The effects of switching focusing strategies on complex motor skill learning were investigated using a dart-throwing task. Participants were screened for reinvestment of conscious processing by completing the Reinvestment Scale (RS) of Masters, Polman, and Hammond (1993). After an initial baseline phase, two focusing strategies were described. Low and high reinvestors were then asked which of the strategies was used during baseline. Regardless of preference, they were requested to change focus. Novice dart-players used either a nonpreferred internal focus (EI), in which they were asked to concentrate on movements of their body, or a nonpreferred external focus (IE), in which they were asked to focus on the effects of their movements. This procedure produced two separate groups, EI and IE. Those scoring low and high on the RS were separated, thus producing four groups. Participants in the EI high group were the least successful. These results support the findings of earlier studies suggesting that switching to an EI is detrimental. Additionally, it appears that high reinvestors switching from a preferred IE to a nonpreferred EI are the most susceptible to unsuccessful performance. (Contains 2 figures and 2 tables.)