Effect of Imagery Training on Skeet Shooting Accuracy of High School Students in the People’s Republic of China

Background and Aim: Imagery training enhances mental visualization skills, helping high school students improve focus and consistency in skeet shooting. Athletes can refine their technique and boost accuracy without physical practice by mentally rehearsing the shooting process. This study investigated and compared the effects of imagery training on skeet shooting accuracy among high school students from Shenzhen Yuxin High School, Shenzhen City, Guangdong Province, China. Materials and Methods: This research employed a quasi-experimental design. The study population consisted of 65 high school students, from whom 36 participants were selected and divided into two groups: an experimental group and a control group, with 18 students in each. The experimental group underwent accuracy training combined with imagery training based on the framework proposed (Maulana and Hanief, 2022). Data analysis included measures of central tendency, variability, pre- and post-test comparisons, and statistical significance at the .05 level. Results: The findings revealed that the control group, which followed standard training methods, achieved a pre-test mean score of 40.00 ± 2.40 and a post-test mean score of 39.77 ± 1.43. In contrast, the experimental group, which engaged in imagery training alongside standard exercises, improved from a pre-test mean score of 39.55 ± 2.35 to a post-test mean score of 51.00 ± 1.67. Statistical analysis demonstrated a significant improvement in the experimental group (t = -24.81, p = 0.03), while the control group's results showed no significant change (t = 0.36, p = 0.54). Conclusion: These results highlight the efficacy of integrating imagery training with accuracy-focused exercises, as the experimental group exhibited a statistically significant improvement in skeet shooting accuracy compared to the control group. The study underscores the potential of imagery training as a valuable tool for enhancing athletic performance.