Influence of Attentional Focus on Learning a Swing Path Change

Abstract

The learning and retention of a swing path change (movement form performance) of a six iron (Study 1) and a driver (Study 2) as a function of attentional focus was studied to determine if the facilitating effect of external focus of attention on movement outcome performance also held for movement form performance. Study 1 findings revealed that the instructor-selected external cue group learned and retained more of an inside-out swing path with a six iron than either the instructor-selected internal cue group or participant-selected cue group. Study 2 results showed that both the instructor-selected external cue and participantselected cue groups learned and retained more of an inside-out swing path with a driver than the instructor-selected internal cue group. These findings provide two lines of evidence that reveal the benefit of using an instructor-selected, external focus of attention cue when teaching experienced players to learn to change (improve) their swing path.