20
Aug '12
Control your ball better in windy conditions
By Chris Wallace
One of the things that makes golf so unique and challenging are the ever-changing conditions players face, which inevitably makes the game quite different on a day-to-day basis.
And anyone who has ever played this game, including the best players in the world, understands that playing in the wind is among the greatest challenges a player can face on the course.There are, however, some things you can do to help manage your game better when the wind is a factor, and it starts with an understanding of how the wind will affect your ball.
Most notably, you must understand how the wind will influence or accentuate any spin that you put on the ball.
For example, when you’re hitting shots into the wind, your ball is likely to spin more, which could mean one of two things - either the ball will spin too much and “balloon” too high or any side spin that you put on the ball will be exaggerated and lead to shots that can end up wildly offline.
The above reasons are why you never want to hit a full shot into a heavy wind, because it’s simply too difficult to control your ball.
Instead, take a couple of extra clubs and swing at about 80 percent. The result will be a lower ball flight and a golf ball that doesn’t spin as much, which means straighter shots as well.
On the flip side, when you’re playing downwind, the ball won’t tend to curve as easily, so it’s important not to try to hit a significant fade or draw when you’ve got a strong wind at your back because you’ll be unlikely to execute that shot in those conditions.
Also of note, a golfer needs to understand how the ball will react on the green when they play shots downwind or into the wind.
Downwind shots are almost going to release forward while shots played into the wind will stop quickly, which means you need to factor that into the equation when you’re picking a club.
A good rule of thumb is that you should add or subtract 10 yards for every 10 MPH of wind that you’re dealing with on any given shot.
If you’re facing a 150-yard shot and you have a 20 MPH wind at your back, not only is the shot going to play roughly 20 yards shorter, but you also should anticipate the ball releasing when it hits the green, meaning the shot might only play 120-125 yards depending on how fast and firm the greens are that day.
On the flip side, if you have a 150-yard shot into a 20 MPH wind, it probably will play closer to 170 yards and because you won’t want to hit the shot full to keep spin off the ball, you might choose to add three clubs in an effort to control the ball.
Of course, we haven’t even discussed cross winds yet, which can be even more difficult to judge for many golfers.
The average player, however, should almost always try to use a cross wind and not fight it. If the wind is blowing right to left, aim a little right, try to hit the ball solidly and let the wind work the ball back to the left. And use the same approach in a left-to-right wind.
The key, however, especially on approach shots or difficult tee shots, is to never aim your ball into trouble. Take a safe line and make a ball that is moved by the wind finish away from the trouble, be it a water hazard or a tucked pin. Do this and you’ll find yourself making fewer big numbers on the golf course.
There’s no question that playing in high winds can be demanding and frustrating.
But keep your expectations in check, embrace the challenge and use these tips to manage your way around the golf course. The result will be better scores when the wind gets up.