Investigation of the effect of oculo-motor exercise on tennis skills

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of oculo-motor exercises on tennis skills (serve, hewitt, forehand, backhand, ITN). The population of the study consisted of tennis players who had at least three years of tennis history and participated in official competitions, while the sample group consisted of 20 tennis players playing sports within Trabzon Metropolitan Municipality. The study groups were randomly divided into two groups of 10 each, experimental and control groups. Both groups continued their normal training, in addition, the experimental group was given oculo-motor exercises for 8 weeks in 2 sets of 10 minutes daily 6 days a week. In this study, pre-test post-test design with control group was determined as the method to examine the effect of the independent variable on the dependent variable. In the study; shot speed (with radar device), serve speed, serve accuracy test, tennis skill test (Hewitt test), and ITN test were performed. In the numerical presentation of the data, arithmetic mean, standard deviation, standard error, confidence interval value (95% confidence interval) and normal distribution statistics (Shapiro-Wilks) tests, it was determined that the data showed normal distribution. Two-way analysis of variance for mixed measures, one of the parametric tests appropriate to the research design, was used to analyze the data. As a result of the tests applied to the athletes; it was found that there was a significant difference in the results of right serve maximal throwing speed pre-test-post-test score, forehand and backhand depth stroke scores, pre-test-post-test results of serving distances to the right and left service box, and pre-test-post-test results of serving scores to the right service box (p<,001, p<0,05). As a result of the study; the hypothesis that oculo-motor exercises applied in tennis players have an effect on tennis skills was supported. Key words: Visual exercises, tennis, Oculo-motor exercises.