Jianfeng Niu

Prof. Jianfeng Niu


Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

1Year (2026-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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30 April 2026 in Sensors
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
JNJianfeng Niu
Jianfeng Niu
CGChingleong Gan
Chingleong Gan
XTXinyu May Teo
Xinyu May Teo
YXyaqi Xue
yaqi Xue
XGXiaojie Guo
Xiaojie Guo
ZZZhiping Zhen
Zhiping Zhen
A backhand flick is frequently used in table tennis to initiate offensive play, yet how racket motion evolves during subsequent stroke transitions remains insufficiently characterized. This study examined racket kinematics in two common follow-up combinations: a backhand flick followed by a backhand fast block (BFBB) and a backhand flick followed by a forehand fast block (BFFB). In a within-subject design, ten national-level male players performed both combinations, and racket motion was recorded using a three-dimensional motion capture system at 200 Hz. Racket velocity, phase duration, and spatial displacement were quantified across the stroke sequence, and within-player differences between the two stroke transition combinations following the backhand flick were examined. Compared with BFBB, BFFB showed higher racket velocity at most key moments, particularly near ball contact, whereas no significant difference was found at the end of the follow-through. Backward-phase duration did not differ between the two conditions, but BFFB showed longer durations during the hitting and follow-through phases, together with a longer overall duration. BFFB also exhibited greater directional displacement across multiple phases, whereas BFBB was characterized by a more compact spatiotemporal pattern. These findings provide biomechanical evidence that different follow-up strokes after an identical backhand flick are associated with distinct patterns of racket motion during stroke transitions and may offer a kinematic reference for sequence-specific training in table tennis.