and companies that are interested in identifying the effects of new hockey equipment/technologies on slap shot performance.