Heart rate variability as an indicator of attention focus in golfers of differing performance levels

Focused attention is of utmost importance for self-paced tasks, such as golf. Heart rate variability (HRV) is seen as a potential measurement of attention in aiming sports. The aim of this study is to examine whether HRV parameters of golf experts (n = 12), advanced golfers (n = 12), and novices (n = 11) differ during the execution of the putt and whether HRV parameters change with persisting putting task. During the putt-series, the subjects completed ten putts. Expert and advanced golfers differ significantly from novices in the low frequency band (0.04-0.15 Hz) and the ratio of low frequency to high frequency band (0.15-0.40 Hz). The HRV parameters do not change with the increasing number of putt series. The differences in the LF-band, which already occur in golfers with moderate skill level are interpreted as an expression of an external focus of attention.