Does Test Duration Matter? Comparing 1‐s and 5‐s Isometric Mid‐Thigh Pull Protocols for Performance Diagnostics in Basketball Players

ABSTRACT To compare kinetic characteristics of a 1‐s isometric mid‐thigh pull (IMTP) protocol with the traditional 5‐s protocol and examine their associations with basketball‐specific performance. Twenty‐five Tier 3 male basketball players performed standardized 1‐s and 5‐s IMTP trials. Performance assessments included 20‐m linear sprint times (0–5, 0–10, and 0–20 m splits), countermovement jump and squat jump height, 505 and t‐test times. The 1‐s protocol produced slightly lower net absolute and relative peak force ( p < 0.05, g = −0.28 to −0.25), but greater rate of force development (RFD) over 0–90, 0–200, and 0–250 ms ( p < 0.05, g = 0.53 to 0.59). Absolute and relative peak force showed significant moderate‐to‐large correlations with 5‐m sprint time ( p < 0.05, r = −0.41 to −0.52), whereas 1‐s RFD over 0–200 and 0–250 ms showed significant moderate‐to‐large correlations, with RFD over 0–200 ms also showing a significant moderate correlation with 20‐m time ( p < 0.05, r = −0.40 to −0.51). Only 5‐s relative peak force showed a significant moderate correlation with 5‐m time ( p < 0.05, r = −0.40). Squat jump height showed significant moderate‐to‐large correlations with peak force and RFD variables in both protocols ( p < 0.05, r = 0.47 to 0.58), whereas countermovement jump height ( p > 0.05, r = 0.13 to 0.39) and change‐of‐direction performance ( p > 0.05, r = −0.27 to 0.01) showed no significant associations. The 1‐s IMTP protocol produced greater RFD despite slightly lower net peak force and showed broader associations with sprint acceleration performance.