Dealing with Wind

Wind is common whenever one plays golf in the British Isles, especially on a links course. Dealing with it is largely a matter of common sense. That means noting the conditions and compensating for them in your game.

Crosswinds are usually not a problem for the golfer with a good swing. If there is a particularly strong left to right crosswind then aiming slightly left of target is enough to compensate. Similarly for a strong right to left crosswind, you might aim slightly to the right of target. Unfortunately the golfer who hooks or slices the ball runs the danger of the wind carrying the ball or catching it and stalling it in the air. The only remedy to this situation is to cure the hook or slice - these are dealt with in other sections.

When playing against or with the wind, there is a danger of it catching the ball leading to over shooting or a lack of distance. When playing into the wind, the ball should be kept low otherwise it can rise high, stall and drop. Similarly when playing with the wind, loft can be used to compensate for the wind carrying the ball. In both conditions therefore, wind should be considered when choosing which club to play.

Perhaps the worse reaction to windy conditions to is try and induce more power into the swing. Often this will cause the club to bear down on the ball and for it to rise high with a high degree of spin. This is absolutely fatal when playing against the wind as the ball is very likely stall in the air.