International Journal of Racket Sports Science

Physical strength factors affecting the competitive level of Japanese male tennis players

Nahoko Koya, Tetsu Kitamura — Thu, 18 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Technical skills are predominant factors in tennis, so players spend a significant amount of time on court technical training with a racket. Devoting the same time as on-court technical training to physical training without a racket is quite difficult. However, as the competition level increases, many players realize the importance of their physical strength and fitness. From the perspective that higher physical strength is required depending on the competition level, clarifying the extent of the difference between domestic and global levels will be a practically useful and developmental training indicator. Therefore, this study aimed to identify physical strength factors that serve as a guideline for competing internationally and examine physical strength indicators in 54 Japanese male tennis players. The players performed five physical strength tests (5-meter sprint, T-test, 505 agility test, vertical jump, and medicine ball throw (MBT)). Multiple regression analysis was performed, and a significant regression equation was extracted, with the MBT and T-test as independent variables, which could predict competitive rankings (Y=11032.87+845.34x₁ − 5768.43X₂ (x₁: MBT, x₂: T-test), F=17.67, p<0.001). The contribution rate of this equation was 41.9% (r=0.647); approximately 42% of competitive rankings could be explained by the MBT and T-test. The novel finding of this study is that for Japanese male tennis players to become world-class players, physical strength factors related to the MBT and T-test could be strengthened. Furthermore, these indicators could be used to identify talents among junior players.

Effect Of Badminton Sport in Improving Heart Rate Variability and Body Composition of Overweight and Obese Amateur Badminton Players – A Randomized Control Trial

Dobson Dominic, Sneha Thirugnana Sambandam, Harshavardhini Anburaj — Mon, 27 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Regular physical exercise enhances autonomic function in obese individuals, as indicated by heart rate variability (HRV). While badminton, a high-intensity interval sport, may offer similar benefits, its empirical investigation remains limited. This single-blind, randomized control trial evaluated the impact of badminton on heart rate variability (HRV) and body composition in overweight and obese (BMI between 23 and 30 kg/m2) recreational players. 100 participants were randomly assigned to either a badminton intervention group or a control group. The intervention group engaged in 60-90 minutes of moderate- intensity badminton and gym-based resistance training, while the control group followed a regimen combining gym-based aerobic exercise and resistance training. Baseline and post-intervention measurements included HRV indices, total body fat percentage (TBF%), waist-hip ratio (WHR), and body mass index (BMI). Results showed significant improvements in HRV for both groups, with the intervention group exhibiting greater increases in Root Mean Square of Successive Differences (RMSSD) (41.32±10.58 to 58.06±5.57) and Standard Deviation of Normal R-R intervals (SDNN) (50.94±10.91 to 62.16±5.97) compared to the control group (RMSSD: p = 0.026; SDNN: p<0.001). Additionally, both groups experienced significant reductions in BMI and TBF%, with the intervention group showing more pronounced changes (BMI: p<0.001; TBF%: p<0.001 and WHR :p<0.001). The findings suggest that structured badminton training effectively enhances HRV and improves body composition in overweight and obese individuals, supporting its potential as a beneficial physical activity for this population. Future studies should explore the long-term effects of badminton on diverse populations to validate its benefits further.

The Relationships Between the Functional Movement Screening Test (FMS) Scores and Technical and Physical Performance Parameters in Female Tennis Players

Mustafa Söğüt, Koray Biber, Hasan Ödemiş, İsmet Tarık Ulusoy — Wed, 17 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Functional Movement Screening (FMS) test is a frequently used assessment tool that evaluates the fundamental movement patterns of athletes. However, there is a paucity of information on the relationship of FMS with the performance determinants in racket sports players. The purpose of this study was to examine the associations between FMS test scores and technical and physical performance parameters in recreational female tennis players, providing initial insight into this relationship. Twelve participants (age = 24.2 ± 3.8 years) were measured for various parameters. The collected data included anthropometrics, FMS scores, serve speed and accuracy, countermovement jump, grip strength, agility, and linear speed. The results revealed a positive and significant (p = 0.042) correlation between FMS score and serve accuracy performance. On the other hand, the FMS scores were not significantly associated with countermovement jump (p = 0.115), grip strength (p = 0.165), agility (p = 0.093), 10m sprint (p = 0.121), and serve speed (p = 0.514) performances. The findings highlighted that the movement quality scores evaluated through the FMS may not be associated with physical performance indicators in female tennis players.

Plyometric Training in Tennis: A Narrative Review on Power, Agility, and Change of Direction Performance

Michele Perniola, Rodolfo Lisi, Andrea Dimauro — Wed, 17 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000

This narrative review explores how plyometric training (PT) contributes to improving key performance components in tennis, including sprint speed, agility, muscular power, and change of direction (CoD) ability. A structured literature search was carried out in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases up to December 2023, focusing on studies involving tennis and other racquet sport athletes. Overall, the reviewed evidence indicates that PT can enhance sprint performance by approximately 5-7%, vertical jump height by 4-8%, and change of direction (CoD) ability, with moderate effect sizes (0.40-0.60, p < 0.05). These improvements are primarily linked to better neuromuscular coordination and more efficient use of the stretch-shortening cycle (SSC). PT appears particularly valuable for adolescent players, as it requires minimal equipment, is accessible in different training settings, and supports both performance enhancement and injury prevention. Coaches and conditioning professionals are encouraged to integrate PT two to three times per week, allowing sufficient recovery between sessions to maximize performance gains and limit fatigue.

Warming up for Safety: A National Survey of Pickleball Players Warm-Up Practices and Preferences

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Pickleball is America’s fastest-growing sport, with over 20% of the United States population participating annually. An exercise-based warm-up program is a primary target for injury prevention in sports. To guide the development of a pickleball-specific warm-up and recovery program, we examined specific constructs (e.g., injury prevention perceptions, warm-up knowledge, practices and preferences) in players across the United States. We surveyed United States-based pickleball players (≥18 years, playing ≥1x/month). Descriptive statistics and logistic regression explored injury prevention practices, and best-worst scaling identified preferred warm-up components. A total of 1758 pickleball players (mean age: 62.7±13.0 years; 55.3% women) completed the survey. 83.8% of players rated injury prevention as highly important. Many (80.2%) reported low-to-moderate knowledge, and few (22.9%) had injury prevention training. While 60.1% regularly engaged in warm-up, 32.0% included static stretching in their warm-up. Players relied on online sources (27.2%) and healthcare professionals (18.5%) for injury prevention information. Older players (≥65 years) were more likely to use static stretching (OR: 1.21, 95% CI: 1.01–1.47; p = 0.042). The most influential attributes for an “ideal” warm-up participation were "research evidence-based" (score = 387), "takes less than 5 minutes to complete" (score = 371), and "contributes to performance" (score = 273). The least preferred option was "two levels of exercise progression" (score = -83). Most pickleball players value injury prevention but have limited knowledge. Static stretching, an ineffective means of warm-up, is a common practice among pickleball players. This study establishes baseline data on warm-up preferences for a pickleball-specific warm-up.