No Transfer of Training

by Dr. Richard C. Myers

WWW.THINKANDREACHPAR.COM

In previous generations, it was believed that the mind that was trained in one field would automatically be better fitted to do other things also. For instance, it was thought that training in math, would help you with Greek, that a good billiard player would automatically be an excellent putter, and that a pool player would have no difficulty in learning such a similar game as golf. This is not true. Many experiments have shown that each new type of learning is almost always different from all other types. When there is some similarity, a portion of what one learns in one shill or game will carry on to the next, but this is not usual. 

Many pool players and champions are astonished that they can not putt. The famous Babe Didricksen had a natural talent for all sports, but in order to become good in golf, she had to become a very hard practicer. 

While in high school, I participated in most of the sports and games that were popular and do not recall where what I had learned in one field was of noticeable value in another. 

There is one kind of learning in which substantial transfer can occur. This is in the field of attitudes and principles. If anyone will attack the problem of learning golf with an open enthusiastic attitude and apply basic psychological principles toward the learning process, the results will be astonishing. 

All of this comes under the general rule of "no transfer of training" which when understood will help us avoid wasting time by practicing something which will not be of golfing benefit. There are many mental exercises that can benefit golfers, and will help you improve your game. Think and Reach Par and Own The Zone are just a couple. 

The practical application of this means that practice will not be efficient unless we practice the very thing we wish to learn.  Unless we practice it under circumstances that duplicate precisely all conceivable factors that apply to the golfing problem We see, as developing from this principle, that medal and match play, winter and summer play, friendly and competitive golf, windy weather and calm weather, flat or hilly courses, and indoor play all present changes in the golfing situation which the you, the golfer, has to learn as new skills.

If we are thinking of individual shots, we see then that the ideal would be to practice a shot at the very point of the course and almost at the same time that it was missed. This is not practical, but you must be careful in seeing that your practice shots duplicate your playing shots, and you will learn the game more quickly.

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