If the average golfer normally takes 36 putts per round, improving by around 25% could mean knocking nine shots off their total score

Dr Dave Smith, sports psychologist

Dr Holmes and Dr Dave Smith, from Chester College, asked 40 experienced golfers, with average handicaps of 3.5, to imagine practising their putting under three different conditions.

One group was asked to watch a video of themselves putting, another was asked to listen to taped sounds of themselves putting, and a third group was asked to read a script based on what they felt when the putted.

Another group was asked to read a biography of Jack Nicklaus to see if it improved their game.

Six weeks later, their performance was tested and improvements noted of 57% in the video group, 47% in the audio group, 30% in the reading group and 18% in the Jack Nicklaus group.

The findings were presented at the British Psychological Society's annual conference in Blackpool on Wednesday.

Virtual reality

Dr Smith said: "If the average golfer normally takes 36 putts per round, improving by around 25% could mean knocking nine shots off their total score.

"That's something most amateur golfers would give their eye teeth for.

"It could mean the difference between missing the cut and not getting any prize money or getting your name on the leader board.

"Clearly at top level, the margins between winning and losing are small and even if they get small benefits that could have a knock-on effect and make them more successful."

The researchers checked the golfers' performance again four months later and the video group, who were still practising the technique, found their handicaps had shrunk.

However, the reading group saw no improvement.

Dr Smith said for the technique to work, it was important to learn to use the imagination properly.

He said: "People often talk about visualising as if it's only seeing things, but we say don't just think about what you're seeing, think about how it feels, or even the smell of the grass.

"We're trying to help people make it a total recreation of an event. It's like virtual reality."