The re-organization of action in golf putting under different task constraints

Duarte Araújo,Fernando Martins,Gonçalo Dias,José Gama,Keith Davids,Micael Couceiro,Rui Mendes,Vasco Vaz

doi:10.31083/j.jomh1801026

Abstract

Background: The behaviours of golfers could be interpreted as emergent, resulting from the cyclical relations of perception-action couplings established under the interacting constraints of competitive performance environments. Underpinned by an ecological dynamics approach, the aim of this study was to investigate how a simple adaptation of task constraints constrained the (re)organization of putting actions in skilled golfers. Methods: Ten skilled golfers, male and right-handed (42.6 ± 14.4 years old) (average handicap of 2.3 ± 1.7) were investigated when putting at different distances from the hole. Results: Our results have revealed how the coupling of perception and action captures the mutual relationship that emerges between a performance environment and each golfer’s abilities, during task performance. In this sense, the manipulation of distance constraints selectively constrained movement organization variables in specific ways. As distance to the hole increased, there was a clear increment in backswing, downswing and follow-through amplitude, speed of putter impact on the ball and maximum acceleration of the putting movement. Moreover, heart rate (HR) decreased with distance to the hole, which may have indicated that a golfer was adapting to increasing distance constraints, or that a greater distance from the hole may require a greater attentional focus. Conclusions: Underpinned by an ecological dynamics approach, these and other findings in our study suggested some regularities in the behaviour of golfers when environmental constraints (e.g., distance) are manipulated. Thus, golfers’ behaviours can be interpreted as an emergent process resulting from the perception-action coupling relations established during practice and performance.

Highlights

The performance behaviours of golfers could be interpreted as emergent, resulting from the perception-action couplings established under the interacting constraints of competitive environments [1,2,3]
Pelz [11] claimed that a golfer who participates in the Professional Golf Association (PGA Tour) faces several constraints, being susceptible to a high variability of performance conditions that require constant adaptations, such as multiple possible ball trajectories, slopes, adverse weather conditions and different greens
To provide a general perspective of all process variables involved in the putting task and obtained using the InPutter device, Table 1 presents the mean (M), standard deviation (SD) and coefficient of variation (CV %) for all process variables at the four distances

Summary

Introduction

The performance behaviours of golfers could be interpreted as emergent, resulting from the perception-action couplings established under the interacting constraints of competitive environments [1,2,3]. Recent studies, such as those of Dias et al [10] and Dias and Couceiro [12], have highlighted the mechanical adaptation of relevant action variables in golf putting to the distance to the hole and to the addition of a slope The results from these studies indicated that the players changed some performance parameters to adjust to the task constraints, including the duration of the backswing phase, the speed of the club head and acceleration at the moment of impact with the ball. Results: Our results have revealed how the coupling of perception and action captures the mutual relationship that emerges between a performance environment and each golfer’s abilities, during task performance In this sense, the manipulation of distance constraints selectively constrained movement organization variables in specific ways. Golfers’ behaviours can be interpreted as an emergent process resulting from the perception-action coupling relations established during practice and performance

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Methods

Discussion

Conclusion