Manipulations of imagery perspective as a mean to enhance the effect of mental practice of motor skills

Mental practice of motor skills is one of the most common tools in sport psychology. Manipulations of imagery perspective are believed to be the potential mean to enhance the effectiveness of mental practice. Despite the lack of the established theory it has been widely assumed that the internal imagery is more beneficial. However the literature examination has shown the advantage of external imagery at the initial stage of complex motor skill learning as well as for practicing technical elements in which spatial collocation of body parts is crucial. Methodological issues of earlier studies have been summarized and the conclusion that recommendations to use exclusively internal imagery are invalid has been drawn. Important directions for future research on imagery perspective in sport psychology have been proposed.