Power Testing using Balls

Medicine Balls or the similar Power Balls are commonly used in fitness training and for testing of the upper body strength and explosive power in athletes. THere are also a few tests using other sports balls such as a basketball or baseball. Research has shown a good correlation between these tests and other measures of explosive power in athletes.

When conducting fitness testing which involve throwing balls, it is necessary to allow practice trials for familiarization with the technique required, including optimizing the angle of release and maximizing power output. This may require the subject performing up to 5 or 6 practice trials to obtain a stable score (Duncan et al. 2005).

Power Ball Backwards Overhead Throw

Medicine Ball Tests

• Seated Medicine Ball Throw
• Overhead Medicine Ball Throw
• Standing Medicine Ball Throw
• Underhand Medicine Ball Throw

Power Ball Tests

• Power Ball Chest Launch
• Overhead Power Ball Throw
• Kneeling Overhead Power Ball Throw
• Rotational Power Ball Throw

Throwing Other Balls

• Shot Put Back Throw
• Kneeling basketball throw test — a one-handed throw for distance from the kneeling position.
• Basketball Throw — two-handed push power with your back against a wall.
• Cricket Ball or Baseball Throw Test
• Softball Throw Test

Selected References

• Ikeda Y, Kijima K, Kawabata K, Fuchimoto T, Ito A., Relationship between side medicine-ball throw performance and physical ability for male and female athletes. Eur J Appl Physiol. 2007 Jan;99(1):47-55. Epub 2006 Oct 18.
• Duncan MJ, Al-Nakeeb Y, Nevill AM., Influence of familiarization on a backward, overhead medicine ball explosive power test. Res Sports Med. 2005 Oct-Dec;13(4):345-52.
• Mayhew JL, Bird M, Cole ML, Koch AJ, Jacques JA, Ware JS, Buford BN, Fletcher KM., Comparison of the backward overhead medicine ball throw to power production in college football players. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research 2005 Aug;19(3):514-8.
• Salonia MA, Chu DA, Cheifetz PM, Freidhoff GC., Upper-body power as measured by medicine-ball throw distance and its relationship to class level among 10- and 11-year-old female participants in club gymnastics.Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research 2004 Nov;18(4):695-702.
• Stockbrugger BA, Haennel RG., Contributing factors to performance of a medicine ball explosive power test: a comparison between jump and nonjump athletes.Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research. 2003 Nov;17(4):768-74.
• Stockbrugger, Barry A.; Haennel, Robert G., Validity and Reliability of a Medicine Ball Explosive Power Test. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, v15 n4 p431-38 Nov 2001.