Dr. Raymond Prior and Block vs. Random Practice (The Spin Axis Podcast)

[iacas]

038: Dr. Raymond Prior (Golf Beneath the Surface) and the Psychology of Practice | The Spin Axis Podcast - Golf Coaches Discuss Instruction Modern Techniques and Technology

I think we did the latter part, but in the show we did talk briefly about block vs. random practice. I asked him on the show about how someone might appear to be doing block practice (rehearsing the same move with a 7I or something, hitting the same type of shot on repeat), and he said that would likely be what he and others in his field would call Variable Practice.

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Now, this is big, because I think block practice gets a bad rap.

In the post-show conversation (not recorded), I asked more questions about this. Basically, block practice to people in this field is literally doing the same exact thing over and over again. Given that definition, and except for the guy literally just hitting drivers on the range, I don't think anyone really ever does block practice.

It casts serious shade on the studies that show block practice is horrible and random practice is the only good way to go. If just altering what you're doing a little, by exaggerating more or less, or doing "the thing" a little more or less, or altering the speed a little is enough to make it "variable" practice, then… do that. It'll look like block practice to others, or at least what they think is block practice, but apparently… it's not!

So, anyway, I'd like to have a discussion on this stuff. The value (or lack of value) in how we practice to ingrain movement improvements.

[dennyjones]

I don't practice much with my golf clubs this time of the year.  I do spend at least 2 hours each night with my keyboard practicing different things, like scales,  arpeggios, and other songs I'm trying to learn.   Block practice is crucial to a real learning experience.   I've spent 10 minutes doing the same 6-key arpeggio, multiple minutes just practicing a difficult chord change, and lots of time listening to my practice, repeating the difficult sections.   (My keyboard records all of my practice).

If I find that I'm not progressing that night as expected, the random practice starts, and it helps restart my brain.  I may decide to return to the difficult section later, but I usually turn to a different song, scale, or decide to quit for the night.  There is definitely a need for both block and random practice, and I'm sure it's the same with golf.

[saevel25]

Maybe it's not just a binary situation. 

Let's say a QB is practicing their 3 step drop. They need the reps to get the pattern down, but they also might need the feedback to make sure they are doing it right. It just sounds like the random practice introduces more feedback because there is more instances for a person to register that error.

I also think that they are taking block practice, like memorizing and trying to project that to athletic practice. I think there is a big difference. It seems all the examples for block practice is something from academics versus athletics.

 

[Ty_Webb]

When I go to the range, there are a couple of things I might be trying to achieve. One is just keeping myself moving, so I don't get too far out of whack. The other is often seeing where the ball is going when I just make a swing without any thought and then trying to adjust that, so I might be working on my strike or clubface control and what not. I would have always considered that as block practice if I'm using one club and just hitting balls to the same target. I'll switch clubs and types of shots from time to time so I don't get too repetitive, but still not sure I'd call that random practice.

To my mind, random practice would be hit a driver between those two posts, then hit a 7 iron to that green, then hit a 50 yard wedge shot, then a three wood off the ground, then a low 6 iron, then a big fade with driver around x target. That kind of thing. Sounds like that's wrong though? 

That and if I'm hitting 7 irons over and over to the same target, it might well not look like they're all going at the same target. 😂 So my practice may look fairly random even if I'm trying to repeat the same shot over and over.