Superior performance in striking sports requires anticipation skill because of constraints imposed on the performer, which can make it extremely difficult to achieve the motor skill goal. This article reviews the empirical literature on expert visual anticipation in striking sports since 2012 to determine if it has contributed to advancement of a theoretical model. First, methodologies used to study visual anticipation are briefly described. Second, an existing model is outlined to present what is known about the theoretical underpinning of expert visual anticipation. Third, empirical evidence of key factors that contribute to expert visual anticipation are discussed. Moreover, whether anticipation skill can be improved and transferred to different contexts is discussed. The review identifies that there are multiple key factors that contribute to expert visual anticipation performance, which need to be more thoroughly accommodated as part of the theoretical model. There is still less empirical evidence of learning and transfer of visual anticipation skill even though both of these are vital to improve motor skill performance, as well as apply any improvement to anticipation skill in different in situ settings. Collectively, this review provides an update of the research on expert visual anticipation and identifies future research directions that can continue to further knowledge in striking sports.

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Professional baseball batters’ (N = 105) visual anticipation of pitch type and location were measured using a video-based temporal occlusion test and correlated with their baseball batting statistics. Participants watched in-game footage of skilled baseball pitchers that was temporally occluded at the point of ball release, and at 80 ms and 200 ms after ball release. Participants made written predictions of pitch type and location. Results indicated there was a significant positive correlation between anticipation of combined pitch type and location 80 ms after ball release with slugging percentage (r = .21). There was a significant negative correlation between anticipation of pitch type alone 200 ms after ball release and strikeouts (r = −.28), indicating higher prediction is associated with fewer incorrect swing choices. Furthermore, there was a significant positive correlation between anticipation of pitch type alone 200 ms after ball release and on-base percentage (r = .23) as well as walk-to-strikeout ratio (r = .25). These small relationships are consistent to the batting statistics we predicted and can be due to the range of competitive levels in the leagues the participants had played. The findings further theoretical and applied knowledge of the role visual anticipation contributes to baseball batting game performance. The findings also suggest that game footage can be used to assess and potentially to train visual anticipation skill, which is highly valuable for athletes and high performance support staff in sporting organizations.

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