Playing in the wind

[louise_a]

Twice this week I have played in very windy conditions, especially at Hesketh on Monday and less so today at Lytham Green Drive, where it was nice to bump into Chellie.

What gets me is that the wind as a profound effect on some shots but less or none on other, how do you know in advance if you shot is liable to be affected? or is it just pot luck.

 

[chellie]

Couldn't believe how windy it was there today Louise Nice to see you again

 

[duncan mackie]

what it does is entirely predictable for any given wind speed - the problems most people have are twofold;

1. they struggle with the concept of wind as a function of ball speed and direction; best summed up that into the wind it will have about 2-3 times the impact in terms of distance lost v gained downwind. ground conditions can really confuse here too as into the wind the carry will reduce and trajectory will reduce any roll out - down wind the trajectory lowers, carry can be similar to calm conditions but roll out increases unless it's very soft!
2. things get rather complicated in terms of directional impact because of the effect of spin; a faded ball into a left to right wind will gain a larger distance to the right than a straight struck shot. If the winds quartering against it will be an even bigger effect - quartering behind will ease the difference (but it will still be there).

All that's before you get into shaped shots!

 

[rosecott]

what it does is entirely predictable for any given wind speed - the problems most people have are twofold;

1. they struggle with the concept of wind as a function of ball speed and direction; best summed up that into the wind it will have about 2-3 times the impact in terms of distance lost v gained downwind. ground conditions can really confuse here too as into the wind the carry will reduce and trajectory will reduce any roll out - down wind the trajectory lowers, carry can be similar to calm conditions but roll out increases unless it's very soft!
2. things get rather complicated in terms of directional impact because of the effect of spin; a faded ball into a left to right wind will gain a larger distance to the right than a straight struck shot. If the winds quartering against it will be an even bigger effect - quartering behind will ease the difference (but it will still be there).

All that's before you get into shaped shots!

Oooh, Duncan, I like it when you talk dirty.

 

[chrisd]

Forget this post, I thought it was "Playing with the wind" not "in the wind" silly old fart I am!

 

[louise_a]

Couldn't believe how windy it was there today Louise Nice to see you again

It was nothing compared to the wind at Hesketh on Monday

 

[Jack_bfc]

I played Tuesday evening in that wind..

It can be tricky to judge due to a few of holes having calm sheltered areas behind trees, so you have to judge what the ball is going to do if it gets above or beyond the tree canopy.

The holes that are directly into or down wind are easier to manage I find..

 

[User 105]

I always struggle in the wind as I have a high ball flight.

When I was a member at Chesfield Downs wind is always a factor. You get used to adjusting for it after a while just based on experience and clubs you've hit in the past.

At Knebworth it's not so much a factor as it's more protected but can get really tricky when the wind gets up. There are few holes that are tree lined and tee boxes in awkward spots if the wind is coming across the fairway from the wrong direction. No room to start the ball further left or right to account for the wind and forces you to try and hit a shaped shot.

 

[LinksTurf]

I learned my golf on a parkland course, but have been playing at Carnoustie for the last 8 years where it is windy most of the time. I had no idea how to judge how much the wind would affect my ball when I first moved here, but now its just experience that tells me. The spin on the ball has a huge effect on how the wind affects it. I just got a new Jetspeed Driver. The biggest difference I have noticed between it and my old driver is that because my backspin is now much lower, I lose much less distance into a headwind, even though the initial launch is higher than my old club.

 

[mcbroon]

I was out playing in the wind last night. Quite often it was a cross-wind which, in my case at least, meant a lot of missed greens. You have to have a good short game when it's windy to rescue the slight misjudgements.

 

[MadAdey]

Best advice I ever received for playing in wind was this, what ever club you think it is take another and hit it easier. The harder a ball is hit the more backspin you create, as we know wind will exaggerate any spin so that is why so many people struggle to hit it into the wind. Best swing thought ever is "swing with ease, when into the breeze".

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Another who's been brought up on clubbing up, hitting easy and reducing the spin. Trouble I have is I get too armsy at times and the swing isn't executed as well as it should be. It's a shot I should work on more

 

[duncan mackie]

Trouble I have is I get too armsy at times ....

nothing wrong with hugs

 

[backwoodsman]

It's a shot I should work on more

Homie, when the time comes that there's a shot you don't think you need to work on, then I'll eat my hat. But I doubt I'll need the knife and fork soon...

What I find difficult to judge is how strong is the wind further down the fairway. You estimate the effect, allow for it, then realise you got it wrong as the ball shoots sideways/upwards/backwards as if hit with an invisible cricket bat.