As you remember from my last post (click here to get caught up), you know I’ve been in search of a specific test(s) that is correlated with shot speed.
Well, over the last few weeks I’ve been able to set up a meeting at Binghamton University and test their wrestlers’ shot speed and shot power. I also tested their distances covered during a single horizontal jump from a seated position and during a triple horizontal jump from a seated position.
Here’s a video of me demonstrating the single horizontal jump from a seated position.
And here’s a seated triple jump after a thorough warm-up (sarcasm).
Finally, here’s a quick video of me introducing the Tendo Unit and how I’ve been using it to measure shot speed and power.
The Testing Breakdown:
Each wrestler weighed himself fully clothed before the testing began.
I then had each guy start with 10 shots. They were hooked up as I demonstrated in the video above.
I measured each shot with the Tendo Unit and recorded both Peak Velocity and Peak Power.
I kept my Red Sox hat over the micro-computer so that none of the wrestlers could see their numbers.
Additionally, I didn’t give any verbal encouragement during any of the shots.
The wrestler then moved on to the jumping station where he performed 3 single horizontal jumps from a seated position.
After that, they then completed 3 triple horizontal jumps from the same seated position.
The big flaw that happened during the jumping portion, especially the triple jump, was that the guys were able to see how far their teammates were jumping. As a result, a triple jump competition began.
What I Found:
For anyone who this makes sense to, here’s what my statistician buddy found:
General Linear Model: Peak Velocity versus Mean
Factor Type Levels Values
mean fixed 16 20.52, 23.11, 24.06, 24.14, 24.33, 24.67, 24.94, 25.17,
25.53, 25.88, 26.44, 26.78, 26.83, 26.94, 27.06, 28.78
Analysis of Variance for pv, using Adjusted SS for Tests
Source DF Seq SS Adj SS Adj MS F P
mean 15 6391936 6391936 426129 10.61 0.089
Error 2 80315 80315 40158
Total 17 6472251
S = 200.394 R-Sq = 98.76% R-Sq(adj) = 89.45%
X denotes an observation whose X value gives it large leverage.
What It All Means:
For the Average Joe’s out there here’s what the data means.
We are 90% confident the data shows a correlation between shot speed and triple jump performance.
According to my stats buddy, 90% is not that great. While it is statistically significant, it needs further testing and more data points to increase certainty.
This data is not does not include the error built in for the competitive jumping. He “built in” something to account for error that may have skewed the numbers.
So, to conclude for today, there’s a 90% correlation between shot velocity and triple jump. This means that there is a possible, but not definite, correlation between the performances in these two tests.
Again, please remember how I concluded my last post- “It is important to keep in mind that although a correlation exists, it may not mean that jumping performance is necessarily the cause of sprinting performance.”
So, while a correlation has been found, I will continue to collect and examine data. At this point, it’s not definite that jumping performance can be directly correlated to faster shot speeds.
But, in the same breath, I think the implications are pretty exciting, right?
Hi, I’m Dickie (the author of this blog). Here I am with my good buddy, Kyle Dake. While he doesn't have a nice coat like me, he is pretty good at wrestling. Here's what he said about my training system:
Before I began lifting using Dickie's system my wrestling skills were getting slightly better. I've now been lifting under his guidance for more than 5 months and I have begun to dominating ALL of my competition. At first I had little faith in Dickie and his program, but now I would run into a wall if he told me I would get stronger! I know it sounds insane, but I would. The bottom line is Dickie is an expert and knows what he is talking about. If you want to defeat those kids whom you've always lost to and reach a level you never thought possible, I suggest you start lifting using Dickie's system immediately.
-Kyle Dake, 4X NCAA Division 1 National Champion
2 Comments. Leave new
Dickie,
Glad to receive the update and read your new post. The information is very interesting, and I was sort of getting worried that you had been abducted by aliens or something.
Thanks for all your work on this site and good luck as you finish up your training.
Tim
Ha! Yeah I’m alive and doing very well. This dang homeownership thing got intense for a bit. It probably didn’t help that we moved to much nicer neighborhood where people take great pride in their homes. It’ll be a great long term investment for us, but there was equal incentive because we didn’t want to be “those” neighbors, lol.