Effects of two different resistance-training programs on mean tennis-serve velocity in adolescents

Pediatr Exerc Sci. 2013 Aug;25(3):370-84. doi: 10.1123/pes.25.3.370.

Abstract

The purpose of the current study was to evaluate the transferability of 2 different resistance training protocols on service velocity and its precision consistency in junior tennis players. Thirty-six male athletes (15.03 ± 1.64 years) were randomly assigned to a machine-based resistance-training group (RG, n = 12), a plyometric training group (PG, n = 12), and a control group (CG, n = 12). For a period of 8 weeks, both intervention groups resistance trained 2 days per week in addition to their regular tennis training, whereas the CG had no extra training. Mean service velocity over 20 maximum-velocity serves increased significantly more in PG (3.78%; p < .05) when compared with CG, whereas no such changes could be found in the RG (1.18%; p > .05). Service precision did not change from pre- to posttest in all three groups (p > .05). Only the plyometric training program tested, improved mean service velocity over 20 maximum-velocity serves in junior tennis players but did not affect service precision.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Randomized Controlled Trial

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Analysis of Variance
  • Anthropometry
  • Athletic Performance*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Muscle Strength / physiology*
  • Plyometric Exercise / methods*
  • Reference Values
  • Resistance Training / methods*
  • Task Performance and Analysis
  • Tennis / education
  • Tennis / physiology*
  • Time Factors