Jump to content
TESTERS WANTED! ×

Change the way you practice - Block vs Random practice


Recommended Posts

You've been practicing golf all wrong, and there's science to prove it

By Sam Weinman

Have you been to the range recently? If so, you probably adhered to the typical range pattern, starting with some wedges, working your way through your irons, before moving on to hybrids, fairway woods, and then driver.
 
range-guy-518-thumb-518x267-140686.jpg
If you're like me, you probably hit a bunch of shots with a selected club and only agree to move on once you feel like you have that swing grooved. That's how a lot of golfers practice, and it's no different than musicians trying to master a difficult piece of music. Much like a golfer who will toil away at his 7-iron until he starts hitting it clean, a violinist, for instance, will repeat a certain passage of music until he or she feels they have it down pat. 
 
That's called a "blocked practice schedule," and it's the way a lot of us have gone about learning a variety of tasks. It's also woefully ineffective.
 
Dr. Christine Carter is a clarinetist who wrote her dissertation on "contextual interference effect." It's a method that she champions for musicians, and which she expounds upon in a recent post on bulletproofmusicians.com. Golf is never mentioned, and yet the thinking directly applies to the way we work on our games.
 
 
 
christine-carter-clarinet-thumb-250x313-As Carter writes, the problem with repetition is after a while our brains aren't as receptive, because what we really respond to more is change. We might feel like that 13th consecutive 7-iron felt pretty good, but we're still not learning it as effectively as we could. And unless you're playing a version of golf that requires you to hit 13 consecutive 7-irons, it's not applicable to a real golf situation.
 
"The fact is, repeated information does not receive the same amount of processing as new information," Carter said. "And on some level, we all know this. Constant repetition is boring and our boredom is telling us that our brains are not engaged."
 
Instead, what Carter advocates is called a "random practice schedule" where your brain has to constantly re-adapt. In music, it would mean bouncing around to different passages so you're constantly engaged. And in golf, it would mean different clubs: a driver, followed by a wedge, followed by a 7-iron. The goal is to still hit a bunch of one particular club, just not in a row -- which, of course, is how golf is played anyway.
 
"This challenge lies at the heart of why random practice schedules are more effective," Carter writes. "When we come back to a task after an intervening task, our brain must reconstruct the action plan for what we are about to do. And it is at this moment of reconstruction that our brains are the most active. More mental activity leads to greater long-term learning."
 
Although Carter doesn't address golf, she does cite another sports example in which two sets of elite baseball players are thrown pitches in either a blocked pattern -- i.e. a bunch of fastballs, folllowed by a bunch of curves, followed by a bunch of sliders -- or a random pattern. The results were dramatic.
 
"After twelve practice sessions, the baseball players in the random practice schedule hit 57% more of the pitches than when they started. The blocked group only hit 25% more of the pitches, meaning that the random practice schedule was almost twice as effective, even though the two groups hit the same number of practice pitches."
 
So consider this an argument for scrapping your usual range routine. The next time, bring a bunch of clubs with you. And make sure you switch them out often.

 

Driver:   :callaway-small: Epic 10.5 set to 9.5 w/ Tour AD-DI 44.5

FW:   :cobra-small: F6 baffler set at 16º

Hybrid:  NONE
Irons:   :taylormade-small:  3i 2014 TP CB  4-PW 2011 TP MC w/ TT S400

Wedges:   :nike-small: 52º :nike-small: 56º  :edel-golf-1: 60 º w/ KBS C-Taper XS Soft-stepped

Putter:   :ping-small: Sigma G Tyne 34 inches Gold dot

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks Theo.......great concept...........if only my Tampa bay Rays could figure it out as well.

 

Regarding Golf,  sometimes I will practice as if I were on the course.....Driver or 3 wood, then long iron, then wedge.  imagining one of the holes on my course as I hit range balls.

Driver: image.png.6ba1c8a254ad57aa05e527b74c2e04ba.png0311 XF 10.5* w/Project X Cypher 40 gram Senior shaft or 0811 XF 12* w/Evenflo Riptide CB Senior shaft

Fairways:  image.png.80321f01fc46450b6f428c7daf7b3471.png0211 5W & 7W w/ Evenflo Riptide CB  regular shaft and Tour Edge E521 9W w/Fubuki HD50 regular shaft

Hybrid: None in bag at the moment

IronsTitleist T300 5-PW w/Fubuki MV Senior graphite shafts w/Golf Pride Tour

Wedges: Edison forged 49*, 53* and 57* wedges with KB PGI Senior shafts(80 grm).

