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Motor skill: Let speed come naturally?

Arqade Asked on August 23, 2021

I’ve commonly heard that when practising a motor skill, one should start slow with correct form and one shouldn’t force speed. Rather, let speed come naturally. I believe this but I can’t find a citation for its prescription. Does anyone have a study to support (or deny) this?

I’m particularly interested in aiming movement in first-person shooter video-games. My input device is moving a computer mouse. I am also training in Super smash Bros. Melee, a platform fighting game. My input device is a GameCube controller. These would both fall under fine motor skill.

I originally posted this on Psychology & Neuroscience Stack Exchange and Sports Stack Exchange. But it was suggested I post it to this Stack Exchange.

3 Answers

The following citations don't speak to starting slow, but they confirm that speed and accuracy increase with practise.

It is interesting that with practice, [...] limb trajectories get faster and more asymmetric (Elliott, Chua, Pollock, & Lyons, 1995; Khan & Franks, 2000).

Elliott, D., Hansen, S., Grierson, L.E.M., Lyons, J., Bennett, S.J., Hayes, S.J. 2010. Goal-directed aiming: two components but multiple processes. Psychological Bulletin, 136, 1023-1044. PDF page 5.

Decrease in endpoint variability occurs in conjunction with an increase in the peak velocity of the limb (e.g., Elliott et al., 1995).

(Elliott et al., 2010, PDF page 10)

Edit: Found some more relevant sources.

The group exposed to the slowest speed training program was the only group [...] which had significantly lower time-on-target scores from the control group who trained at the criterion speed.

Barbara E. Jensen (1975) Pretask Speed Training and Movement Complexity as Factors in Rotary Pursuit Skill Acquisition, Research Quarterly. American Alliance for Health, Physical Education and Recreation, 46:1, 1-11, DOI: 10.1080/10671315.1975.10615298

The effect of learning a novel skill at specific speeds on performance over a range of speeds was examined on the pursuit rotor. Three groups of subjects were given three days of training: Group 1 at 30 rpm, Group 2 at 60 rpm, and Group 3 at 30–45.60 rpm. Group 4, a control, practiced on a pegboard task during this period. On Days 4 and 5, all four groups were tested for transfer at 30, 45, and 60 rpm. For the most part, Group 3 appeared to perform equal to or better across the range of speeds than any of the other groups.

Siegel, D., & Davis, C. (1980). Transfer Effects of Learning at Specific Speeds on Performance over a Range of Speeds. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 50(1), 83–89. https://doi.org/10.2466/pms.1980.50.1.83

Speed and accuracy are two sides of the same skill coin. although there is a strong and widespread belief in industry that the instructor should focus on developing accuracy because speed will follow, that is not true. The research is clear: if you want speed and accuracy, you must train for both and preferably right from the start of training.

James, R. (1995). Chapter 8. In The techniques of instruction (p. 55). Aldershot, Hampshire, England: Gower.

Correct answer by NiteCyper on August 23, 2021

I personally use this method, for example... COD has a sliding scale for movement speed. I started at 4 to nail headshots, now I got them easily at 8 and 9. If you are looking for more professional proud, look at martial arts... Using katas to develop form and muscle control build a foundation for spring or combat (I have practiced for many years and taught this).

I hope this helps.

Answered by D. W. on August 23, 2021

Can't speak much to FPS games, but I can speak to Super Smash Bros. One of the most useful ways to get a grip on the game controls and learn how to attack with intent instead of button mashing is to play the training mode in slow motion.

It allows you to learn the timing of the moves, and it gives you time to think which move to use when. Me and a friend played this mode for an hour or two and it significantly increased our ability to choose the right attack for the right situation.

Answered by Flater on August 23, 2021

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