LONDON - Want to be good at golf? Well, try not to concentrate too much on the game, suggests a new study.

Researchers have found that the secret to a good putt is to stop worrying about stance, distances and the lie of the green and simply hit the ball.

John Toner, from University College, Dublin, who carried out the research, said: “When people feel under pressure they start to focus more on their technique, but this study shows that is exactly what they should not do.

“They should certainly not try to adjust their technique at all and should stick to what they know.”

He said: “One trick that people can certainly try is to try to distract your external focus. Make sure that your focus is on the hole or on a spot on the green and do not think about your technique or how your limbs are moving.”

To reach the conclusion, researchers asked 18 experienced golfers, who played off an average handicap of two, to concentrate on how they were playing as they did putting practice, reports The Telegraph.

The results were compared to how the players had performed when asked just to putt normally, according to the findings presented at the British Psychological Society annual conference in Brighton.

From analysis, researchers found that golfers who focused too much on their technique lost consistency in their game and tended to hit the ball more slowly while putting. (ANI)