Dilan KIZIL, Çağdaş Özgür CENGİZEL, Elif CENGİZEL
Turkish Journal of Kinesiology - 2025;11(6):363-373
This research aimed to determine the effects of different ordered plyometric exercises on sprint, reactive agility, and ball speed in adolescent tennis players. Twenty -seven adolescent athletes were randomly divided into three groups: Upper -to-lower extremity plyometric training group (UL, n=9), lower -to-upper extremity plyometric training group (LU, n=9), and control group (CON, n=9). In addition to tennis tra ining, different ordered plyometric trainings were applied for 6 weeks and 3 days a week. To determine the effect of the training, each group completed 10 -meter sprint, reactive agility test, and forehand and backhand stroke ball speed measurements in the pre-post-test design. There was a significant improvement in sprint and reactive agility performance in the UL and LU groups (p<.05). The change -of-direction (CoD) phase time and total reactive agility time were significantly lower in the LU group compared to the other groups (eta2p=large, p<.05). The forehand stroke maximum ball speed increased significantly only in the LU group (p=.009, ES=.43). However, no significant difference in backhand stroke ball speed was observed in any of the groups (p>.05). Significant group x time in teractions were observed for reactive agility, and forehand strokes maximum ball speed (p<.05). These findings demonstrate that different ordered plyometric exercises applied in addition to tennis training improved athletic performance in both training gro ups, while forehand stroke ball speed increased only in the LU group. Strength and conditioning practitioners may prefer a plyometric training program that includes upper extremity exercises after lower extremity exercises to maximize speed, agility, and f orehand stroke ball speed in adolescent tennis players.
