The Relationship Between Hand Grip Strength, Eye Hand Coordination and Free Throw Shooting Accuracy in Basketball Players: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Basketball is a dynamic, high intensity sport that demands a high level of physical coordination, strength, and precision. Among its core skills, free throw shooting plays a decisive role in game outcomes, contributing significantly to team scores. Despite its importance, the specific physical attributes that influence free throw accuracy remain underexplored. Hand grip strength (HGS), which reflects upper extremity muscular function hypothesized to enhance ball control, and eye-hand coordination (EHC), which governs the integration of visual input with motor output supports precision, are two such attributes that may significantly impact shooting performance. While studies have examined these variables independently, there is limited research investigating their combined influence on free throw accuracy. This study aims to bridge that gap by exploring the relationship between hand grip strength, eye hand coordination, and free throw shooting accuracy in young male athletes, with implications for sports physiotherapy, injury prevention, and performance enhancement. Aim: To investigate the relationships between hand grip strength, eye-hand coordination, and free throw shooting accuracy in male basketball players aged 18–25. Method: A cross-sectional, correlational study will be conducted on 38 male basketball players aged 18-25 recruited using purposive sampling. Hand grip strength will be measured using the Jamar Hydraulic Hand Dynamometer following American Society of Hand Therapists (ASHT) protocols. Eye-hand coordination will be assessed using the validated Overhead and Underarm Throw Test. Free throw shooting accuracy will be evaluated by calculating the percentage of successful shots out of 10 attempts on a regulation court. Anthropometric data including height, weight, and body mass index will also be recorded. Data Analysis: Data will be analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software. Descriptive statistics will summarize participant characteristics. The Shapiro-Wilk test will assess data normality. Pearson’s correlation coefficient will be used to examine relationships between variables. Linear regression analysis will be conducted to predict free throw accuracy based on hand grip strength and eye-hand coordination. A significance level of p < 0.05 will be used for all statistical tests. Expected Outcome: It is anticipated that both hand grip strength and eye-hand coordination will show a positive and statistically significant correlation with free throw shooting accuracy. Additionally, a positive association is expected between hand grip strength and eye-hand coordination. Findings will inform targeted physiotherapy interventions.Conclusion: This study aims to provide evidence-based insights into the neuromuscular and biomechanical factors influencing free throw performance. The results will support the development of targeted training, injury prevention, and rehabilitation protocols in sports physiotherapy, contributing to improved performance and reduced injury risk among basketball players.