Age-Appropriate Scaling of Equipment Improves Performance

Scaling sports equipment based on the age of the athlete, such as using smaller balls or lower nets, has been found to enhance performance in sports like tennis and basketball. Research by Tim Buzzard and colleagues demonstrated that using equipment appropriate to a child's size led to better outcomes, including improved ball striking location, velocity, and accuracy. This scaling approach resulted in biomechanical changes like a more desirable swing path in tennis and flatter shooting trajectories in basketball, highlighting the importance of tailoring equipment to individual constraints.