Similar adaptive responses in the upper body physical performance of table tennis players following the traditional and cluster set resistance and plyometric training

Numerous studies have investigated the impact of resistance training (RT) and plyometric training (PT) set configurations (cluster sets [CS] and traditional sets [TS]) on lower body performance adaptations. However, the effects of these training modalities on upper body physical performance, particularly among Table Tennis (TT) players, remain unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the effects of an 8-week RT and PT using CS and TS configurations on the physical performance attributes of male TT players. Forty young male players were recruited from a local academy and after determining their dominant hand, divided into CS-PT, TS-PT, CS-RT, TS-RT, and active control (CON) groups, each of eight. Pre- and post-interventions, the upper body muscular power (medicine ball throw), maximal strength (bench press), reaction time, and arm crank anaerobic power test were measured. Following the intervention, the CON group exhibited no changes; however, the CS-PT, TS-PT, CS-RT, and TS-RT groups displayed significant (p = 0.001) improvements in muscular power (effect size [ES] = 1.21 [large], 1.02 [medium], 0.81 [medium], 0.64 [medium]), strength (ES = 0.40 [small], 0.43 [small], 0.62 [medium], 0.63 [medium]), reaction time (ES = - 0.71 [medium], - 0.68 [medium], - 0.83 [medium], - 0.61 [medium]), peak power (ES = 1.83 [large], 1.66 [large], 0.90 [medium], 0.67 [medium]), and mean power (ES = 0.89 [medium], 0.89 [medium], 0.57 [small], 0.59 [small]), respectively. The PT groups indicated significantly greater changes than the RT groups in both muscular (CS, p = 0.021; TS, p = 0.018) and anaerobic power (peak power: CS, p = 0.017; TS, p = 0.011; mean power: CS, p = 0.024; TS, p = 0.042) performance, while the RT groups showed greater adaptive responses than the PT groups in maximal strength (CS, p = 0.033; TS, p = 0.048). In conclusion, PT is recommended for enhancing power performance, while RT is preferred for increasing strength. When various set configurations were incorporated, no further effects were noted.