The development of an immersive three-dimensional virtual reality system for identifying hand–eye coordination in badminton

Hand-eye coordination (HEC) is an important ability in a variety of sports, as it involves the ability to quickly and accurately control motion using visual information. This ability is extensively involved in badminton smash reception. In existing studies on HEC evaluation, this ability was evaluated according to information collected after the motion had been performed. Accordingly, it is impossible to determine the specific phase of perception or motion that causes problems in HEC. The purpose of this study was to develop a system for identifying the abilities of perception involved in HEC as it relates to badminton smash it is considered as badminton's most effective shot. Two systems were developed to identify HEC perceptual abilities, one focused on perception in a static state (i) and the other focused on perception-to-motion comprehensiveness (ii). Next, two types of tests were conducted, one involving (i) and the other using (ii). The tests were randomly administered for a total of 18 participants in three groups: six people who had previously played badminton, six people who had played ball sports other than badminton, and six people who were inexperienced at ball sports. Participants were healthy adults. The tests aimed to identify factors of perceptual ability by comparing them across systems. The results showed no significant difference between experienced badminton players and others according to the conducted tests, where test (i) was used for measuring the distance between the shuttlecock and gaze. A significant difference between the group of experienced badminton players and the other two groups was, however, observed in the test using (ii). The results suggested the ability to follow the shuttlecock with the eyes to be a perceptual ability related to HEC in badminton smash receptions. The results of this study can help evaluate perceptual ability during smash receptions.