How is the "transfer effect" most likely to influence a situation where a player with an over-the-top down swing is being taught to drop the club below the shaft plane?

The "transfer effect" in skill acquisition refers to how practicing one skill can influence the learning and performance of another. In this context, a player who has an over-the-top downswing is being instructed to adopt a technique that requires dropping the club below the shaft plane. This represents a significant change from their established swing pattern.

The influence on this situation is likely to be negative because the player's ingrained muscle memory and established movement patterns from the over-the-top swing could conflict with the new technique being taught. Essentially, the player's previous learning may hinder their ability to adapt to the new adjustment, creating confusion and reinforcing incorrect mechanics during execution. This conflict can lead to inconsistent results as the player struggles to integrate the new instruction without losing their previous swing habits.

While it is possible for some individuals to experience a positive transfer as they adapt, in this specific scenario, the challenge of overcoming deeply ingrained techniques suggests a predominantly negative transfer effect.