Upper and Lower Body Strength in Relation to Ball Speed during a Serve by Male Collegiate Tennis Players

Abstract

The relation of leg, shoulder, and grip strength to ball speed in the tennis serve was investigated. For 15 collegiate male tennis players, leg and shoulder strength were measured using a Lido Active isokinetic dynamometer, grip strength with a handgrip dynamometer, and ball speed with a radar gun. Regression analysis showed no significant (p<.05) relationship among the strength variables and ball speed. Results were explained in terms of strength not being the only factor involved in producing ball speed during the tennis serve.

The Relationship Between Maximum Isometric Strength and Ball Velocity in the Tennis Serve

“…In this regard, shoulder internal rotation is considered a key element to developing high racket velocities and hence, fast serves (Elliott, 2006; Elliott et al, 1995; Elliott et al, 2003). In contrast to these results, when strength testing was conducted using isokinetic dynamometry, the relationship between shoulder internal rotation and ball serve velocity was found to be low and not statistically significant (Cohen et al, 1994; Pugh et al, 2003; Signorile et al, 2005). This emphasizes the differences between static strength testing (the joint angle and muscle length do not change during contraction) and dynamic strength testing with limb movements at constant velocity around the joint (the velocity of movement is maintained constant by a special dynamometer) (Baltzopoulos and Brodie, 1989).…”

“…In this regard, Signorile et al (2005) found that the multiple regression model using diagonal throwing peak torque was predictive of peak serve speed (r 2 = 0.69; p < 0.0001), and this complex movement (a diagonal throw) includes shoulder flexion and internal rotation. The multivariate analyses conducted previously using isokinetic dynamometry did not include shoulder internal rotation in the best prediction model (Cohen et al, 1994; Pugh et al, 2003), again highlighting the differences between both methods of strength testing (isometric versus isokinetic dynamometry). This previous study found that wrist flexion and elbow extension torque production were highly related to serve velocity (p < 0.01) (Cohen et al, 1994) and that only around 19% of the variance in ball speed was accounted for by knee extension, shoulder rotation and grip strength (Pugh et al, 2003).…”

“…The rest of the variance in serve velocity may be explained by the multifactorial nature of the tennis serve motion as well as the fact that strength is not the only factor involved in producing ball speed during the tennis serve. Ball speed depends on a combination of several factors such as technique, coordination and flexibility (Cohen et al, 1994; Pugh et al, 2003; Reid and Schneiker, 2008). Furthermore, there are other muscular groups that can contribute to serve velocity.…”

“…The relationship between strength levels and serve velocity has been reported using isokinetic testing (Cohen et al, 1994; Pugh et al, 2003; Signorile et al, 2005), but there is little information on the relationships between maximum isometric strength and ball velocity. Due to mechanical and neural significant differences between dynamic and static muscular actions, the use of isometric tests has been considered inappropriate for predicting dynamic performance (Bazyler et al, 2015; Wilson and Murphy, 1996).…”

“…In various athletic populations (i.e., soccer players and wrestlers), strong relationships between isometric strength and performance (i.e., jumping and throwing ability) have been found (Kraska et al, 2009; McGuigan et al, 2006; McGuigan and Winchester, 2008; Stone et al, 2003, 2004). Although previous studies have analyzed the relationship between maximal isometric handgrip strength of the dominant arm and serve velocity (Bonato et al, 2014; Pugh et al, 2003), there is still a paucity of studies analyzing the relationship between maximal isometric strength and different upper and lower limb joints involved in the kinetic chain (i.e., wrist, elbow, shoulder, leg and back). Therefore, the aims of this study were (a) to analyze the relationship between maximum isometric strength levels in different upper and lower limb joints involved in the service kinetic chain and serve velocity in competitive tennis players, and (b) to determine a prediction model based on the relationship between these variables.…”