Physiological, Perceptual, and Technical Responses to On-Court Tennis Training on Hard and Clay Courts

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of court surface (clay vs. hard court) on technical, physiological, and perceptual responses to on-court tennis training. Four high-performance junior male players performed 2 identical training sessions on hard and clay courts, respectively. Sessions included both physical conditioning and technical elements as led by the coach. Each session was filmed for later notational analysis of stroke count and error rates. Furthermore, players wore a global positioning satellite device to measure distance covered during each session, while heart rate, countermovement jump distance, and capillary blood measures of metabolites were measured before, during, and after each session. Additionally, a respective coach and athlete rating of perceived exertion (RPE) were measured after each session. Total duration and distance covered during each session were comparable (p > 0.05; d < 0.20). Although forehand and backhands stroke volume did not differ between sessions (p > 0.05; d < 0.30), large effects for increased unforced and forced errors were present on the hard court (p > 0.05; d > 0.90). Furthermore, large effects for increased heart rate, blood lactate, and RPE values were evident on clay compared with hard courts (p > 0.05; d > 0.90). Additionally, although player and coach RPE on hard courts were similar, there were large effects for coaches to underrate the RPE of players on clay courts (p > 0.05; d > 0.90). In conclusion, training on clay courts results in trends for increased heart rate, lactate, and RPE values, suggesting that sessions on clay courts tend towards higher physiological and perceptual loads than hard courts. Furthermore, coaches seem effective at rating player RPE on hard courts but may underrate the perceived exertion of sessions on clay courts.

The development of fatigue during match-play tennis

“…These examples explicitly highlight that there is a reduction in neuromuscular function, particularly of the lower body, during match-play greater than 2 h. Further, maximal voluntary contraction is reported to be reduced over consecutive days of match-play 22. Interestingly, there is contrary evidence that reports no difference in neuromuscular performance (countermovement jump height) at various stages throughout 90 min of similarly intensive on-court work 52. However, the discrepancies reported here are likely due to the duration and intensity of the type of on-court work performed.…”

The Activity Profile of Young Tennis Athletes Playing on Clay and Hard Courts: Preliminary Data

“…Such differences may be related, among other factors, to the different surfaces on which the tournaments are held. On clay courts the velocity of the ball is slower than on hard courts due to the trajectory of the ball after it bounces on the ground and the selection of topspin (Haake et al, 2000; Reid et al, 2013). Furthermore, on clay courts, the duration of rallies is longer and more often played on the baseline than on hard courts.…”

“…Although the physiological responses on different surfaces have been described, less attention has been paid to the kinematic differences between tennis matches played on different surfaces. The only study using the global positioning system (GPS) technology to quantify tennis players’ locomotor activities comparing clay and hard courts involved solely training sessions composed of ball drills (Reid et al, 2013). No study to date has been conducted during tennis matches.…”

Biomechanical responses to changes in friction on a clay court surface

“…4,5 Strategies previously suggested to 4 reduce potentially high loading on high friction surfaces have included longer braking time,…”