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...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:European journal of sport science 2017-03, Vol.17 (2), p.160-167
Main Authors: Bishop, Daniel T., Addington, Neil, D'Innocenzo, Giorgia
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Athletic Performance - physiology
Biomechanical Phenomena
Eye movements
Fixation, Ocular - physiology
golf
Golf - education
Golf - physiology
Humans
learning
Male
Motor Skills - physiology
oculomotor
sport
Young Adult
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Summary: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.
ISSN:1746-1391
1536-7290
DOI:10.1080/17461391.2016.1216169