Comparison of six-week flywheel and traditional resistance training on deceleration and dynamic balance in elite badminton players

In a 2025 study published in Frontiers in Physiology, researchers investigated whether flywheel resistance training (FRT) could outperform traditional resistance training (TRT) in improving physical performance in elite badminton players. Specifically, they focused on deceleration ability and dynamic balance — two key components of movement efficiency and injury prevention in the sport. Seventeen elite male athletes took part in the study, training twice a week for six weeks, alongside their usual technical and tactical sessions.

While traditional resistance training has long been used to develop strength and conditioning in badminton, FRT introduces an eccentric overload stimulus, potentially offering greater benefits in movements involving braking and stability. The authors set out to test this directly by measuring several performance indicators before and after the intervention.

Summary of Key Aspects

The study involved a total of 17 elite male badminton players, all of whom had advanced strength training experience. They were randomly assigned to either a flywheel training group (FT) or a traditional training group (RT), with both groups training twice weekly over a six-week period. Their performance was assessed using a battery of tests, including the 5-0-5 change of direction test, deceleration deficit (DD), the dynamic postural stability index (DPSI), and the isometric mid-thigh pull (IMTP) for peak force.

Although both groups improved in the 5-0-5 test, no significant differences were observed between them post-intervention. However, the flywheel group showed notably greater improvements in other measures. In particular, they achieved significantly better scores in the deceleration deficit test and in dynamic balance (as reflected by DPSI values in both forward and lateral jumps, with both legs), indicating a superior ability to stabilize after landing and quickly change direction. Additionally, the flywheel group was the only one to show a significant increase in peak force in the IMTP.

These results suggest that flywheel training, with its emphasis on eccentric overload, may more effectively target the neuromuscular qualities that underpin rapid deceleration and postural control — two elements that are essential for maintaining stability during high-intensity rallies and avoiding injury.

The training interventions were well-controlled: both groups followed matched volume and intensity based on RPE (set at 8/10), and all sessions were supervised to ensure technical accuracy. The authors also took care to standardize test procedures and rest periods, contributing to the study’s internal validity. That said, the sample size was small, and the intervention relatively short, which the authors recognize as limitations. No female athletes were included, and the study did not examine how improvements in physical metrics translated to on-court technical or tactical performance.

Conclusions and Practical Applications

This pilot study provides compelling evidence that flywheel resistance training can offer added value for badminton players looking to improve their deceleration capacity and dynamic balance. While traditional resistance methods remain effective, especially for general strength development, the findings suggest that FRT may be particularly useful for enhancing those neuromuscular qualities that influence braking efficiency and postural control — both vital for executing rapid changes of direction and landing mechanics during rallies.

For coaches and physical trainers in badminton, the inclusion of flywheel devices may therefore be a practical option when designing training programs that aim to optimize movement quality and reduce injury risk. However, given the small sample size and short duration of this study, more research is needed before generalizing these findings across different populations or longer-term adaptations.

Reference
Yuan, S., Lu, Z., Tan, S., Zhang, Z., Jing, S., Liu, H., Zhou, Z., & Bao, D. (2025). Comparison of six-week flywheel and traditional resistance training on deceleration and dynamic balance in elite badminton players. Frontiers in Physiology, 16:1491661.
🔗 https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2025.1491661