New study shows why you’re not getting better at golf (and how to change that)
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The research suggests traditional golf coaching and practice methods are ineffective – and offers a better path to improvement…
If you’ve been trying to improve your golf swing but not seeing much improvement on the course, a new study might have just revealed why.
The experiment suggests that the way most golfers try to improve is ineffective – but there is a better way.
The results suggest that practicing mistakes – yes, deliberately practicing bad shots – can actually make you a better player. And it turns out this concept could be a game-changer for golf.
The idea: Practicing failure to improve
The study – snappily titled The Value of Practicing the “Wrong” Way: Skill Development and Affordance Perception Through Broad Exploration of the Solution Space – explains: “When learning a new skill, we typically focus on trying to do it the ‘right’ way That is, most of the practice is focused on trying to achieve a desired performance outcome goal.
“In golf, we practice hitting the ball straight down the fairway. In basketball, we practice shooting the ball into the basket. In baseball, we practice hitting the ball hard into fair play. Traditionally, this is achieved by a coach or instructor teaching the athlete the ‘correct’ technique for achieving the desired goal (via explicit instruction and demonstration), the athlete trying to repeat this desired technique, and the coach providing corrective feedback. Practice is focused on producing the ‘right’ movement and the ‘right’ performance outcome.
“But what if, instead, we spent some of our practice time doing the ‘wrong’ things? That is, what if we tried to produce undesired performance outcomes for our sport deliberately? What if we tried to hit a golf shot into the lake on the right, shoot a basketball so it bounced off the back of the rim instead of going in, or hit a baseball directly into the ground? Although this seems counterproductive, there are some reasons to expect that this type of practice might have benefits for skill development.”
The experiment
“In two experiments, a baseball batting virtual environment was used to compare these two types of training.
“In Experiment 1, the constant goal group always attempted to ‘hit the ball hard into fair play’ (i.e. the desired outcome) and were given technical instructions about the swing and corrective feedback from an experienced coach. The variable goal group received no technical instruction and had different outcome goals for each session, including undesired ones: Hit the ball as far to the right (or left) as you can, pop the ball up into air, and drive the ball into the ground.
“In Experiment 2, the constant goal group did not receive explicit instructions or corrective feedback.
“All groups trained for 6 weeks. In pre and post tests, batters completed simulated games in which the pitch speed, type, and location were varied, an umpire called balls and strikes, and the fielders shifted locations (e.g. they all moved to the left or right side of the field).
The results
“In both experiments, the variable goal group had a significantly larger increase in hits, adapted more effectively to variations in pitch trajectory, and demonstrated superior affordance perception (e.g. not swinging at pitches out of the strike zone and ones that would have likely led to hitting into the defense).”
Players who spent time deliberately practicing these mistakes saw significant improvements in their hitting and consistency compared to those who were just trying to produce positive results, even when the latter had the support of corrective feedback from a coach.
This challenges the traditional “practice perfect” mentality, suggesting that learning how to create and correct errors is a crucial part of skill development.
How this applies to golf
Golf is often taught with an obsession for perfection. We’re shown what we’re doing wrong, perhaps compared to a tour pro or ideal swing model, and then endeavor to create a perfect motion.
We hit balls at the range, trying to groove the perfect swing, focusing only on solid strikes and ideal ball flights. And it rarely makes any difference.
But what if we took a page from this study and started practicing our mistakes?
As the study states:
“Practicing hitting a golf ball way to the right and then way to the left could help them better learn the relationship between a particular movement solution and a particular performance outcome (e.g., when I swing with my hands turned inward, the ball tends to go to the right; when I swing with them turned outward, the ball goes to the left). This knowledge of the solution space could, then, presumably help the performer achieve ‘repetition without repetition’ in competition – find a movement solution that allows them to achieve their performance goal under a different set of constraints.”
This idea aligns with the concept of differential practice, which suggests that exposing yourself to a wide variety of movement patterns – both good and bad – helps improve skill retention and adaptability. Dr. Mark Guadagnoli, a leading researcher in motor learning, explains, “Practicing in a way that creates variability forces athletes to become more adaptable, ultimately leading to better performance under pressure.”
