A1 Journal article (refereed)
Aiming strategy affects performance-related factors in biathlon standing shooting (2021)
Köykkä, M., Ihalainen, S., Linnamo, V., Ruotsalainen, K., Häkkinen, K., & Laaksonen, M. S. (2021). Aiming strategy affects performance-related factors in biathlon standing shooting. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports, 31(3), 573-585. https://doi.org/10.1111/sms.13864
JYU authors or editors
Publication details
All authors or editors: Köykkä, Miika; Ihalainen, Simo; Linnamo, Vesa; Ruotsalainen, Keijo; Häkkinen, Keijo; Laaksonen, Marko S.
Journal or series: Scandinavian Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports
ISSN: 0905-7188
eISSN: 1600-0838
Publication year: 2021
Publication date: 28/10/2020
Volume: 31
Issue number: 3
Pages range: 573-585
Publisher: Wiley
Publication country: United Kingdom
Publication language: English
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/sms.13864
Publication open access: Not open
Publication channel open access:
Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/72450
Abstract
This study focused on investigating differences in shooting performance and performance related factors between two different aiming strategies (HOLD, low radial velocity during the approach 0.4‐0.2 seconds before triggering, and TIMING, high radial velocity) in biathlon standing shooting. 23 biathletes fired 8x5 standing shots at rest (REST) and 2x5 shots during a race simulation (RACE). Shooting performance (hit point distance from the center of the target), aiming point trajectory and postural balance were measured from each shot. Shooting performance was similar both at REST (HOLD 33±5 mm vs TIMING 38±8 mm, p=0.111) and in RACE (40±11 mm vs 47±12 mm, p=0.194). Better shooting performance was related to smaller distance of the aiming point mean location (REST r=0.93, p<0.001, RACE r=0.72, p=0.018) and higher time spent within ⅔ of the distance of the hit area edge from the center 0.6‐0.0 seconds before triggering (REST r=‐0.88, p=0.001, RACE r=‐0.73, p=0.016) in HOLD, and to lower aiming point total velocity 0.6‐0.0 seconds before triggering (REST r=0.77, p=0.009, RACE r=0.88, p=0.001) and less aiming point movement 0.2‐0.0 seconds before triggering (REST r=0.82, p=0.003, RACE r=0.72, p=0.012) in TIMING. Postural balance was related to shooting performance at REST in both groups and in RACE in TIMING. Biathletes using the hold strategy should focus on stabilizing the aiming point before triggering and aiming at the center, whereas biathletes using the timing strategy benefit of decreasing the total velocity during the final approach as well as minimizing the aiming point movement right before triggering.
Keywords: biathlon; biomechanics; coaching; optoelectronics; balance; shooting; technique
Free keywords: biathlon; biomechanics; coaching; optoelectronics; postural balance; rifle shooting; technique
Contributing organizations
Ministry reporting: Yes
Reporting Year: 2021
JUFO rating: 2