The effects of rapid strength and shooting training applied to professional basketball players on the shot percentage level

The aim of this study is to examine the effects of explosive strength and shooting exercises, which were applied for eight weeks before the season in basketball sport branch, on shot percentage level of elite male basketball players. The study was conducted on 13 professional male basketball players (age average; 26.92 ± 3.04) who are actively playing in the Turkish Basketball Super League. The players were taken into pre-season camp for 12 weeks. At the end of the first four weeks, shooting tests (pre-tests) were applied to the players. Through the last eight weeks of the camp, condition improving practices were continued together with technique-tactic exercises. Through the last eight week of the camp explosive strength exercise program was applied covering 75-80 % of the condition exercise with a frequency of 4-6 times a week. After the explosive strength exercises, shooting exercises (a total of 100 shots in 5 sets, each set 20 shots) were conducted. At the end of the eight-week camp period, the pre-season tests were repeated (post-tests). The shooting tests of the players (pre-tests and post-tests) were conducted in two different numbers and under three different formats, which are, standing free throw, jump shot, and jump shot against defense (1x1). Each player was told to shoot 100 shots in the first test and 10 shots in the second. Totally 8580 shots were analyzed in pre-tests and post-tests. SPSS 18.0 program was used in the analysis of the data, and the significance level was accepted as p<0.01-0.05. In both shooting tests, it was determined that there was a statistically significant difference in p<0.01 level between the average values of pre-tests and post-tests under three formats (standing free throw, jump shot, and jump shot against (1x1) defense). According to the data obtained from the study, it can be concluded that eight-week explosive power exercises have a positive effect on shooting performances particularly at their positions in the game of elite male basketball players.