Effects of flywheel resistance training on jump, sprint, and change-of-direction performance in basketball players: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background Flywheel resistance training (FRT) has received increasing attention in athletic conditioning. Although previous studies have suggested that FRT may improve athletic performance, existing evidence has mainly been derived from mixed populations across different sports, and its sport-specific effects in basketball players remain unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to compare the effects of FRT and traditional resistance training on jump, linear sprint, and change-of-direction (COD) performance in basketball players using meta-analysis. Methods A systematic literature search was conducted in Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, and SPORTDiscus from database inception to August 2026. Randomized controlled trials comparing FRT with active non-flywheel resistance training and reporting jump, linear sprint, or COD performance outcomes in basketball players were included. Effect sizes were calculated as Hedges’ g with 95% confidence intervals (CI), and random-effects models were applied for meta-analysis. Between-study heterogeneity was assessed using the I 2 statistic. Results Seven studies involving 119 basketball players were included. Compared with traditional resistance training, FRT demonstrated a moderate beneficial effect on jump performance (Hedges’ g = 0.65, 95% CI [0.23, 1.07], p = 0.008), with no substantial heterogeneity (I 2 = 0.0%). FRT also produced a significant beneficial effect on COD performance (Hedges’ g = −0.57, 95% CI [−1.07, −0.08], p = 0.033; I 2 = 0.0%). For linear sprint performance, although the pooled effect favored FRT (Hedges’ g = −0.57, 95% CI [−1.20, 0.05]), the effect did not reach statistical significance (p = 0.065). Conclusions The available evidence suggests a potential additional benefit of flywheel resistance training for jump and COD performance in basketball players, whereas evidence for an additional benefit on linear sprint performance remains uncertain. Coaches and strength and conditioning practitioners may consider FRT as a complementary strategy to traditional resistance training to enhance selected basketball-specific physical performance outcomes, particularly jump and COD performance.