Effect of different tennis court surfaces on the balance performance of tennis players

Background and Study Aim. Tennis is a high-paced sport that demands significant physical capabilities, including balance, which is crucial for maintaining stability and control during play. The surface on which tennis is played, such as hard or clay courts, can impact these performance aspects differently. This study aimed to investigate the effects of playing tennis on hard and clay courts on the dynamic and static balance performances of novice male tennis players (university students). Material and Methods. Fifteen novice male tennis players (age: 22.80 ± 1.33 years, height: 178.67 ± 7.30 cm, body weight: 73.00 ± 6.88 kg, body mass index: 22.88 ± 0.01%) participated in the study. The participants were randomly assigned to either a clay court or a hard court for the first testing session. The study employed a crossover design. Each testing session included dynamic (eyes open) and static (eyes closed) balance measurements. These were assessed using the Biodex Balance System (BBS) under both conditions. Measurements were conducted 15 minutes after the completion of a 1-hour standard tennis training session on each court surface. The entire study protocol was repeated three days after the first session, with the court surfaces reversed. Results. No significant differences were found in dynamic and static balance performances between the hard and clay courts. However, the static anterior-posterior stability index (APSI) on the clay court showed a significant difference (p = 0.035) in favor of dynamic balance. Conclusions. Dynamic balance on the clay court was generally superior to static balance, especially in the APSI parameter. The study findings suggest that the type of court surface does not significantly impact balance performance, with the exception of anterior-posterior balance on clay courts. These results highlight the potential importance of training on various surfaces to optimize balance and overall performance in tennis.