Plyometric and Ballistic Training Have Similar Effects on Young Amateur Male Wrestlers' Athletic Performance

Abstract Haghighi, AH, Shandiz, HH, Kakhak, SAH, Shahrabadi, H, Coswig, V, and Gentil, P. Plyometric and ballistic training have similar effects on young amateur male wrestlers’ athletic performance. J Strength Cond Res 40(1): 98–105, 2026—This was a quasi-experimental study with a pretest and post-test design aimed at investigating the effects of resistance-plyometric training (RPT) compared with resistance-ballistic training (RBT) on the athletic performance of young amateur male wrestlers. Twenty wrestlers aged 16–18 years were randomly divided into RPT and RBT groups. The experimental groups participated in 3 sessions per week of the RPT or RBT program for 6 weeks in addition to their wrestling training routine during the preseason period. Before and after the intervention, the subjects were assessed for bench press strength, leg press strength, bench press endurance, leg press endurance, t test agility, 3-kg medicine ball throwing performance, Sargent jump performance, and specific wrestling tasks (flying mare, duck under, and rear throw). The results showed that both the RPT and RBT programs improved physical fitness (except for medicine ball throwing, which did not improve in RBT) and specific task performance (flying mare, duck under, and rear throw) with p < 0.05. There were no differences between the RPT and RBT programs in any of the physical fitness indicators or specific task performances ( p > 0.05). Considering that no significant difference was observed between the 2 types of training, young amateur male wrestlers could benefit from both RPT and RBT programs to improve their physical fitness and performance on specific tasks.