Robert J. Rotella

Predictability and Stability of Professional Golf Association Tour Statistics

Professional Golf Association (PGA) statistics for the years 1986–1988 were analyzed to assess their value as predictive tools. Previous studies have not yielded a consensus regarding whether PGA statistics can be used to predict outcome, but preliminary indications suggested that hitting greens in regulation is the most important factor in maintaining a low scoring average. Using a stepwise multiple-regression procedure, the present study confirmed this finding as stable over a three-year period. It is concluded that replication of previous findings and stability of relationships over time suggest that the selected PGA statistics aie a useful predictive tool.

FIELD DEPENDENCE AND REACTION TIME IN SENIOR TENNIS PLAYERS (65 AND OVER)

Rod-and-frame errors and speed of response are both thought to reflect, in part, differential ability in selective attention, or ones ability to focus on the salient perceptual factors of a given environment. The present study involved an investigation of 18 “super-senior” tennis players aged 70 yr. and over who participated in the national championship tournament. Their data were compared with the data from a similar aged heterogeneous group. The super-seniors were significantly more field independent and had much more rapid simple reaction times and total-body response time than their counterparts.