Comparison of The Effects of Clay and Hard Surface Court Tennis Training on Leg Strength

Authors : Elif Taşkuyu, Sedat Özcan
Pages : 879-888
Doi:10.38021/asbid.1797084
View : 72 | Download : 124
Publication Date : 2025-12-28
Article Type : Research Paper
Abstract :Tennis is a high-paced sport that demands considerable physical capabilities, including muscular strength, which plays a vital role in movement efficiency and injury prevention. Court surface type hard or clay may influence physical performance. This study aimed to investigate the effects of playing on hard and clay courts on the isokinetic strength of the quadriceps and hamstring muscle groups in novice male tennis players. Twelve novice male tennis players participated in this crossover-designed study (mean age: 22.67 ± 1.371 years; height: 179.42 ± 6.360 cm; body weight: 72.92 ± 5.807 kg; body mass index: 22.66 ± 1.696 kg/m²). Each participant completed a 1-hour standardized tennis training session on both hard and clay courts, with a 3-day interval between sessions. The training consisted of five structured drills emphasizing stroke execution and on-court movement. Prior to testing, all participants underwent three familiarization trials with the test procedure. Fifteen minutes after each session, isokinetic strength testing of the dominant leg was performed using a Cybex NORM® isokinetic dynamometer, measuring concentric and eccentric peak torque values (Nm) of the quadriceps and hamstring muscles at an angular velocity of 60°/s. Statistical comparison between the two surfaces was conducted using a paired samples t-test, with significance set at p 0.05). The findings suggest that court surface type does not significantly affect isokinetic lower limb strength in novice male tennis players. Short-term training (acute effect) on different surfaces may not lead to measurable differences in muscular strength; however, further research is needed to explore long-term adaptations.
Keywords : İzokinetik kuvvet, Toprak kort, Sert kort

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