A comparison of the effects of imagery plus upper body physical practice with the effects of traditional physical practice on success in free throw shooting.

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of four weeks of mental practice (imagery) plus physical practice of the upper body movements with the effects of four weeks of physical practice on success in free throw shooting. Methods of Research: Forty-five high school freshman male students were divided at random into three groups; (1) control group, (2) a mental practice group and (3) a physical practice group. The control group shot 25 free throws on days 1, 10, and 20, with no physical or mental practice between those days. The physical practice group shot 25 free throws on each of the twenty days. The mental practice group had active physical practice on days 1, 10, and 20 but practiced mentally with physical practice of the upper body for 10 minutes all of the other days throughout the experimental period. Data collected for each group on day 1, 10, and 20 were analyzed by analysis of variance (ANOVA). Conclusions: Twenty days of traditional physical practice did have a significant positive effect on success in free throw shooting. Twenty days of mental practice (imagery) plus physical practice of the upper body did not have a significant effect on success in free throw shooting. Physical practice was significantly better than the combination of MP and upper body PP in improving free throw shooting. The control group did not change significantly over the duration of the experimental period.