On the Use and Misuse of Video Analysis

The popularity of video analysis in sports in general, and golf in particular, has recently risen. However, research in the area of video analysis has lagged well behind these trends in current coaching practice. The current study was designed to assess changes in performance as a result of using video feedback as part of an instructional session. Forty-eight golfers (24 novices; 24 skilled players) performed a pre-test in which twelve swings were recorded using an indoor launch monitor system. The participants were then randomly assigned to a lesson in one of three groups: 1) Verbal coaching (V), 2) Verbal +Video coaching (V+V), and 3) Self-Guided (SG) practice. All groups were then retested to determine the extent to which the various training conditions impacted overall swing characteristics. The results indicated that the positive effects of video feedback were: A) limited in scope, and b) observed to a greater extent in more skilled performers. The results suggest that while more skilled players were able to glean useful timing information from video feedback, these same conditions may in fact impede the learning process in novice performers.