Kinetic information feedback in the acquisition of a complex motor skill

To examine the effectiveness of kinetic information feedback compared to KR feedback in the acquisition of a novel motor skill involving golf putting, 18 right-handed females were tested using one of three experimental feedback conditions, (1) a kinetic information feedback condition in which the subject was given values relative to the duration of force application on the ball; (2) a knowledge of results (KR) feedback condition in which the subject was given constant error values with reference to the outcome of the environmental goal; (3) a no augmented feedback condition in which the subject received only that information which is available during conventional practice. It was hypothesized that skill attainment would be greater if kinetic information was given to subjects in the form of the contact duration of the putter on the ball when compared with subjects given traditional goal KR or no augmented feedback. Results, though not statistically significant, did suggest trends.