Putter: 33” Evnroll ER6R or  ER2 or Bellum Winmore Model 707,   or Nike Method Core Drone  w/Evnroll Gravity Grip

Bag: Vice cart bag(Black/Lime). 

Ball: Snell MTB Prime X, Maxfli Tour/S/X CG, Titleist Pro V1x or Titleist TruFeel

Using Shot Scope X5 and Pinned Rangefinder

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Great article. I find myself in that same rut, just trying to get one club right, then moving on. Often though, when going through the bag at the range, I like to play a round of golf in my head. I know the holes and clubs I usually hit for each shot at my local course. I will then start on #1 in my head, and literally hit all of the full shots I am liekly to face as I go through the round.

@KW_Johnston

Driver: Callaway XR

3 Wood: Nike Vrs

Hybrid: Adams Idea Super LS

Irons: Mizuno JPX900 Hot Metal 4-GW. N.S. Pro Modus3 Tour 105 X

Wedge: 54 Callaway Forged

Wedge: 58 Bettinardi

Putter: Taylormade Ghost Black Indy

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

You mean the range isn't just for warming up before a round?

Driver: :taylormade-small: SLDR w/ Fujikura Ventus Black

3w: :taylormade-small:'16 M2 hl w/ Diamana D+ 82

5w: :cleveland-small: Launcher HB w/ HZRDUS Yellow

Hybrid: :cleveland-small: 22 deg. Launcher HB w/ HZRDUS Black

Irons: :cleveland-small: 5i - gap Launcher CBX w/ Nippon Modus 3 125

Wedges: :cleveland-small: 54 CBX & 58 Zipcore w/ Nippon Modus 3 125

Putter: :odyssey-small: Red 7s

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 3 weeks later...

Thanks Theo.......great concept...........if only my Tampa bay Rays could figure it out as well.

 

Regarding Golf,  sometimes I will practice as if I were on the course.....Driver or 3 wood, then long iron, then wedge.  imagining one of the holes on my course as I hit range balls.

This has become my habit. I get loose with my 7, hit 4 or 5 balls each with driver, wood, hybrid, my 5, and a wedge. Then start working through holes until I run out of balls. I've gotten some weird looks as I change clubs after every swing, but whatever. Seems to be working on making the range time more useful.

-Justin-

@jdiddyesquire

 

 

Driver -    :adams-small: Speedline Super LS 9.5*, Matrix Red Tie 6Q3 X stiff
3 Wood - Tour Edge Exotics CB4 Tou
r 13*, Aldila NV Protopype 80X

Irons -   :taylormade-small:  3-PW rac LT, KBS Tour X
Wedges -   :mizuno-small:
 MP-T4, 50.6, 56.14, 60.5
Putter - Odyssey White Hot Pro Rossie

Bag: Daltrek Carry-Lite Stand Bag

Shoes:   :nike-small: Lunar Swingtip Suede

Ball: Wilson Staff Duo

Link to comment
Share on other sites

This is something I should start doing.  I do break it up a bit, but not nearly as random as suggested.

What's In the Bag

Driver - :callaway-small: GBB 

Hybrids  :cleveland-small: Halo XL Halo 18* & :cobra-small: T-Rail 20*

Irons  :cobra-small: T-Rail 2.0

Wedges :ping-small: 60* TS / SCOR 48* 53* 58*

Putter     :scotty-small:

Ball :callaway-logo-1:

Bag Datrek DG Lite  

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I've actually been doing this a lot more lately in my lessons and practices. If i hit a good shot with a club I will immediately switch. Then once I've gone through the bag I try to hit 3 good shots in a row.

 

During my last lesson my coach had me hit golf shots on the sim. He would pick different courses then place the lie in some crazy place like behind a tree. One was behind a clubhouse and I had to draw the ball around the wall. I felt this was very helpful cause it made me think, not just mindlessly hit ball after ball.

Driver:   :callaway-small: Epic 10.5 set to 9.5 w/ Tour AD-DI 44.5

FW:   :cobra-small: F6 baffler set at 16º

Hybrid:  NONE
Irons:   :taylormade-small:  3i 2014 TP CB  4-PW 2011 TP MC w/ TT S400

Wedges:   :nike-small: 52º :nike-small: 56º  :edel-golf-1: 60 º w/ KBS C-Taper XS Soft-stepped

Putter:   :ping-small: Sigma G Tyne 34 inches Gold dot

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Both ways to practice are beneficial depending on what you are trying to accomplish. If you have a specific problem that you are trying to correct say with a drill, the you would use the block practice. But be very careful that you do not practice incorrectly because that can make you worse.

