Under what conditions would it be appropriate to use a massed practice schedule?

• A. When a student’s motivation is high
• B. When a student is tired
• C. When the swing is very complex
• D. When distributed practice would be more effective

Answer: (A)

Massed practice concentrates practice time into longer blocks with little rest. It’s most appropriate when a learner is highly motivated and able to stay focused for extended periods, allowing a large number of repetitions in a single session. In golf coaching, a highly motivated student can push through lengthy practice blocks to reinforce timing and feel, making massed blocks effective for rapid repetition when time is limited. If the student is tired, fatigue can degrade accuracy and learning, so massed practice is generally avoided. For a very complex swing, the cognitive and motor demands are higher, and spreading practice out (distributed practice) helps with processing, memory, and technique refinement. If the situation calls for distributed practice, that approach would be preferable over massed.