How to Play Golf in the Wind

Mark Oswald
General Manager
The Highlands at Dove Mountain in Marana, AZ.
Marana, AZ
oswaldpga@gmail.com

More Information

Most golfers have a difficult time playing in the wind. Here are some tips to help you play better on those windy days.
• Play the ball back in your stance for lower iron and fairway wood shots. Any shot that is played off the ground will go lower in the air if you move it back closer to your back foot. By moving the ball back in your stance you will be able to keep you hand ahead of the ball and hit the shot with less loft on the clubface. This relates to a lower more boring shot into the wind.
•  Play the tee shot more forward in your stance. This is just the opposite of the ball played on the ground. The reason the tee shot is played forward is that the ball is struck on the upswing. The further back you play this ball the more under the ball you hit and the higher it goes.
•  Widen your stance slightly. Balance is a major key for any good wind player. Poor balance directly relates to missing the clubface at impact. Widening your stance allows you to maintain your balance and strike the clubface more solidly.
•  Work on your tempo, slow your swing down, take more club and play the wind. Don’t fight the wind! Most golfers will speed up their swing to compensate for the loss of distance the wind will create. In speeding up your swing you change your tempo and it is easier to lose your balance while swinging the club.

For more help with your golf game contact Mark Oswald at oswaldpga@msn.com.