 

You would never use the random practice to fix something. If your swing is good and you can consistently hit the shots the way you want to, then you can use random practice to hone your "on course" consistency.

 

It's been mentioned in the forum before, but if you are stuck in the snow and ice and want something to read, pick up The Talent Code by Daniel Coyle. It's an interesting read about how various hot beds of talent practice. Explains everything.

We don’t stop playing the game because we get old; we get old because we stop playing the game.”

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I do not spend much time on the range, however, I am planning on spending more time this year. Mainly because with travel I do not get to play everyday like when I was working from home. I have no desire spend hours senselessly whacking balls at various ranges.

 

Instead, I am going to get different yardage books for different courses, I currently have 4 or 5 and will play that course, mentally, on the range. Let's say I have a 335 yard par 4 with water as the first hole and would have elected to hit a hybrid on the course in a round. I will pick the hybrid and go through the pre-shot and see how far I hit it. If I hit it 200, I move to my 135 yard club and hit that one. If I pulled it into what would be trouble, I may elect to correct my problem, but if I hit the ball in play but left myself 175 yards then I should hit my 175 yard club, provided I would hit it a real round. The 18th at my home course I would never attempt to hit the green from 175. It is an island and anything more than an 8 iron, I play 20 yards less and 40 yards to the left, and attempt to get up and down.

 

This reenforces course management and allows you not only to practice your swing, but a more important part of golf, course management. Mulligans are allowed on the practice range.

 

I will be preparing for Mirimichi with Bones, and The Tribute with Barbajo this way. It is also my hope that I will develop more of an away game by doing this.

:ping-small:G430LST 10.5° on     T P T    POWER 18 Hi Driver 

:ping-small:G430MAX 3w  on     T P T    POWER 18 Hi Fairway 

:ping-small:G425 3H on     T P T    POWER 18 Hi Hybrid 

:taylormade-small:P790 Black 4-A 
on :kbs: TGI 80S
 

:mizuno-small: ES21 54-8° & 58-12° on :kbs: Hi Rev

:L.A.B.:DF2.1 on :accra: White

:titelist-small: ProV1  

:918457628_PrecisionPro: Precision Pro  NX7 Pro

All Iron grips are BestGrips Micro-Perforated Mid

Driver, 3w, 3H are JumboMax JMX UltraLite XS 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The hell with all this practice. We've got a couples event coming up at the club soon and I need a partner. Where can I reach this Dr. Christine Carter ?

My Sun Mountain bag currently includes:   TWGTLogo2.png.06c802075f4d211691d88895b3f34b75.png 771CSI 5i - PW and TWGTLogo2.png.06c802075f4d211691d88895b3f34b75.png PFC Micro Tour-c 52°, 56°, 60 wedges

                                                                               :755178188_TourEdge: EXS 10.5*, TWGTLogo2.png.06c802075f4d211691d88895b3f34b75.png 929-HS FW4 16.5* 

                                                                                :edel-golf-1: Willimette w/GolfPride Contour

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I try and visualize playing a round while I am at the range. I never hit more than two shots with the same club unless I am working on something with my mechanics.

Ping G410 Plus Oban Kiyoshi Tour Limited
Ping G410 LST 3 Wood Oban Tour Prototype V430
Titleist U500 3 & 4 Oban Kiyoshi Purple Tour Reserve
Titleist 620 MB 5-9 Oban CT 125
Titleist Vokey 47* Oban CT 125, 51*, 55*, and 59* Shimada Tour Wedge Black
Bettinardi Studio Stock SS28

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks Theo.......great concept...........if only my Tampa bay Rays could figure it out as well.

 

Regarding Golf,  sometimes I will practice as if I were on the course.....Driver or 3 wood, then long iron, then wedge.  imagining one of the holes on my course as I hit range balls.

Most everyone thinks this is a good way to practice on course play at the range. Now you have to simulate the lie you might have to really see how well you handle situations.

 

Check out http://www.rangetogo.com

 

I don't have any info on the quality of the product but the idea is good for this type of practice. If anyone has used the Range To Go mat, maybe we could get some comments.

We don’t stop playing the game because we get old; we get old because we stop playing the game.”

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

  • Recently Browsing

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...