Anthropometric and Motor Profile of Table Tennis Players: A Systematic Literature Review

Abstract

Background: While the biomechanical, physiological, and nutritional determinants of table tennis (TT) performance have already been summarized, a dedicated synthesis of players’ anthropometric and motor characteristics is still lacking. This review aimed to synthesize current evidence across different ages, genders, and competitive levels. Methods: BASE, PubMed, ScienceDirect, Scopus, Semantic Scholar, and Web of Science databases were searched for study selection. Cross-sectional studies investigating the anthropometric and motor characteristics of healthy TT players aged 7–40 years were considered eligible. Results: Thirty-one studies were included. Eighteen studies focused on motor characteristics, seven on anthropometric traits, and six examined both. Conclusions: Adult male TT players predominantly exhibit an endomorph–ectomorph profile with greater lean mass, whereas females show an endomorph–ectomorph somatotype. Moreover, higher-ranked athletes generally display greater lean mass. Compared to specific strength-based sports athletes, TT players tend to have lower limb circumferences and lower lean and muscle mass, while showing higher body fat than specific speed- and agility-based sports. Higher-level players tend to demonstrate faster reaction and movement times, as well as superior change-of-direction abilities. Compared to other racket sports, they tend to exhibit superior coincidence-anticipation timing under high stimulus velocities and distinctive motor coordination. In terms of strength, TT players show proficiency in horizontal jumps and dynamic back strength, despite lower vertical explosive power. The identified characteristics provide a descriptive profile of table tennis players and may inform future longitudinal research investigating their potential relevance for talent identification and development.