Is there any research as to what the hardest form of skill is? i.e.
has anyone determined what the hardest game or sport to master is,
from any scientific standpoint?

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Request for Question Clarification by pafalafa-ga on 19 Feb 2006 17:13 PST

esher-ga,

If you're asking for the most difficult skill in the world of sports,
then you probably already have your answer in the comments, below:


http://www.usatoday.com/sports/ten-hardest-splash.htm



which ranks that top ten skills in sports, with hitting a baseball at
the top of the list, as the absolute most difficult skill.


Beyond that, though, the idea of 'skill' is so varied as to make a
broader assessment of the hardest skill a nearly impossible prospect. 
Understanding particle physics is a skill.  Hitting a baseball is a
skill.  Playing guitar is a skill.

As one site put it, "...The highest and most difficult skill in
theology is to set aside one's own thoughts and to deny one's own
wisdom; to believe and obey every word of God..."


With 'skill' occupying every aspect of human endeavor, it's just not
possible to gauge which is the most difficult.

But if you want to keep the question focused on, e.g., sports, then
please let us know if you have your answer, or if there's anything
else we can do for you on this.

Thanks,

pafalafa-ga

I haven't seen any formal studies on this, but I believe that being a
Google Answers Researcher is the toughest skill there is.

Then again, I'm not sure I'm totally objective...

From my experience, the hardest kind of skill to learn ever, is often
something obvious and something really people need in life, but people
look over easily. That is skill is... learning from mistakes.

It is generally accepted that, for men, the hardest form of skill is
to understand women.

Believe me.

Understanding women? It's not an obtainable skill. 
The answer is relative... whats hard for one may be easy for another
since we are all different. Each individual has different learning
abilities in different areas throughout the whole spectrum.

Well, if you want to stick to the "hardest game or sport to master,"
Yes!  There is research!

Attention Official GA researchers:  USA TODAY published a fabulous
series of articles a few years ago about which SPORT is the most
difficult.  I don't recall the exact dates, but it has to be less than
5 years ago.   It was a 10-part series or close to it.   Lots of
charts, scientific evidence, discussion of the physics of the sports,
interviews with professionals.  Not dry reading at all.  Lots of fun
and so informative.

The series started with the "easiest" at #10 and  concluded with #1,
the most difficult.

I won't tell you what was deemed #1.   I'm rooting for an "official"
Google researcher  to take over from here and provide the info you
seek.

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/ten-hardest-splash.htm

That's it!