Gender-based variations in core strength contribution to shooting efficiency in collegiate basketball players

The study “Gender-Based Variations in Core Strength Contribution to Shooting Efficiency in Collegiate Basketball Players”investigated the gender-based variations in the contribution of core strength to shooting efficiency among collegiate basketball players. A total of 60 athletes (30 males and 30 females), aged between 18 and 24 years, were purposively selected from university-level basketball teams. Core strength was assessed using a composite Functional Core Strength Index (FCSI), derived from standardized tests including plank holds, side planks, and the medicine ball chest throw, adjusted for body mass index. Shooting efficiency was evaluated across three shot types—free throws, mid-range jump shots, and three-pointers—using motion analysis and video-assisted biomechanical evaluation.

Statistical analysis revealed that male players exhibited significantly higher FCSI scores and demonstrated a stronger correlation (r = 0.71, p< 0.001) between core strength and shooting efficiency compared to females (r = 0.52, p = 0.003). Regression analysis indicated that core strength accounted for 42% of the variance in male shooting efficiency and 27% in females. Although both genders benefitted from improved core strength, males showed greater reliance on trunk stabilization and kinetic chain synergy during shooting, while females appeared to utilize a more neuromuscularly balanced approach.

The results emphasize the critical role of core strength in basketball shooting performance, with notable gender-specific dynamics. These findings highlight the need for differentiated strength and conditioning strategies tailored to the physiological and biomechanical demands of male and female athletes. This research contributes to the growing body of performance science and offers practical implications for optimizing training interventions in collegiate basketball programs.