Wind affects the playing conditions on golf courses all over the world but more so in coastal, island and upland areas. The effects of the wind are highly variable and the golfer needs to be able to cope with both varying wind direction and varying wind strength.

Wind often affects the mind more than the shot.

• The tendencies to hit harder into the wind to ensure distance and to hit harder with the wind to maximise the advantage are common but inadvisable.
• The uncertainty over whether to play with a crosswind and let the ball go, or against a crosswind and hold the ball up, often invades the golfers mind and undermines performance.
• There is, therefore, a clear need for a set of simple strategies to cope with wind in different situations, and this is what I shall provide in this section.

PLAYING DOWN WIND

A following wind has certain effects on a golf shot.

Increased length due to the:

• Propulsive effect of the wind.
• Tendency for the ball to keep lower and roll further on landing.

Decreased ball spin which:

• Reduces sidespin and so tends to straighten shots.
• Reduces backspin and so tends to decrease control on shots into the green.

Decreased swing control due to the:

• Destabilising effect on the body itself.

Down-wind strategies must cope with these effects to maximise the chances of success. I would recommend two tactical approaches for use in different circumstances.

1) The Loft Shot
Hit the ball higher than usual to the green by:

• Placing the ball further forward in the stance than normal for the club being used which will:
  • Decrease roll on landing and so increase control.
  • Decrease length and so allow for the wind.
  • Increase the solidity of the swing by shifting the impact weight distribution
  • But beware the tendency to top or fat this shot.

Pro’s Tips

• Practice this shot(s) by imagining you are playing over a tree.
• Consider using a 3 wood off the tee instead of a driver for more height and so increased wind assistance with more control.

2) The Run Shot
Hit the ball shorter than usual landing it earlier and allowing it to run to the hole by:

• Playing the shot as normal but with a reduced length of swing which will:
  • Reduce the carry.
  • Allow for the extra roll.

Pro’s Tips

• Practise this shot(s) to become familiar with the carry and roll characteristics of:
• Different clubs in different wind conditions and with different ground conditions.
• Avoid this strategy when the approach to the green is protected by water or sand, use the loft strategy instead.
• Know your course and work out where the run shot and the loft shot are favoured.

PLAYING INTO THE WIND

A head wind has certain effects of a golf shot.

• Decreased length due to the:
  • Inhibiting effect of the wind.
  • Tendency for the ball to fly higher (and stall) and roll less far.
• Increased ball-spin which:
  • Increases side-spin and so tends to exaggerate hook and slice effects even to the extent of turning a draw into a hook or a fade into a slice.
• Decreased swing control due to the:
  • Destabilising effect on the body itself.
  • Tendency to hit harder at the ball.

Up-wind strategies must cope with these effects to maximise the chances of success. I would recommend two complementary swing strategies to achieve this.

1) Basic swing modification.
Club selection.

• Choose a longer club than normal to offer more distance into the wind.
• Move up one or two (or three) clubs depending on the strenght of the wind.

Set-up

• Position the ball further back than normal, towards the centre of the stance for longer clubs and just a little (half an inch) behind centre for shorter (8=) clubs.
• Set the body weight at 60% on the left leg and 40% on the right leg, holding the body against the wind.
• Set the hands ahead of the ball.

Swing

• Take only a three-quarter length backswing restricting the hinging action of the wrists.
• Keep the bodyweight positioned centrally over the ball (further forward/left than normal) but ensure:
  • A steady movement with rhythm and balance.
  • No excessive hitting with the hands/wrists.
  • Swing through the ball to the perfectly balanced finish post.

These modifications will:

• Ensure a lower and more penetrating flight due to the:
  • Ball being further back in the stance.
  • Club being longer.
  • Hands being a head of the ball.

Improve the swing control due to the:

• Shortened swing.
• More central / wind braced body position.
• Steadier swing speed.

2) Advantageous shot shaping.

The draw shot is ideal for playing into wind because:

• It produces a lower trajectory, which penetrates the wind.
• It creates topspin helping the ball to roll on landing.

Try to build a draw into the basic, wind-modified swing as follows:

Set-up

• Aim the clubface at the target point (the intended landing area).
• Align the body (including feet and shoulders) to the right of the intended target point (a closed stance).
• Adjust the set-up as in part 1. Basic swing modification.

Swing

• Swing as in part 1 basic swing modification swinging in sympathy with the body alignment (not the clubface alignment).
• The ball will fly lower with a slight right to left curl at the end of its flight and land with extra roll.

Pro’s Tips
Years of experience on very windy links (seaside) courses have enabled me to identify the cardinal sins in wind play.

Driving the body into the shot which results in:

• Loss of power.
• Opening of the clubface (slicing).
• Occasional over-closing of the clubface (hooking).
• Loss of balance (mishitting).

Moving the ball too far back which results in:

• Too steep an angle of attack.
• A tendency to drive the body into the shot (see above).
• Swinging faster and trying to hit harder which results in:
  • Higher ball flight
  • Loss of balance (mishitting).
  • More body movement and greater instability in the wind (mishitting).

Above all you must overcome the natural tendency to be afraid of the wind and tense up and swing harder and faster.

Practise the strategies I have outlined and there won’t be any need to fear the wind. Read the article on ‘Drawing’ in the game improvement section.

PLAYING IN CROSSWIND

Playing in crosswind is about sensible course management not about set-up or swing modifications. There are two ways to play in crosswind.

1) Playing with the wind.
The shot is shaped to move with the crosswind giving:

• Increased carry.
• Extra roll on landing.
• Less control especially after landing.

2) Playing against the wind.
The shot is shaped to move into the crosswind giving:

• Less roll on landing.
• More control especially after landing.
• Decreased carry.

A number of factors must be taken into account when selecting 1) or 2).
The natural shape of your shots:

• It may be best to stick with this and allow for the wind effects outlined in 1) and 2) above rather than try for the unnatural shape if you lack confidence in the latter.

The type of shot:

• It may be advantageous to shape a tee (or long) shot with the wind for extra length. Hazards permitting.
• It may be advantageous to shape an approach shot against the wind for extra
  control.

Pro’s Tips
You must seek to find the percentage strategy when playing in crosswind bearing in mind:

• Personal strengths.
• Type of shot.
• Nature of the hole.
• Need for length or control.

Focus on balance and make two practice swings when the wind is on your back.

Playing in cross-wind example hole: