Masterful defense vs. rookie fumbles: How do expert air hockey champs on mobile reveal their skills through posture & touch?

We explored the relationships between expertise, in-game performance, posture, and screen interactions in mobile sports games. Twenty participants (10 experienced) played Disc-O, a turn-based air hockey game. Posture, phone holding style, play style, and screen metrics (displacement, velocity, touch size, pressure, and time to action) were compared. No significant associations were found between experience or performance and handedness, posture, holding style, or play style (p > 0.05). Experienced players performed better (p = 0.02) but showed no significant screen interaction differences compared to novices (p > 0.05). They reacted faster, with victors having smaller touch points, suggesting more precise motor control and efficient decision-making. The lack of posture and holding style differences suggests adaptability and potential for training interventions.