Imagery Speed and Self-Efficacy: How Fast (or Slow) To Go?

Due to inconsistent findings regarding the effects of speed of imagery on performance, the purpose of the present investigation was to explore how different imagery speeds affected performance and self-efficacy beliefs on a golf-putting task. Sixty-two university students were randomly assigned to one of three imagery groups (slow-motion, real-time, fast-motion) or a control group. Participants completed a series a golf putts at two times. Results of a 4 × 2 × 2 (imagery × task difficulty × trials) mixed model MANOVA indicated the imagery groups’ performances were not significantly different from each other or the control group. However, nonsignificant differences emerged, as both the real-time and slowmotion imagery groups consistently improved their performances. Self-efficacy beliefs also did not differ across groups. Future imagery speed research should attempt to use a variety of tasks, differing in complexity and length of execution as well as different variations in imagery speed.