Training Protocol to Improve the Padel Smash: A Seven-Week Pilot Study on High-Level Male Players

The aims of this pilot study were to design a training protocol to improve the padel smash, based on the practice of medicine ball throws (shot put) and smashes (powerful smashes and smashes over the side fence), and to test the effectiveness of the designed training protocol. Four high-level male F...

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Main Authors: Rafael Conde-Ripoll, Álvaro Bustamante-Sánchez, Sergio J. Ibáñez, Diego Muñoz, Iván Martín-Miguel, Adrián Escudero-Tena
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-03-01
Series:Applied Sciences
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/7/3754
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author Rafael Conde-Ripoll
Álvaro Bustamante-Sánchez
Sergio J. Ibáñez
Diego Muñoz
Iván Martín-Miguel
Adrián Escudero-Tena
author_facet Rafael Conde-Ripoll
Álvaro Bustamante-Sánchez
Sergio J. Ibáñez
Diego Muñoz
Iván Martín-Miguel
Adrián Escudero-Tena
author_sort Rafael Conde-Ripoll
collection DOAJ
description The aims of this pilot study were to design a training protocol to improve the padel smash, based on the practice of medicine ball throws (shot put) and smashes (powerful smashes and smashes over the side fence), and to test the effectiveness of the designed training protocol. Four high-level male Finnish players completed two weekly sessions, each consisting of four sets of five medicine ball throws (2 kg), followed by five smashes. Sufficient rest between sets and repetitions was ensured to minimize fatigue and reduce injury risk while maximizing power output. Performance was assessed through pre- and post-tests. A paired <i>t</i>-test analyzed the powerful smash, while contingency tables and the Chi-square test (χ<sup>2</sup>) evaluated the smash over the side fence. Three of the four players showed a significant increase in powerful smash distance, while the success rate of smashes over the side fence improved but did not reach statistical significance. These findings suggest that the designed training protocol improves powerful smashes and smashes over the side fence, potentially optimizing performance. Future research with larger samples is needed to refine training guidelines and explore broader implications for performance, injury prevention, and long-term athlete development.
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spelling doaj-art-1a8ad4654ac04114b4e8664fa189eb6d2025-08-20T03:08:44ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172025-03-01157375410.3390/app15073754Training Protocol to Improve the Padel Smash: A Seven-Week Pilot Study on High-Level Male PlayersRafael Conde-Ripoll0Álvaro Bustamante-Sánchez1Sergio J. Ibáñez2Diego Muñoz3Iván Martín-Miguel4Adrián Escudero-Tena5Department of Sports Science, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Sports, Universidad Europea de Madrid, 28670 Madrid, SpainDepartment of Sports Science, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Sports, Universidad Europea de Madrid, 28670 Madrid, SpainFaculty of Sport Sciences, University of Extremadura, 10003 Cáceres, SpainFaculty of Sport Sciences, University of Extremadura, 10003 Cáceres, SpainFaculty of Sport Sciences, University of Extremadura, 10003 Cáceres, SpainFaculty of Sport Sciences, University of Extremadura, 10003 Cáceres, SpainThe aims of this pilot study were to design a training protocol to improve the padel smash, based on the practice of medicine ball throws (shot put) and smashes (powerful smashes and smashes over the side fence), and to test the effectiveness of the designed training protocol. Four high-level male Finnish players completed two weekly sessions, each consisting of four sets of five medicine ball throws (2 kg), followed by five smashes. Sufficient rest between sets and repetitions was ensured to minimize fatigue and reduce injury risk while maximizing power output. Performance was assessed through pre- and post-tests. A paired <i>t</i>-test analyzed the powerful smash, while contingency tables and the Chi-square test (χ<sup>2</sup>) evaluated the smash over the side fence. Three of the four players showed a significant increase in powerful smash distance, while the success rate of smashes over the side fence improved but did not reach statistical significance. These findings suggest that the designed training protocol improves powerful smashes and smashes over the side fence, potentially optimizing performance. Future research with larger samples is needed to refine training guidelines and explore broader implications for performance, injury prevention, and long-term athlete development.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/7/3754racket sportspadel smashperformancegame actionsquasi-experimental studymedicine ball throw
spellingShingle Rafael Conde-Ripoll
Álvaro Bustamante-Sánchez
Sergio J. Ibáñez
Diego Muñoz
Iván Martín-Miguel
Adrián Escudero-Tena
Training Protocol to Improve the Padel Smash: A Seven-Week Pilot Study on High-Level Male Players
Applied Sciences
racket sports
padel smash
performance
game actions
quasi-experimental study
medicine ball throw
title Training Protocol to Improve the Padel Smash: A Seven-Week Pilot Study on High-Level Male Players
title_full Training Protocol to Improve the Padel Smash: A Seven-Week Pilot Study on High-Level Male Players
title_fullStr Training Protocol to Improve the Padel Smash: A Seven-Week Pilot Study on High-Level Male Players
title_full_unstemmed Training Protocol to Improve the Padel Smash: A Seven-Week Pilot Study on High-Level Male Players
title_short Training Protocol to Improve the Padel Smash: A Seven-Week Pilot Study on High-Level Male Players
title_sort training protocol to improve the padel smash a seven week pilot study on high level male players
topic racket sports
padel smash
performance
game actions
quasi-experimental study
medicine ball throw
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/7/3754
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