Takahashi Kenji^1,, Shin-ichi Demura²

This study aimed to compare the grip strengths and laterality of dominant and non-dominant hands with respect to age among 468 male elite soft-tennis players who participated in a national athletic meet in Japan. The players ranged in age from 12 to 29 years and were classified into 12 groups according to age, with players older than 23 years old comprising a single group. Grip strength was measured twice in both hands, and the larger value for each hand was used as the representative value. We evaluated the difference in grip strength between the dominant and non-dominant hands as a variable. Statistical analysis identified significant differences between the 12-year-old group and all age groups over 14 years, and between the 13-year-old group and all age groups over 15 years. In addition, small differences were observed among age groups over 14 years. In conclusion, among male elite soft-tennis players who had participated in technical tennis training since childhood, grip strength laterality became remarkable at ages older than 14 years but generally remained constant at ages older than 17 years.

upper limb strength, dynamometer, competitive racket sports