The effect of stroboscopic vision training on the performance of elite curling athletes

Abstract

The aim of the study was to investigate the impacts of four weeks of stroboscopic vision training (SVT) and four weeks of temporal feedback training (TFT) on elite curling athletes' duration judgment, as well as stone delivery performance (delivery speed control and accuracy). Thirty national-level curling athletes were selected as participants and randomly assigned to either the SVT group (wearing stroboscopic glasses: the strobe frequencies increased weekly from Level 1 to Level 4.), the TFT group (using a timing system to provide feedback on stone delivery time), or a control group. Apart from the differences in training methods, the intervention programme was identical across the three groups, with each group performing stone delivery training three times per week for 40 min per session. The training regimen consisted of a 'ladder' drill targeting the house (effective zones 4-10), with the sequence of training increasing and then decreasing in complexity. Repeated measures ANOVA (3 × 2) and post-hoc tests (Bonferroni) were used to analyse the effects of different training methods. The results showed that the four-week training intervention produced significant interactions in duration judgment (p = 0.005, f = 0.692) and accuracy (p = 0.001, f = 0.805). SVT significantly improved duration judgment (p < 0.001, d = 2.374) and delivery speed control (p = 0.011, d = 1.421). TFT significantly improved delivery accuracy (p = 0.015, d = 1.364). Four weeks of SVT and TFT both improved duration judgment, curling speed control performance among elite curling athletes. In terms of accuracy improvement, four weeks of TFT yielded greater benefits than SVT.

Keywords: Curling performance; Elite curling athletes; Stroboscopic vision training.

Fig. 1

Curling rink and scoring zones in the curling accuracy test.

Fig. 2

Experimental flowchart.

Fig. 3

Significant differences following the intervention. (a) Duration Judgment before and after training intervention (s); (b) Delivery speed control before and after training intervention; (c) Delivery accuracy before and after training intervention (points); (d) Duration Judgment after training intervention (s); (e) Delivery speed control after training intervention (s); (f) Delivery accuracy after training intervention (s); L: Large effect size.