Do’s and Don’ts of Practice
By Ralph Simpson, GolfDigest.com, April 7, 2011
Golfers often perform better on the driving range than on the course because most practice sessions rely on “blocked practice” — repeating the same shot over and over — instead of the more effective “random practice.” According to UCLA professor emeritus Richard Schmidt, Ph.D., random practice challenges golfers to change clubs, targets, lies, and shot types with every swing, forcing the brain to solve a new problem each time just like during an actual round. Research in motor learning shows this approach improves skill retention, decision-making, and on-course performance far more effectively than repetitive drills.
Visit Golf Digest to discover more, including a practical 45-minute random-practice routine covering full swings, short game, and putting to help golfers train smarter and transfer their range success to the course.