Effectiveness of hard court slide braking technique and influencing factors in elite college tennis players

Abstract

Objective

The study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of hard court slide braking technique of elite college tennis players and to analyze the factors that influence the use of hard court slide braking technique.

Methods

A total of 100 elite tennis players (58 males and 42 females) participated in tests involving hard court hit-to-return and Forcedecks Dual Force Plates System-based physical function. Independent samples t-tests, paired samples t-tests and binary logistic regression were employed in data analysis.

Results

The use of slide braking technique on hard courts, compared to traditional methods, led to a 10 % reduction in time for short-distance shots and a 7 % reduction for long-distance shots (p < 0.001). Athletes skilled in the hard court slide braking technique completed the movement faster when they employed traditional braking technique than those who are unskilled in the hard court slide braking technique (p < 0.001). Key factors that significantly influenced the use of slide braking technique included years of training, left hip abduction, 10-m sprint speed, braking leg reactive strength index (RSI), ground reaction force on the braking leg and recovery balance time of the braking leg (p < 0.05).

Conclusions

The findings offer new perspectives into tennis-specific physical training, assisting more tennis players in enhancing their athletic skills effectively.