Short Game

RANDOM TRAINING

Random practice is simply practicing by changing the shot every time. For a beginner, this could be as simple as using the same club but changing targets. For a better player, this could be changing club, target and shot shape whilst going through a full on-course routine before each hit.

Most players avoid this type of practice because it requires more discipline, pre-shot preparation, and it is a massive amount more difficult than block practice. But, you should be practicing this way more often BECAUSE of those reasons.

  • Because it is more difficult just makes you learn quicker.

  • Has the added benefit of automatically lowering your expectation levels.

  • It is also much more course realistic (how often do you stand on the course and hit 30 7 irons in a row?), so the chance of your newly found skills transferring to the course is much greater.

  • Also, random practice is about preparation. It’s about developing the brain’s ability to recall the motor pattern. Think of it like a file on a computer.

Block practice may have created the file, but random practice is going to allow you to find the file quicker. The more you perform random practice, the quicker and more efficient you become at being able to find that file/motor program. For this reason, people who practice in a random fashion tend to see their performance level stay low during the session (due to its difficulty level), but the next day they find an improvement in performance.

 

Example of Random Training

 

KEY POINTS ON BLOCK & RANDOM PRACTICE

Block Practice advantages

  • Improved confidence through instant results

  • Movement memory improvements (neurological and physical)

  • You can get a lot of experience in a short amount of time

  • Can help you push through ‘sticking points’ in improvement

Block Practice disadvantages

  • Poor transference of skills to the course

  • Potential increase in injury risk, due to amount of balls being hit

  • Can be difficult to maintain mental engagement (a pre-requisite for learning)

  • Increases expectation levels

  • Retention of learning tends to be poor (there is an important difference between learning and performance)

Random Practice Advantages

  • Lowers expectations

  • Performance during the session may be poor, but retention of learning is increased

  • Better transference of skills to the golf course – improved access of motor programs

  • Lowered injury risk – improved longevity in the game

  • Heightened mental engagement

Random Practice Disadvantages

  • Increased difficulty – can affect confidence

  • Less body conditioning improvements

  • Requires discipline

Important Note
Both methods of practice can be beneficial, but I tend to promote random practice more, simply because of the fact that everyone already practices block practice. As a rule of thumb, if you are practicing something NEW, do block
practice – but make sure you are mentally ‘present’ and you are practicing with intention. But once you can perform that move/skill relatively well (say 5/10) it is probably time to move on to random practice.