Resumen de Can Laboratory-Based Tennis Profiles Predict Field Tests of Tennis Performance?
Arlette C. Perry, Xuewen Wang, Brandon B. Feldman, Tiffany Ruth, Joseph F. Signorile
The present study examined the impact of physical characteristics of adolescent competitive tennis players (13�18 years) on field tests of tennis performance. Results (n 5 33) showed that boys were taller (p 5 0.001), possessed greater wingspan (p 5 0.030), had greater maximum oxygen consumption (p 5 0.001), and performed better on isokinetic strength measurements. Multiple regression analyses controlling for age and sex showed that height (p 5 0.025), maximum minute ventilation (p 5 0.005), and isokinetic strength measurements significantly and positively affected ball velocity. Knee extension average power was the only variable to positively and significantly affect ball placement (p 5 0.040); however, several isokinetic strength measurements negatively affected ball placement.
For the nondominant side, down-the-line strokes showed reduced accuracy (p 5 0.001) and ball velocity (p 5 0.001) compared with cross-court strokes. Given our results, resistance training may be beneficial for the performance of on-court tennis play.
