Association between upper extremity dynamic balance and shooting accuracy in young handball players

Background. Upper extremity dynamic balance (UEDB) is essential for coordination, stability, and performance in sports involving upper limb movements, such as handball. In handball, shooting accuracy is a critical skill influenced by multiple physical factors. Investigating the link between UEDB and shooting performance may provide insights for improving athletic training strategies. Objective. This study aimed to determine the association between young handball players’ precise shooting performance and their UEDB scores. Methods. Nine female and ten male handball players from the province of Ordu voluntarily participated in this study. Accurate shooting performance tests, the Y Balance Test (YBT), and height and weight measurements were conducted. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS 25.0 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY). The Shapiro–Wilk test was used to check normality, Pearson’s correlation coefficient was applied to examine associations, and the independent t-test was used to compare sexes. The significance level was set at p < 0.05. Results. No statistically significant correlations were found between shooting performance and UEDB scores. Accurate (r = –0.202, p > 0.05) and inaccurate (r = 0.202, p > 0.05) shots did not significantly correlate with right-hand UEDB scores. Similarly, accurate (r = 0.202, p > 0.05) and inaccurate (r = –0.007, p > 0.05) shots showed no significant correlation with left-hand UEDB scores. No significant sex differences were observed (p > 0.05). The average UEDB scores were 86.98 ± 7.77 cm (right) and 87.06 ± 7.74 cm (left), with a mean age of 14.63 ± 0.89 years. Conclusion. No significant relationship was found between UEDB scores and accurate shooting performance in young handball players.