Effect of visual training in tennis performance : a randomized controlled trial

INTRODUCTION: Tennis is a direct opposition sport in which the result of the game is directly influenced by the interaction with the opponent. Therefore, the athlete has to respond to the different playing situations analysing in a short period of time direction, speed and rotation of the ball. “Visual training” is a training method that helps to receive and process different information optimizing the subsequent performance with extreme precision and dexterity. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate how this training method could affect visual and tennis performance in junior tennis players. METHODS: This was a randomized controlled trial in which 18 junior tennis players were recruited and randomized to either en experimental group (EG; n=10; age 15±3 years; body mass 52±11 kg; height 1.67±0.1m) that performed 30 min visual training after the warm-up or a control group (CG; age 15±3.1; body mass 53.5±12kg; height 1.7±0.1) that was involved in a standard training. Players were tested before and after 12weeks of training (3 session/week) with Motor Brain application (iOS 7.1 version, University of Udine) for off court reaction time measurement, QLIPPTM sensor for backhand, forehand and serve sweet spot and speed, and Kinovea software (Version 0.8.15, France) to evaluate the time course between split steep and shoulder rotation. Results are given as mean ± standard deviation (SD). T0 and T12 intervention intra- and intergroup differences between EG and CG were checked using two-way analysis of variants with Tukey post-hoc test. RESULTS: No significant differences regarding off court reaction time during the two signals and four signals reaction time measured with Motor Brain application were noted. Regarding specific tennis performance improvement over baseline were noted for the time course speed between split steep and shoulder rotation for forehand (0.84±0.07 vs 0.57±0.11 sec, p=0.0008), backhand (1.02±0.12 vs 0.66±0.12 sec, p=0.001), and return of serve (0.96±0.13 vs 0.72±0.08 sec, p=0.0007). In addition an improvement over baseline values for second serve speed was noted (59.6±34.9 vs 122.6±32.8 km/h, p=0.0008). Differences were noted in post-intervention for the time course speed between split steep and shoulder rotation for forehand (0.57±0.11 vs 0.90±0.15 sec, p=0.0001), backhand (0.66±0.12 vs 0.95±0.17 sec, p=0.012), return of serve (0.72±0.08 vs 1.08±0.11 sec, p<0.0001) and second serve speed (122.6±32.8 vs 84.7±24.1 km/h, p=0.043). CONCLUSION: Visual training improved specific tennis performance in junior tennis players. Incorporating this type of training into the workout routines may optimize precision and dexterity of tennis performance.