Motor control in dart throwing

Abstract

This study investigates the underlying mechanism for controlling a dart throw. A single subject threw darts at a standard dartboard in two distance conditions; from 8.5 ft and 7.5 ft. The throwing action of the subject was monitored using the Selspot movement monitoring system. 10 hits (bullseyes), 10 high misses (throws which land in the vertical plane above the bullseye) and 10 low misses (throws which land in the vertical plane below the bullseye) were recorded. Predictions from open-loop, closed-loop and schema models of motor control, regarding the possible patterns of positional variance over time during the throw, are explored. There is an attempt to discover what aspects of the throw determine whether it will hit the target or not and what parameters of the throw are changed to accommodate a different throwing distance. The results are not inconsistent with an open-loop explanation for control of the throw. Given that whether a throw is a hit or not seems to depend on factors probably out of the subjects control, the success of any one throw may be a matter of chance. Rather than parameters of the original throw being re-calibrated to accommodate a new throwing distance a completely new throw is selected.