Revision of the Dyer Backboard Tennis Test

Abstract

Abstract Since 1935 the Dyer Backboard Tennis Test frequently has been used to classify students in tennis. Studies by Fox and the present writer confirm that the Dyer Tennis Test (Dyer's latest revision with restraining line 5 ft. from the wall) does not discriminate sufficiently at the beginner's level. When comparing beginners and advanced level students in tennis, the Dyer Test discriminates best at the advanced level, probably because this test measures better the advanced skill of volleying. Hewitt revised the Dyer Test by adding a 20 ft. restraining line and had the student serve and use ground strokes behind this line for 30 sec. The subject hit the ball against a brick wall above a 3 ft. net line. Results of the test were correlated with rank order of play ability. In the four beginner classes the relationship between the Hewitt revision and rank order of play was significant at the 1 percent level of confidence. The Hewitt revision was given to two advanced classes, each of 31 students, and resu...