The Myth of “Perfect Practice Makes Perfect”

We’ve all heard the phrase “perfect practice makes perfect” but what does the research say about learning? That’s what we’re talking about with one of the leaders in the field of golf research, Dr Tim Lee

The research has in fact shown that ERRORS in practice or training or most beneficial. So how beneficial is grooving your swing with that training aid time after time or repeating a 5 foot putt with a guidance device over and over? Find out in today’s episode.

On the course you never have two identical shots… So why try to repeat identical shots in practice?

As a student always be looking to figure out what happened after errors and mistakes. An open or growth mindset toward the planning and review part of hitting a golf ball is a huge part. To many golfers aren’t willing to take the time to problem solve!

Past episodes with Dr Tim Lee.

Stop Wasting Time on the Practice Range
Specificity of Learning Might Explain Why You’re not Getting Better

About Dr Tim Lee

Dr Tim Lee Motor Learning GolfTimothy D. Lee, PhD, is a professor in the department of kinesiology at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. He has published extensively in motor behavior and psychology journals since 1979. More recently, he has contributed as an editor to Journal of Motor Behavior and Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport and as an editorial board member for Psychological Review.

Since 1984 his research has been supported by grants from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada. Dr. Lee is a member and past president of the Canadian Society for Psychomotor Learning and Sport Psychology (SCAPPS) and a member of the North American Society for the Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity (NASPSPA), the Psychonomic Society, and the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society. In 1980 Dr. Lee received the inaugural Young Scientist Award from SCAPPS; in 1991-92 he received a Senior Research Fellowship by the Dienst Onderzoekscoordinatie, Catholic University in Leuven, Belgium; and in 2005 he presented a prestigious Senior Scientist Lecture at NASPSPA. In his leisure time, Dr. Lee enjoys playing hockey and golf. He has maintained a lifelong fascination with blues music and would one day love to put years of motor learning study into practice by learning to play blues guitar.