When doing a bounce test for worn struts/shocks, you look for how the suspension responds. Normally if the struts/shocks are good, the vehicle bounces down, comes up and stops. If the bounce test shows that the vehicle goes down fine but is slow to rebound back up there’s a problem with the valving within the strut/shock.
The proof is the old strut rod is easy to push down and is slow extend back out. A new strut comes with a strap holding the strut rod down. And when that strap is cut, the strut rod extends very quickly. And once it extends out, it’s very difficult to push back down.
You needed the struts.
Tester