Playing Golf in the Wind (Video) - by Pete Styles
Playing Golf in the Wind (Video) - by Pete Styles

So we've talked before about how one of the golf's biggest challenges is the fact that we don't always play in stellar environment. We play out in the elements, and the elements are often going to challenge you. So that makes golf more interesting I feel that every time you step on the first tee, you're playing on to a slightly different course with slightly different weather conditions. And that should be something that you embrace as a good challenge, something that you find to be more enjoyable because of that.

So if we look at a windy day, for example, that's one of golf's biggest challenges. Whenever you watch the golf on TV, if the wind's blowing hard, you'll often see the scores creep up a little bit. But what can you do to make sure that you don't struggle too much in the wind that you actually use the wind as your friend? The biggest thing I would suggest when you're out there actually playing is that you play with the wind rather than trying to fight it. The wind will always win if you try and fight it.

So, for example, if you're playing into the wind and you've got an eight aim for your normal distance, rather than trying to take an eight and hit it harder, just accept that the wind is going to be there. If you're playing into it, you have to take a seven or even a six. If you take that eight-aim, you try and hit the ball harder, that creates more back spin. That ball flies even higher, takes more effect from the wind than just stalls and stops and comes down.

Take a seven, six, or even a five-aim, you swing a little bit slow and a bit smoother, that reduces the back spin on the ball. We get a lower flight. The ball lands at the front of the green, rolls on a little bit more but at least you're not having this ballooning effect of just hitting and buffering into the wind.

Likewise playing down the wind, let the wind again be your friend there. So take maybe one less club, swing nice and smooth just like the height on the aim, pop the ball up into the air, once it's in the air, it's carrying and it's blowing down wind quite nicely.

Now, if you've got a crosswind the whole left to right, right to left, whichever way it is, try it again. Go at this idea that don't fight the wind. Unless you're a very, very good golfer who's confident that you could draw the ball into a left or right wind or fade the ball back against the right to left turn.

I would actually prefer that you stick to hitting your normal shape and you just allow the wind to blow it one way or another way but take that into account in your alignment or your set-up. So on a left-to-right day, I would aim down the left-hand side of the fairway, make my normal swing and just let the wind hold it up and bring it back to the center of the fairway. Likewise right-to-left day, aim down the right-hand side, hit it down there , and just let the wind bring it back in.

And remember that for every sort of hole, weather, wind isn't in your favor, there should be a counter hole-weather-wind is in your favor. So don't feel that the wind is always into your face. For every in to the wind hole, you're probably going to get a hole that's back down the wind. Just capitalize on the easier down wind holes and then don't struggle too much into wind holes. Just take an extra club and play with the wind rather than always fighting against it.

 2012-05-09

So we've talked before about how one of the golf's biggest challenges is the fact that we don't always play in stellar environment. We play out in the elements, and the elements are often going to challenge you. So that makes golf more interesting I feel that every time you step on the first tee, you're playing on to a slightly different course with slightly different weather conditions. And that should be something that you embrace as a good challenge, something that you find to be more enjoyable because of that.

So if we look at a windy day, for example, that's one of golf's biggest challenges. Whenever you watch the golf on TV, if the wind's blowing hard, you'll often see the scores creep up a little bit. But what can you do to make sure that you don't struggle too much in the wind that you actually use the wind as your friend? The biggest thing I would suggest when you're out there actually playing is that you play with the wind rather than trying to fight it. The wind will always win if you try and fight it.

So, for example, if you're playing into the wind and you've got an eight aim for your normal distance, rather than trying to take an eight and hit it harder, just accept that the wind is going to be there. If you're playing into it, you have to take a seven or even a six. If you take that eight-aim, you try and hit the ball harder, that creates more back spin. That ball flies even higher, takes more effect from the wind than just stalls and stops and comes down.

Take a seven, six, or even a five-aim, you swing a little bit slow and a bit smoother, that reduces the back spin on the ball. We get a lower flight. The ball lands at the front of the green, rolls on a little bit more but at least you're not having this ballooning effect of just hitting and buffering into the wind.

Likewise playing down the wind, let the wind again be your friend there. So take maybe one less club, swing nice and smooth just like the height on the aim, pop the ball up into the air, once it's in the air, it's carrying and it's blowing down wind quite nicely.

Now, if you've got a crosswind the whole left to right, right to left, whichever way it is, try it again. Go at this idea that don't fight the wind. Unless you're a very, very good golfer who's confident that you could draw the ball into a left or right wind or fade the ball back against the right to left turn.

I would actually prefer that you stick to hitting your normal shape and you just allow the wind to blow it one way or another way but take that into account in your alignment or your set-up. So on a left-to-right day, I would aim down the left-hand side of the fairway, make my normal swing and just let the wind hold it up and bring it back to the center of the fairway. Likewise right-to-left day, aim down the right-hand side, hit it down there , and just let the wind bring it back in.

And remember that for every sort of hole, weather, wind isn't in your favor, there should be a counter hole-weather-wind is in your favor. So don't feel that the wind is always into your face. For every in to the wind hole, you're probably going to get a hole that's back down the wind. Just capitalize on the easier down wind holes and then don't struggle too much into wind holes. Just take an extra club and play with the wind rather than always fighting against it.