ABSTRACT
The present literature examining motor control issues in putting has typically failed to consider naturally occurring environmental constraints. As such, perceptual demands are limited thus questioning the validity of present motor control suggestions associated with the skill of putting. The present study therefore examined motor control predictions that extend from the previous motor control literature within a more realistic putting environment. Furthermore, competition elements were added to the methodology reinforcing the importance of the discontinuous nature of putting and the need for normal putting routines. Five (n=5) experienced professional golfers aged 25–36 years participated in the study. The players’ capability to cope with variable factors i.e., distance and speed was assessed within a transfer design. Movement pattern characteristics were assessed (in addition to outcome scores) by kinematic analysis. The resulting data suggest that motor control in putting may vary as a function of green speed, however, this factor depends upon individual response to the speed perturbation. The present data reinforce a number of predictions extending from laboratory based studies. In particular, the participants controlled the distance through which the putter head travelled in line with putting distance requirements. However, these data also point to the need to consider individual analysis procedures when attempting to more fully understand motor control and transfer issues.
