DIFFERENCES IN FOREHAND AND BACKHAND PERFORMANCE IN YOUNG TENNIS PLAYERS

The aim of the present study was to assess the performance of tennis groundstrokes by young tennis players of both sexes, aged 12 to 15 years. The sample comprised 60 tennis players (boys and girls) aged 13.61 (±1.48) years, with the average game experience of 3.78 (±1.80) years. The players ’ performance was measured using two parameters, i.e. accuracy and score, during forehand and backhand drive tests. The assessment of test reliability was statistically significant (r>0.83). The statistical analysis of the results used a two-way ANOVA and revealed statistically significant differences in the performance in all three age groups (12-13, 13-14, 14-15 year-olds). Also, statistically significant differences were found between the forehand and backhand shots (p<0.001). However, the players ’ sex had a non-significant influence on scoring points. The study results do not indicate any differences in tennis performance between the sexes of the age groups in question after completion of a valid test. The differences in boys ’ and girls’ competitiveness are not assessed through a simple test but through a more complex procedure and are evident only during game participation and ranking. Conversely, the difference in performance at the age of 12-15 years as well as the prevalence of one strike (fh) over the other (bh), are both statistically significant. It is not players ’ sex but their age and the prevalence of the forehand over the backhand performance which determine and differentiate training curricula for young tennis players aged 12-15 years