Want skills to stick? Think outside the body! [The Talent Equation]

[nevets88]

According to study, when learning a sport, focussing on a body part doesn't effect change and focussing on something not part of the body, away from it, does. I can see why it works better the internal focus, but I still would like to be able to put in words what changed so as to be able to spot it on video. But YMMV.

Want skills to stick? Think outside the body!

Professor Wulf described the extensive research that she and colleagues had undertaken exploring the concept of 'Attentional focus' which she defined as being where attention is directed when performing any kind of motor skill. Essentially, a person can have an internal focus where attention is directed towards parts of the body such as the hips, knees or shoulders or you can have an external focus where the focus is directed towards something external from the body such as a target, head of a golf club, tip of a javelin etc.

Professor Wulf showed numerous studies that came up with the same outcome that being given information that directed attention to what the body was doing was no better than being told nothing when it comes to skill acquisition and retention where as when attention is directed towards something external to the body, skills are acquired much more effectively and also retained over time.

So the austrian ski instructor that shouts "bend ze knees" is actually not doing you any good whatsoever! They would be far better to suggest that you sit on an imaginary chair or something similar.

http://www.thetalentequation.co.uk/#!Want-skills-to-stick-Think-outside-the-body/c137b/559f66c70cf25b8bf7e5ac2a

[Ernest Jones]

Fred Shoemaker's Extraordinary Golf says much the same thing. He wants you to focus on something external - the shadow of the ball, the weight of the club head or whatever. Then you evaluate the quality of the shot not by the result, but by how well you maintained focus on the external element. Did you see the shadow of the golf ball all the way past impact? Then it was a good swing, the results will come.

[rkim291968]

Ok, it makes sense (although not 100% convinced yet - see below).

For those who understand the article fully, how would I visualize external "stuff" to reduce flipping, chicken wing, and/or head going up during swing?   I am more than happy to try and report back.