Effects of 4-week training with balls of different weights on throwing velocity in handball players

This study compared the effects of training programs based on the repetition of specific throws and non-specific throws with different loads to determine their relationship to throwing velocity in handball players. Twenty-four handball players (age: 21.3 ± 3.5 years; body mass: 83.7 ± 13.5 kg; height: 182 ± 8.4 cm) with experience in this sport (years of experience: 11.5 ± 4.2 years) were divided into 3 groups, each group undertaking a training program with different loads (medicine ball, specific handball ball or tennis ball). Throw velocity was assessed in standing throws from 7 m and 3-step jump throws from 9 m. The results show no significant differences in throw velocity from pretest to posttest between the different experimental groups after participating in the training programs for 4 weeks, indicating that this training period may be too short to induce significant change.