| Sumario: | Background: The coordination between visual perception and physical response is crucial for an effective performance in sports, emphasizing the significant link between what athletes see and how they respond during performance. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the effect of visual blur on basketball free-throw shooting performance. Methods: Sixty participants, both male and female basketball players aged between 18 and 30 (mean age: 21.00 ± 2.91 years), who met the inclusion criteria were selected for the study. Among them, there were 33 males and 27 females with normal vision or mild refractive errors (-0.50 to +0.50). Participants performed 10 baseline basketball free throws, followed by another set of 10 free throws under the various lens defocus conditions (+1.50 D, +3.00 D, +4.50 D, and +10.00 D). The data obtained was analysed using SPSS version 22.0. Results: The results of this study show that freethrow performance was significantly reduced under the +10.00 D defocus lens condition (p=<0.001). Blur induced by low to moderate (from +1.50 D to +3.00 D) levels of retinal defocus did not affect the free-throw performance of the subjects (p=0.105). Gender did not yield any statistical difference in basketball free-throw shooting performance, while experience was only significant at the low to moderate levels of defocus. Conclusion: As the level of defocus and visual blur increased gradually, the study revealed that free-throw performance significantly decreased, especially under the +10.00 D defocus lens condition. The findings suggest that optimal visual acuity plays a critical role in athletic performance, particularly in basketball. Athletes should consider how visual blur and suboptimal vision can impact their performance in sports like basketball. Undergoing routine vision assessments can assist basketball players in identifying any visual problems and determining the most suitable corrective measures.
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