LAUSR

PURPOSE This study aimed to examine the post-activation potentiation effect on serve velocity and accuracy in young competition tennis players by using complex training and comparing different upper and lower body heavy load resistance exercises. METHODS Fifteen competition tennis players (9 boys and 6 girls, age 15.6 ± 1.5 years) performed 1 control session and 3 experimental sessions using heavy load resistance exercises in a crossover-randomized design: (1) bench press (BP), (2) half squat (HS), (3) BP plus HS, and (4) control trial. Heavy load resistance exercises were performed by accomplishing 3 sets of 3 repetitions at 80% 1RM, lifting the load at maximum speed. To assess the serve velocity and accuracy, all participants performed 32 flat serves after the heavy load resistance exercises, divided into 4 sets of 8 serves (0, 5, 10, 15 minutes post-exercise), resting 20 seconds between serves and 2 minutes and 40 seconds between sets. RESULTS There were no significant (p>0.05) differences in ball velocity and accuracy following each recovery time and exercise, compared to the basal situation. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that complex training using heavy load resistance exercises is not a useful method for eliciting the post-activation potentiation effect in tennis serve and does not have any effect in serve accuracy in young competition tennis players.