The Impact of Eye-Hand Coordination on Badminton Skill Mastery Among Undergraduate Sports Science Students at the University of Port Harcourt

This study examined the impact of eye-hand coordination on badminton skill mastery among undergraduate sports science students at the University of Port Harcourt. Eye-hand coordination is a crucial motor skill influencing various aspects of sports performance, particularly in fast-paced racket sports like badminton. The study employed a descriptive cross-sectional research design with a population of 453 students and a sample size of 105, selected using stratified random sampling. Data collection instruments included the Wall Toss Test to assess eye-hand coordination; a Badminton Skill Assessment Test measuring serving accuracy, reaction time, and shot precision; and a structured questionnaire evaluating self-perceived skills and training habits. Findings revealed that students with higher eye-hand coordination scores consistently performed better in serving accuracy, reaction time, and shot precision. Among the participants, 42.9% exhibited moderate serving accuracy (6–8 successful serves out of 10), while only 19% demonstrated high accuracy (9–10 successful serves). Reaction time assessments showed that 47.6% of participants had an average response time (0.50–0.75 sec), while 9.5% exhibited slow reaction times (>1.00 sec). Shot accuracy results indicated that 38.1% of students had moderate accuracy (51–75%), whereas 11.4% had poor accuracy (0–25%). Furthermore, 92.4% of students acknowledged the importance of eye-hand coordination in badminton, but only 55.2% actively engaged in coordination drills. Based on these findings, the study recommends, among others, that students with low serving accuracy should engage in target-based serving drills that focus on shuttlecock control and precision.