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 Playing in the wind can be very difficult and intimidating. It’s common for golfers to get frustrated with the wind and try to conquer it. But that’s not a wise strategy. Even if you’re playing in 40-mph gusts — as golfers did last month during the British Open — the best approach is to accept the conditions and adjust your strategy. For example, if you’re playing a long par 4 into a strong wind, approach the hole as a par 5. By the same token, it may be realistic to mentally approach a short down-wind par 5 as a par 4. These tips will improve your confidence and help you hit better shots — no matter which direction the wind is blowing. Read the wind to help determine shot selection Use different methods to observe the speed and direction of the wind — throw some grass in the air, look at the direction of the flag, watch surrounding tree tops, and use landmarks such as mountains or valleys to track wind direction. There isn’t a rule of thumb for how much more or less club to take or how much extra to aim left or right depending on wind strength. You must experience the wind a few times to develop a feel for how your ball reacts. How to hit shots playing into the wind A lower shot with reduced spin is ideal in this situation since ball flight will generally be affected less. Additionally, a more solidly hit golf ball will penetrate the wind better. To hit the ball lower with less spin, make these adjustments to your setup and swing:  • Widen your stance. This will lower your center of gravity and promote stability (above). • Play the ball slightly farther back in your stance. One to two balls back from normal position is good (above).  • Grip down on the club. Not only will this promote more control, it will shorten your swing arc and promote a shallower path into the golf ball — two adjustments that should result in a lower ball flight (above). • Take more club and swing easier. Maintain a smooth swing tempo and rhythm. This will create two ideal characteristics — less spin and a lower ball flight. Swinging harder will promote more spin and a higher flight, which can cause the ball to balloon or drift severely off line. Playing down-wind From the tee, embrace the adage, “Tee it high and let it fly." If you have trouble getting height on your drives, try hitting your 3-wood off the tee. The added loft will help you hit the ball higher to ride the wind. When hitting approach shots down-wind, your ball will almost always have less spin on it and will usually release upon landing. Adjust accordingly by playing your shot a few yards short of the green, allowing the ball to release toward the hole. Playing in cross-winds If you are hitting into a hurting cross-wind from the tee or into the green, play the shot as if you were hitting into the wind.  On approach shots with a helping cross-wind, you have two different options based on your target. If you have room to land the ball short of the green and let it roll to the hole, you can hit a normal shot that rides the wind, lands short and releases (above). If you have very little green to work with and need your ball to stop quickly, try shaping your shot into the wind. For example, if the wind is blowing right to left, aim at the pin but hit a fade — it will normally work left to right, but in this instance it will straighten out because of the wind. Plus, it has a better chance of landing softly on the green. Putting in the wind  When putting in a strong wind, it’s important to have a solid base, so take a wider stance and have more bend at the waist to remain stable over the ball (above). In general, putts will want to move in the same direction as the wind. For example, if you hit a right-to-left putt into a steady right-to-left wind, the break will be accentuated. If you hit a right-to-left putt into a left-to-right wind, the wind will counter some of the break and the putt will be less severe. Be careful on downhill, downwind putts as they will be very fast. Russ Onizuka is PGA director of golf at Yorba Linda’s Black Gold Golf Club. For more information or to schedule a lesson, call (714) 961-0060, ext. 102, or e-mail ronizuka@blackgoldgolf.com. |
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