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Using visual guidance to retrain an experienced golfer's gaze: A case study
Daniel T Bishop1, Neil Addington1, Giorgia D'Innocenzo1
1a Division of Sport, Health and Exercise Sciences, Department of Life Sciences, College of Health and Life Sciences , Brunel University London , London , UK.
European Journal of Sport Science
|September 30, 2016
Summary
A new visual guidance protocol improved an experienced golfer's gaze accuracy and consistency before each swing. This oculomotor intervention enhanced golf shot performance, demonstrating its effectiveness for retraining established motor skills.
Area of Science:
- Sports Science
- Neuroscience
- Motor Control
Background:
- Eye movements are critical for predictive and reactive control in complex motor skills like the golf swing.
- Established motor skills, honed over years of practice, can develop ingrained, suboptimal gaze behaviors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the efficacy of a visually guided learning protocol in retraining an experienced golfer's pre-swing point-of-gaze.
- To assess the impact of improved gaze behavior on golf swing performance and consistency.
Main Methods:
- Collected performance and eye movement data from an experienced golfer across baseline, intervention, and retention phases.
- Utilized a bespoke visual guidance protocol to modify the golfer's point-of-gaze before executing full golf swings.
- Recorded 159 shots aimed at a 200-yard target.
Main Results:
- Baseline assessment revealed inaccurate and highly variable point-of-gaze placement prior to the golf swing.
- The visual guidance protocol significantly improved gaze accuracy and consistency.
- Improvements in gaze behavior directly correlated with enhanced accuracy and consistency in golf shots.
Conclusions:
- Targeted oculomotor interventions can effectively retrain established, suboptimal gaze patterns in athletes.
- Modifying eye movement behavior offers a viable strategy for improving performance in complex, practiced motor skills.
- This study highlights the potential of visual guidance protocols for motor skill relearning.
