  We analyze the kinematics of multigrid Monte Carlo algorithms by
investigating acceptance rates for nonlocal Metropolis updates. With the help
of a simple criterion we can decide whether or not a multigrid algorithm will
have a chance to overcome critial slowing down for a given model. Our method is
introduced in the context of spin models. A multigrid Monte Carlo procedure for
nonabelian lattice gauge theory is described, and its kinematics is analyzed in
detail.
