Who Shoots Better: Are Left-Handers at an Advantage?

TL;DR

Left-handed handball players score more often than right-handed players, but right-handed players shoot faster and from farther distances.

Contribution

This study reveals performance asymmetry between left- and right-handed handball players in shooting efficiency, velocity, and distance.

Findings

Left-handed players had a higher scoring percentage (63.08%) compared to right-handed players (57.86%).

Right-handed players shot faster (101.38 km/h) and from greater distances (7.61 m) than left-handed players (99.36 km/h and 7.42 m).

Abstract

Background: Handedness dominance can be observed in the tactical aspects of a handball match geometry. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the asymmetry between shooting velocity and distance in left- and right-handed handball players, and also to see if there is a difference between scored and missed shots. Methods: The data were obtained from players participating in the EHF European Championship 2024, held in Germany. Results: In this study, 238 players were analyzed during the whole championship. They were divided into two groups: left- (N = 112) and right-handed players (N = 126). A total of 5710 shots taken by the players were collected and analyzed. The results show that the left-handed players had a higher score percentage (63.08%) than the right-handed players (57.86%). The right-handed players shot at a higher velocity (101.38 ± 18.00 km/h) than the left-handed players (99.36 ± 18.89 km/h) (p < 0.001). A similar difference was observed in the distance of the shots (7.61 ± 2.23 m; and 7.42 ± 2.59 m, respectively) (p < 0.001). The distance of the shots differed between the scored and missed shots (right-handed, p < 0.001; left-handed, p < 0.04). Conclusions: These findings suggest that an asymmetry in left- and right-handed players is present for both parameters. Also, the higher efficiency of the right side of a handball team could lead to asymmetry in the geometry of a handball match.

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