The effect of physical training on hitting performance in sport: A systematic review

Physical training is being used to improve hitting performance in sports such as golf, baseball and tennis. Despite close correlations between physical capacities and hitting performance the most effective way to train for performance, remains unclear, with interventions ranging from whole body resistance training to ballistic training, to specific training. The aim is to review studies which have used these three interventions which vary in exercise selection, length of intervention, intensity of training and population, and to comment on how successful they were in improving hitting performance. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were used to perform a systematic search to identify eligible articles through PubMed, Sports discuss and PROQUEST. The search returned 2183 articles with 19 meeting the eligibility criteria from three different sports (golf, baseball, and tennis). Whole body resistance and ballistic training had 10 intervention articles each, with specific training having 3 interventions that were included. Whole body interventions which lasted more than 12 weeks with 2 sessions or more per week showed an increase of 28% in tennis serve speed over 36 weeks. Ballistic training involving throwing of medicine balls at high velocities, yielded an increase of 15% in golf clubhead speed. Specific training using over and under weighted bats across 6 weeks increased bat velocity by 8–13% in baseball. Practitioners could use all 3 intervention types to improve hitting performance but should consider the key role that each intervention can play in optimizing a player's hitting performance.