Article RETRACTED due to manipulation by the authors What is the difference between shooting technique and pointer kinematics in novice athletes? A study on the sport of Petanque

Petanque, as a sport, requires proficiency in shooting techniques and pointing kinematic movements. Understanding the distinctions between these two skills is crucial for novice athletes to excel in the sport. This study aimed to assess the kinematic motion of children practicing petanque pointing and shooting techniques. Employing a quantitative approach with a comparative design, the study utilized purposive sampling to select 21 male novice petanque athletes. Kinematic analysis using Kinovea Software 0.9.4 was conducted to observe throwing success in the sagittal plane. The kinematic data collected for both pointing and shooting techniques were categorized into four stages: backswing, zero position, release, and advanced throwing position. Results indicated significant differences in the backswing phase, particularly in shoulder extension and ball height (α < 0.05). Several variables differed significantly between the two techniques across various phases. Shooting exhibited higher speed (10.94 ± 13.34 m/s) compared to pointing (5.290 ± 0.44 m/s). At the release stage, variables such as ball height, speed, and release angle differed significantly (α < 0.05), with pointing generally resulting in higher ball height (92.53 ± 9.69 m) but slower speed (6.46 ± 0.43 m/s) compared to shooting (80.19 ± 10.74 m and 16.09 ± 5.18 m/s, respectively). Moreover, pointing involved a wider release angle (42.38 ± 5.85 o) compared to shooting (35.31 ± 7.26 o). Significant differences in body and knee flexion, maximum ball height, and ball speed were observed during the follow-through phase (α < 0.05). Notably, ball speed during pointing was slower (4.90 ± 2.35 m/s) than shooting (13.01 ± 5.36 m/s). The study suggests that specific techniques in shooting and pointing can be tailored to enhance training methods for children, thereby improving their performance outcomes. Deep comprehension of the disparities between these techniques enables novice athletes to develop their skills effectively in petanque. Further research exploring various age groups and genders could provide additional insights into petanque throwing techniques.