Performance Testing of Tennis and Squash Players

Abstract

Tennis and squash coaches usually feel, rightly or wrongly, that their competence lies in being able to attend to three aspects of the game; skill, strategy and psychological preparation. Those labelled with the responsibility of preparing top-class teams often look to advice from the physical educator to measure and develop the other important components; stamina, speed and strength. It is the purpose of this paper to describe batteries of tests that have been used successfully to measure the stamina, speed and strength of top-class tennis and squash players in Western Australia. Coaches can then prescribe individualized training programmes based on diagnoses obtained from these test results. Subjects The subjects who completed the tennis performance test battery were junior and senior members of the Western Australia tennis squad vying for positions in the teams to contest the Linton and Wilson Cups and the different State open championships throughout Australia. The subjects who undertook the squash performance test battery were senior members of the Western Australian mens' squash squad competing for places in the team to represent the State in the Australian championships.