How to practice golf more effectively
So, if trying to make perfect swings and hit good shots isn’t the most effective way of improving your golf, what should you do instead?
1. Deliberately hit bad shots
Instead of trying to hit every shot straight, spend time purposefully hitting slices, hooks, thin shots, fat shots, etc.
Rather than trying to flush every shot, practice deliberately hitting the toe and heel. If you can find those on demand, you’re able to find the middle of the face more easily too.
The most skilled golfers in the world can make a full swing and top the ball on command. It’s a nice party trick, but it also shows fantastic low point control, a key for good ball-striking.
Understanding how to create a bad shot helps you learn how to avoid it when it really matters.
- Try this: On the range, take your driver and intentionally slice the ball. Then, try hitting a controlled fade. By doing both, you’ll start to feel the difference in clubface control and swing path, making it easier to correct your shots on the course.
2. Train recovery shots
Most golfers don’t practice from bad lies enough, yet we find ourselves in tricky spots all the time on the course. Hit shots from the rough, behind trees, or out of fairway bunkers – places where mistakes force creativity and adaptability.
Most low handicappers got good when they were young. Many spent summer holidays at the golf club, practising all sorts of wacky shots against their mates. Seve Ballesteros famously practiced flop shots and bunker splashes with a 3-iron. Do that and it’ll feel a breeze when you have a wedge back in your hand.
As golf coach Dr. Tim Lee puts it, “If you only ever practice the perfect shot, you’re not preparing for the inevitable imperfections that happen on the course.”
Tiger Woods famously credited his ability to escape trouble to his childhood practice sessions, saying, “I used to hit shots from all sorts of weird lies, just to see what I could do with the ball.”
If it’s good enough for Seve and Tiger…
3. Test different swing speeds and ball flights
Instead of robotically hitting the same shot over and over, experiment with different swing speeds and trajectories. Hit low stingers, high draws, and half-swing shots. Make a full swing while trying to only hit the ball 50 yards, to gain a sense of rhythm and effortless power. Hit some balls flat-out, without worrying about where they go (the world’s leading long drive coach says this is the key to increasing swing speed and distance).
This will make your game more adaptable and help you develop a feel for different course situations.
4. Play games in practice
Rather than just working on your technique, do skill challenges and play games in practice. You can do these against a friend or against yourself. It’s performance-focused rather than technique-obsessed, which ties into this research, makes practice fun, and aligns more closely with the game of golf itself.
Why this works
When you deliberately create mistakes and then learn to fix them, your brain builds a more flexible understanding of your golf swing. Instead of panicking when a shot goes wrong, you’ll have the experience and muscle memory to make adjustments quickly.
Plus, golf is unpredictable. Weather, course conditions, nerves – there are so many variables that can throw off your “perfect” range swing. By practicing failure, you’ll develop the skills to handle real-world conditions far better than if you only focus on hitting good shots.
As performance coach Dr. Rob Gray, who conducted the original baseball study, explains, “Learning to adjust in the moment is one of the most valuable skills an athlete can develop. Controlled failure is a tool for success.”
The takeaway
If you feel stuck in your golf game, the answer might not be trying to hit more perfect shots but to embrace and learn from the bad ones. Next time you’re at the range, challenge yourself to hit “bad” shots on purpose, practice from tough lies, and experiment with different ball flights. It might feel counterintuitive, but if baseball players can improve by practicing errors, there’s no reason golfers can’t do the same.
Give it a try, and you might just unlock the missing piece to finally getting better at golf. It’s also more freeing and fun than the frustration that comes with trying to create a perfect swing or perfect shot.
The Practice Manual
Adam Young is a highly regarded golf coach who utilizes the methods discussed here. His book, The Practice Manual, is a fantastic resource for golfers interested in exploring this idea.
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New research suggests that traditional golf coaching and practice methods are ineffective and show a better path to improvement...
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The Practice Manual Book by Adam Young
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Can a study in baseball help us play better golf?
