This paper describes various performance batteries used to measure stamina, speed and strength of tennis and squash players from Western Australia. Only the information relating to squash will be presented below. The reasoning behind the testing was so that coaches could prescribe training programs to the players.
Method – How did the authors conduct the test:
For this study, 15 senior male players from the Western Australian Squash Team participated. The testing battery was composed of:
Physical Characteristics – measurements of height, weight and body fat. Body fat was calculated using a sum of four sites regression formula. The four sites measured were the triceps, sub-scapular, suprailiac and mid abdominal.
Stamina Tests – this was tested using a PWC170 bicycle ergometer test. The PWC170 is a physical work capacity test that is supposed to elicit/predict an athletes power output in watts at a heart rate of 170 beats a minute. This can be further extrapolate to estimate maximal power outputs. The test typically runs for 12 minutes with fixed wattage’s for each interval which last 4 minutes each. This can be further used to give rough estimate of someone’s VO2max and has various limitations.
Speed – Squash speed test. This test was a timed run whereby the players had to run through a typical squash pattern and touch their racket on a stationary ball mount. See the paper for the full description. Note: Based off a rough estimation from the distances provided, a total distance of 41.13 meters was covered in this test. Again this is a rough estimation based, take with a grain of salt. If 0.5 meters was taken off each mark that the players touched the ball, it would be roughly 39.13 meters’ distance covered in the test.
Strength – Measured shoulder extension and wrist palmer flexion strength (wrist curl).
Results – What did the authors find:
The following points illustrate the findings of the authors; please note, the height and weight of the players were not published.
Body fat mean from the four site estimate: 12%.
Mean PWC170: 1211.9kgm/min or 198 Watts in absolute terms. Conversions = Kgm/min to Watts = multiply kg.min x 0.164 or to convert Watts to Kg/min = multiply Watts x 6.118 Watts
Squash Court Speed Test Mean: 9.76 seconds. Based off the distances calculated from the dimensions of the test, it can be estimated that players were moving at a velocity of 4.21m.sec-1. If we account for the racket in the test players would have a velocity of 4.01m.sec-1. Again, note these values are estimations.
Strength Test Mean: Shoulder Extension 59.5kg and Wrist Flexion 28.5kg.
These results were used to prescribe various training programs. As far as this information is concerned, little can be derived from it for practical use in this day and age outside of normative data. Many of these tests would not be used today due as they are largely irrelevant, though it is always good to look back at what has been done by previous generations scholars as these were early tests done by researchers.
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Yours Truly,
Dominic Benacquista - Global Squash Coach
Reference:
Pyke, S., Elliott, C., & Pyke, E. (1974). Performance testing of tennis and squash players. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 8(2-3), 80.