Study: Mere act of explaining an athletic move can make you worse

[nevets88]

Okay, yes, watched John Oliver's bit on scientific studies and this doesn't look like your not being hungry makes women more romantic variety, I hope (gimme a hug!) Found this from reading, well, skimming, it is lunchtime, a chapter from the book "This is Your Brain on Sports" which discusses why great athletes make terrible coaches, which was a good read. Agree or not with the conclusions, the takeaway for me is to think less and just for lack of a better phrase, let it happen. I know this is pretty obvious and mentioned before, but something I really have to bang into my head.

The study actually involved expert golfers and putting. 

Quote

Flegal and Anderson believe the performance loss is related to an effect called verbal overshadowing, where trying to describe a difficult-to-verbalize experience (such as the appearance of a face, or the taste of a wine, and perhaps the performance of a well-learned skill) distracts the brain by putting the focus on language and thus interfering with access to non-verbal aspects of a memory.

http://ns.umich.edu/new/releases/6827-over-thinking-and-motor-skills-when-teachers-can-t-do

Overthinking skilled motor performance: Or why those who teach can't do

http://www.memorycontrol.net/FlegalAnderson08.pdf

 

[Rainmaker]

That's interesting.  I read the summary in the link but it wasn't clear how much time passed between explaining about the putt and then hitting the putts.  I could see if it was immediately after.   I would think explaining the technique wouldn't harm you, the next day, for example.   Or maybe it does and then that would be really interesting. 

The other part I noticed is this:

In contrast, lower skilled golfers were, if anything, helped by several minutes of verbalizing about what they learned.

So . . where is the line then.  How good enough is good enough not to talk or think about it anymore?  Once you're good enough to not have to talk or think about it anymore? 

 

[pumaAttack]

Very interesting.  I see it happen a lot when describing how to hit a chip/punch shot/whatever then the instructor miss hits the shot.  Doesn't look good for the teacher or student watching.

[DrvFrShow]

I have to write down what I'm told.

[pumaAttack]

2 minutes ago, DrvFrShow said:

I have to write down what I'm told.

I have started to write down basic motions and the feeling I want for them.  So I can track them and go back when I lose that feel.

[Rainmaker]

3 minutes ago, pumaAttack said:

Very interesting.  I see it happen a lot when describing how to hit a chip/punch shot/whatever then the instructor miss hits the shot.  Doesn't look good for the teacher or student watching.

That's interesting.  I've only had 2 instructors and taken about 30 golf lessons but I've never seen my instructor miss a shot.  I know it has to happen. 

[nevets88]

I lost count of the number of instructors I've had but have seen many hit not optimal shots. I don't hold it against them, not a big deal if they miss, especially in light of this study. 

[pumaAttack]

22 minutes ago, Rainmaker said:

That's interesting.  I've only had 2 instructors and taken about 30 golf lessons but I've never seen my instructor miss a shot.  I know it has to happen. 

 

I should have clarified as I didn't necessarily mean a certified instructor.  But rather anybody who is giving the advice/tip/drill. 

Could be a friend talking to a buddy.

"Hey just hit it this way, blah blah..."

~*Chunk*~

When that same person normally hits the shot well.