Does the New Resin-Free Molten d60 Ball Have an Impact on the Velocity and Accuracy of Handball Throws?

Abstract

The aims of this study were (i) to examine gender differences between the Molten H3X5000 ball and the resin-free Molten d60 ball with regard to throwing velocity and accuracy according to two conditions, throwing situation and instruction received, and (ii) to analyse the player’s subjective perception on throwing velocity according to ball types. The sample comprised 29 handball players (18 men and 11 women), who carried out a throwing protocol to measure velocity, accuracy, and subjective perception. The main results found significant throwing velocity differences between the new balls and traditional balls with resin in short-distance actions (7 m). Specifically, males did not perceive a loss of throwing velocity with the new ball. For target accuracy, men showed higher velocities with the traditional balls with resin and new balls than with the traditional balls with no resin. Women reached higher velocities with the new balls and the traditional balls with resin than with the traditional balls with no resin. Furthermore, throwing accuracy and effectiveness were not influenced by the ball type or throwing distance. While uneven results in relation to throwing velocity according to ball type, gender, and throwing distance were identified, the accuracy and effectiveness were not affected by the ball type. As the throws were made from further away (9 m), the impact of the new ball on the throwing velocity decreased.