The effect of learning and practicing the mature overarm throwing pattern upon the subsequent acquisition of the circular overarm tennis serve

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of learning and practicing the overarm throwing pattern upon the subsequent acquisition of the overarm tennis serve. Ss were pre-tested for throwing speed and accuracy, and randomly assigned to the experimental or control group. The pre-test scores were used as covariates. The control group (n=23) practiced the serve for 4 weeks. The experimental group (n=25) practiced the overarm throwing pattern for 1 week and the serve for 3 weeks. Each group practiced 4 days/week, 30 minutes/day. Ss were tested by Hewitt’s Tennis Achievement Test and the Wisconsin Wall Test for Serve, for serving accuracy, speed, and a combined score of speed and accuracy. The control group was tested after completing weeks 1, 3 and 4, while the experimental group was tested after completing weeks 2 and 4, of the treatment period. A series of ANCOVA’s were computed to analyze the dependent variables of accuracy, speed, and a combined score from both serving tests for each testing session. No significant differences were found for each testing session. No significant differences were found between groups at testing period 1 or testing period 2. Significance was found when comparing testing period 3 of the control group with testing period 2 of the experimental group, on Hewitt-accuracy and Hewitt-combined. The control group had performed significantly better on these 2 dependent variables.