Establishing National Peripheral Vision Norm for Vietnamese Shooters

Abstract

Peripheral vision, the ability to see outside your central focus, isn't just a neat evolutionary trick. For shooters, it's a game-changer. This wider field of view grants several advantages. Shooters can detect threats or targets approaching from the periphery, crucial in dynamic situations. Spotting a target with peripheral vision allows for a quick shift in focus for a precise shot, leading to faster reactions and smoother target transitions. Additionally, peripheral vision helps prevent tunnel vision, where intense focus narrows your awareness. By staying aware of their surroundings, shooters can make better decisions and ultimately improve their performance. This study investigated the peripheral vision (PV) of elite Vietnamese shooters.  The primary goal was to assess their level of PV, while the secondary objective was to establish a baseline for future evaluations within this population. The researchers employed the Peripheral Perception Reaction (PP-R) test from the Vienna Test System to gauge the shooters' visual capabilities.  The results were positive, revealing that both male and female participants possessed a Field of Vision (FOV) considered desirable for international shooting competitions. A wider FOV offers significant advantages in various sports, particularly those that demand quick reactions and precise target acquisition.  In shooting, a high FOV allows competitors to see a larger portion of the range, facilitating faster target detection and smoother tracking. This study establishes a reference norm for FOV specifically in Vietnamese shooters.  While the findings are promising, further research is needed to determine if these results are generalizable to shooters from other countries.