The Effect of the Circular Training Method on Hand Reaction Time, Endurance, and Stroke Speed in Table Tennis Players

Abstract: This study examined the effects of a six-week circuit training program on hand reaction time, aerobic endurance, and stroke speed in table tennis athletes. A to-tal of 48 university athletes (18–21 years) with at least one year of training experience participated voluntarily. Participants were randomly assigned to an experimental group (n = 24) and a control group (n = 24), using a pre-test–post-test controlled de-sign. Hand reaction time was measured with the CatchPad Reaction Timer, aerobic endurance via the Shuttle Run Test, and forehand/backhand stroke speeds using a handheld radar device. The experimental group performed an eight-station circuit training program three times per week for six weeks, while the control group conti-nued their regular training. Data analysis included the Shapiro–Wilk test, Mann–Whitney U test, and Wilcoxon signed-rank test (p 0.05). Significant improvements were observed in the experimental group for MaxVO₂, running distance, reaction time, and stroke speeds (p 0.05). Post-test comparisons showed higher MaxVO₂ and run-ning distance in the experimental group (p 0.05), whereas no significant differences were found for reaction time or stroke speed (p 0.05). In conclusion, circuit training effectively improves aerobic endurance and overall physical performance in table ten-nis athletes; however, its impact on technical skills appears limited, indicating the need for longer-term and sport-specific training approaches.