ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the effects of certain variables on skill learning to help practitioners for designing effective practice conditions. It shows how learning is affected by different types of variables or instructional methods that have some significant developments. Specifically, three factors that are critical for optimal motor learning have been identified, and these are central to a new theory of motor learning, the OPTIMAL (Optimizing Performance Through Intrinsic Motivation and Attention for Learning) theory. Two of the key factors are motivational in nature, enhanced expectancies for performance and autonomy support, and one is related to the performers' attention, an external focus of attention. The chapter reviews findings related to each factor, with particular consideration for golf-specific studies. It also provides examples of how golf instructors and coaches may incorporate those variables in their work with their clients and athletes. The importance of each factor for enhancing performance and learning has been demonstrated in numerous studies, including golf-related studies.
