Random Golf Practice

We have all been here...

We have all heard the old adage of "practice makes perfect" or maybe even "perfect practice makes perfect".  But there is something about the way that we practice skills that matters when it comes to skill transfer and long-term retention.  For years researchers have known that skills can be learned through either blocked practice or random practice.  

So what is the difference between the two and which practice is more effective for skill learning?

Blocked Practice is when a learner performs a single skill over and over, with repetition being the key.  Variance in training is minimized or nonexistent.  The learner then moves to repeat another skill (golf shot) in the same way.  By contrast, in random practice, motor learners work on a number of different skills (golf shots) in combination with each other, randomly working trials and patterns of one and then the next and the next, with each trial interleaved on the previous one. 

Because blocked practice leads to better performance during training sessions, athletes and coaches are often led to a false sense of confidence that is shattered during competitions, when predictability and rote learning are no longer guaranteed.  In a study subjects who were trained using blocked practice were more likely to predict higher levels of future performance than those that were trained using random practice designs.  When studied during competition the blocked practice participants didn't perform at the same level as practice and had to deal with the emotional stress of under performance.  The random practice participants were used to dealing with performance more in line with practice and they had higher results when it counted, in competition.  

Richard Schmidt, PhD is renowned for his work in the area of the psychology of motor learning.  His book, Motor Learning and Performance: A Situation-based Learning Approach is loaded with information on applications of random and blocked practice in many other sports and situations.   He has presented at the TPI World Golf Fitness Summit and has written for Golf Digest on this subject.  Schmidt is quoted as saying, "In blocked practice, because the task and goal are exactly the same on each attempt, the learner simply uses the solution generated on early trials in performing the next shot.  Hence, blocked practice eliminates the learner's need to 'solve' the problem on every trial and the need to practice the decision-making required during a typical round of golf."  

The literature on this topic is deep and consistent: blocked practice is best for beginners learning new motor patterns and basic skills.  Once a certain level of mastery is involved, however, random practice is best way to prepare for performance on the golf course.

Our app is designed to help you practice correctly and lower your scores.  It is packed with pictures of real golf holes correlated to the distance displayed.  If you see a shot requires a specific shape or height of shot we encourage you to visualize the shot and play like you’re on the golf course.  Random Golf Practice  was founded by an award winning PGA Golf Professional with 25 years of golf instruction experience.  It was in TPI certification that it was stressed the research in how we practice can directly correlate to performance.  TPI is a endorser of the product and stresses the use with both amateur and professional clients.   

We have created three modes for you to practice your game. 

Random Golf is formulated to simulate a real round of golf.  We ask for your 3 wood distance off the ground so we know your max distance for shots that aren't your driver.  We start at 50 yards to set the minimum yardage for practice.  You will be given a yardage between 50 yards and your 3 wood distance each time you push the button.  You will also be given your Driver every couple shots in our patented number generator formula to simulate a round of golf.  

Today’s Targets are for people who laser the targets at your range that day from your hitting position.  You will still get pictures so you can visualize a shot to that flag.  We will also use our patented Driver formula so you can practice the Big Dog.  

Select Target Range is for when you want to concentrate on a certain yardage range.  Set the minimum and maximum and we will give you a way to focus on an area for improvement.