Effect of Low-intensity Plyometric Training on Balance, Hand–Eye Coordination, and Power among Badminton Players

A bstract Introduction: Badminton is a popular sport that requires multiple components of physical fitness, including endurance, agility, strength, explosive power, speed, flexibility, balance, and coordination. Players rely heavily on hand–eye coordination to respond to the unpredictable trajectory of the shuttlecock while performing rapid and precise movements. Although high-intensity plyometric training is effective, it is often associated with muscle soreness and an increased risk of injury, whereas evidence regarding low-intensity protocols remains limited. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of low-intensity plyometric training on balance, hand–eye coordination, and explosive power among badminton players. Materials and Methods: A pretest and posttest controlled experimental design was employed with 60 participants, equally divided into an experimental group and a control group through convenient and purposive sampling. The experimental group received low-intensity plyometric training in addition to regular badminton practice, whereas the control group continued their usual training program. Balance, hand–eye coordination, and lower-limb explosive power were assessed as the primary outcome measures. Results: Data were analyzed using IBM Statistical Package for the Social Sciences software with a significance level of 5% and a 95% confidence interval to compare within-group and between-group means. These findings demonstrated significant improvements in balance and hand–eye coordination in both groups, with greater gains observed in the experimental group. However, vertical jump performance, used as a measure of explosive leg power, did not show a significant improvement. Conclusion: Low-intensity plyometric training is an effective strategy for improving balance and hand–eye coordination in badminton players. These findings suggest that incorporating low-intensity plyometric exercises into training programs may enhance performance by improving coordination and postural stability while minimizing the risks commonly associated with high-intensity protocols.