A recent golf publication released new studies by the world's leading performance resesrchers, psychologists and kinesiology experts revealing important information regarding how we learn to get better.
The following summarizes a few main points from the article:
1. ELEVATE YOUR GOALS
A committment to improving by defining specific and moderately challenging goals accelerates motor skill development.
Fact: Skill learning increased by 400% when long term goals are paired with high levels of practice.
2. USE THE RIGHT SWING THOUGHTS
Using swing thoughts that focus on the club or a feeling will facilitate faster learning as opposed to using swing thoughts that focus on you, or using no swing cues at all.
Fact: Turn your favorite internal cues into external ones for more efficient learning.
3. TAKE LESSONS
A top ranked instructor will not allow you to perform or ingrain errors when you practice - interest is focused on performing the correct things, and doing them over and over.
Fact: Average student handicaps decreased 35% with highly ranked instructors over one year, versus only a decrease of .01% in average handicaps in the USGA database for same 2007-08 calendar year.
4. PRACTICE FOR TRANSFER, 5. DO IT - THEN DO IT AGAIN, 6. MAKE A NEURAL SHIFT, 7. FIND A ROLE MODEL, 8. GET THE MOST OUT OF YOUR LESSONS
For continued research results, please visit;
http://www.golf.com/golf/instruction/article/0,28136,1913844,00.html