Using visual guidance to retrain an experienced golfer's gaze: A case study
Eye movements are essential for both predictive and reactive control of complex motor skills such as the golf swing. We examined the use of a visually guided learning protocol to retrain an experienced golfer`s point-of-gaze immediately prior to execution of the full golf swing; his swing, and his gaze behaviour, had become established over more than a decade of practice and competition. Performance and eye movement data were obtained, from baseline, through intervention, to retention, for a total of 159 shots struck at a target 200 yards away. Results show that, at baseline, not only was the golfer`s point-of-gaze not at the intended/predicted location, at the top-rear of the ball, but there was also high trial-to-trial variability. A bespoke visual guidance protocol improved his gaze behaviour considerably, in terms of accuracy and consistency - and this was reflected in accuracy and consistency of his shots. Implications of oculomotor interventions for the relearning of established motor skills are discussed.
© Copyright 2017 European Journal of Sport Science. Wiley. All rights reserved.
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| Notations: | sport games biological and medical sciences |
| Published in: | European Journal of Sport Science |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
2017
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| Online Access: | http://doi.org/10.1080/17461391.2016.1216169 |
| Volume: | 17 |
| Issue: | 2 |
| Pages: | 160-167 |
| Document types: | article |
| Level: | advanced |