Seeing the bigger picture – A comparison between 2D and 360°-AR Action Observation in Golf Training

It is widely acknowledged that Action Observation (AO) holds potential for enhancing sports training and movement acquisition, despite certain inherent limitations. A promising approach to overcoming these limitations is the integration of Augmented Reality (AR) in virtual reality headsets. This study investigates whether 360°-AR AO improves putting performance in novice golfers. Thirty-one subjects were divided into three groups: a 360°-AR AO, a video-based 2D-AO, and a control group. They completed four trials over the span of a month, with two of them involving intervention. In the 360°-AR group, an avatar projected a motion derived from a golf expert three-dimensionally and digitally onto the putting lane using the Meta Quest Pro virtual reality headset. The 2D-AO group had the same avatar projected onto a 2-dimensional screen. Results indicated an overall improvement in putting performance across all groups, with a significant interaction effect highlighting superior progress in the 360°-AR AO group compared to the 2D-AO and control group. Additionally, the 360°-AR AO group reported the highest level of fun during the training sessions. These findings underscore the potential of AR-based interventions for optimising sports training and highlight avenues for future research in immersive motor learning environments.