Dimitri Payet has revealed the secret to his successful free-kick formula: giving up practice, reports the London Evening Standard.

Payet has scored with free-kicks against Bournemouth, Blackburn, Manchester United and also for France in their friendly with Russia but insists the key has been to trust in a technique he has honed until the Hammers' visit to Dean Court on January 12.

"I worked very hard on taking them earlier in the season up until the Bournemouth game when I scored," said Payet. "Since that game I have not been practising as I have been happy with the way I am hitting the ball so I am carrying on with that technique and now I just take a few before each game when I am warming up.

"I was quite lucky against Palace as I did have one free-kick earlier in the game that went over but I saw that the keeper had moved slightly over to the other side so when I had another free-kick I decided to slightly change it and that was a good choice.

"I must say I was surprised by how the ball travelled and usually I can tell when I hit it if it is going to go in and I can sometimes celebrate beforehand but with this one I thought it was going over but it then dropped in.

"I am enjoying a very good period at the moment in terms of free-kicks. I am full of confidence and that allows me to try out these new things. The ball seems to be going in at the moment which is great for all of us."