The Effects of Six Weeks of Core Training on Service Speed and Certain Motor Characteristics in Tennis Players

Aim: This study was conducted to determine the effects of six weeks of core training on service speed, vertical jump, 5m,10m, and 20m sprint speeds in young tennis players. Method: A total of 20 tennis players aged 13-15 years, 10 male and 10 female, voluntarily participated in the study, which employed a pre-test/post-test experimental model with no control group. In addition to the routine tennis training, the participating athletes engaged in core training three days per week for six weeks. Measurements and tests were made to determine the service speed and certain biomotor characteristics of the athletes before and after the training. Statistical analyses of the data were performed using the SPSS program. Results: The paired samples t-test was used for normally distributed data. According to the study findings, the post-test values were higher for the service speed and vertical jump tests of the young tennis players than the pre-test values (p˂.05). For the 5m, 10m, and 20m speed tests, the post-test values were significantly lower compared to the pre-test values (p˂.05). Conclusion: As a result, the six-week core training program carried out by the young tennis players was found to improve service speed along with motor characteristics pertaining to jumping and speed. Therefore, core training programs may be recommended for improving overall sports performance as they yielded increased service speed in young tennis players within a very brief period of just six weeks.