Trunk Rotation Test For Tennis | 4.06

Second Edition · Chapter 3 Assessment · Original Test · 4.06

Measure trunk rotation range on each side while keeping the feet and hips stationary. Compare the two directions to identify an imbalance.

How To Perform The Test

  1. On a tennis court, stand at the center of the baseline facing the net, at the intersection with the center mark. Keep the feet perpendicular to the baseline.
  2. Rotate the upper body to one side as far as possible without moving the lower body or rotating the hips. Stop when lower-body rotation begins.
  3. Use a goniometer or protractor to measure the rotation angle from the baseline midline to the maximum rotation point.
  4. Repeat on the other side and record both angles. A side-to-side difference can guide exercise selection.

Photo setup: The studio images below do not show a court baseline or a protractor. Use the court setup and measure the angle to obtain a book score.

Photographic Examples

These photographs show two upper-body orientations with the feet planted and an arm extended. The tester holds the hand in this studio demonstration; the pictures alone do not establish that the hips remained still or how many degrees the trunk rotated.

Athlete facing the camera with one arm extended beside a tester during the trunk rotation test
More frontal upper-body orientation. Score only a measured court test with stationary hips and feet.
Athlete with upper body turned relative to the feet while a tester holds the extended hand
More rotated upper-body orientation. Score only a measured court test with stationary hips and feet.

Scoring From The Tennis Book

  • Good: 46°–70° from midline.
  • Fair: 30°–45° from midline.
  • Poor: less than 30° from midline.

Record the left and right values separately. The source categories do not classify every possible angle, including values above 70°. Preserve the measured angle and measurement convention rather than forcing a category. The images are positional references, not measured score examples.

If Trunk Rotation Is Limited

The book recommends Lunge & Twist, Supine Cross-Over, and Scorpion. The Scorpion exercise does not yet have a dedicated guide here. Address the weaker direction and retest with the same court setup.

Book Reference

4.06 Trunk Rotation Test, original reference retained in Chapter 3 of the Second Edition of Advanced Concepts of Strength & Conditioning for Tennis. Return to Fitness Assessment.