Athlete family, peer support can up score

EXETER, England, March 6 (UPI) -- A study of high level British golfers shows the benefit of "social support" is most significant when a player is under stress, researchers said.

University of Exeter researchers focused on 197 British male amateur golfers, who all played at a high level -- handicaps ranging from plus-2 to 4. The golfers completed a series of questionnaires to measure the level of support they receive from their peers.

They were also questioned about their confidence before a game and about a number of factors that could cause stress or anxiety.

Dr. Tim Rees said the quality of their performance was measured, taking into account their final score, handicap and the conditions on the day.

The study, published in the Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, showed that when the athletes playing under stress, social support could improve their performance by nearly one shot per round of golf.

"Our study reveals the ongoing support of friends and family to be one of the most important factors influencing sports performance," Rees said in a statement. "While training, tactics and luck all play a part, the encouraging words or kind gestures of a partner or friend can make the difference between a footballer scoring that winning goal, or a sprinter achieving a record time."