title: Verbal-motor attention-focusing instructions influence kinematics and performance on a golf-putting task.
abstract: The authors examined how varying the content of verbal-motor instructions and requesting an internal versus external focus influenced the kinematics and outcome of a golf putting task. On Day 1, 30 novices performed 120 trials with the instruction to focus attention either on performing a pendulum-like movement (internal) or on the desired ball path (external). After 20 retention trials on Day 2, they performed 20 transfer trials with the opposite instruction. Group differences for retention and a group by block interaction showed that external instruction enhanced movement outcome. Kinematic data indicated that specific instruction content influenced outcomes by eliciting changes in movement execution. Switching from the external to the internal focus instruction resulted in a more pendulum-like movement.
authors.affiliation: a Neuromotor Behavior Lab, Department of Psychology and Sport Science , Justus Liebig University Giessen , Germany .
authors.forename: Jörn
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Munzert
authors.forename: Heiko
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Maurer
authors.forename: Mathias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Reiser
mesh_terms: D054874:Athletic Performance / Q000193:education* / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology; D001288:Attention / Q000502:physiology; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006055:Golf / Q000193:education* / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015233:Models, Statistical; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology
keywords: attentional focus; golf putting; motor learning; movement kinematics; verbal instruction