"The wind should have no affect on a properly struck golf ball"

[Junior]

Played 9 last night and was talking to a chap in the car park about the recent jaunt to Scotland and the winds we were struggling in.

The above title is what he told me. I asked him, "if the wind doesn't affect the ball, why then did I have to hit driver / 3 wood into a many a 380 yard par 4?" .......he said I must not have hit them very well. I guess we were both right

Any other golfing misnomers to share ????????

 

[dufferman]

Played 9 last night and was talking to a chap in the car park about the recent jaunt to Scotland and the winds we were struggling in.

The above title is what he told me. I asked him, "if the wind doesn't affect the ball, why then did I have to hit driver / 3 wood into a many a 380 yard par 4?" .......he said I must not have hit them very well. I guess we were both right

Any other golfing misnomers to share ????????

I agree with him with regards to direction - a "better" hit shot won't have as much side spin so shouldn't go too far off line. But as for distance. The wind certainly affects the ball!

 

[Lord Tyrion]

The wind takes distance off a ball, no question. I used to play on a links course and played with many good players. A true strike will stay straight but any side spin will be taken big time. In terms of direction I would agree with the statement as I have seen it in action.

 

[garyinderry]

As far a straight ball staying straight I am not so sure.

Surely you would need some kind of force to offset the wind to hold it straight. people might think they hit it straight but in reality its probably enough of a cut to offset a wind from the right.

It would make for an interesting trackman test.

 

[FairwayDodger]

First time I heard this I was playing a par 3 in a strong crosswind. I aimed at the left hand bunker, flushed the shot and watched as it defied the wind to fly laser-straight into the bunker. One of my playing partners made the comment after I lamented the failure of the wind to bring it back to the green.

I think the truth is the better the strike, the less the effect of a crosswind. But a head or tail wind is always going to make a difference.

 

[guest100718]

We will all have hit shots that appear to have defied the wind and it it certainly looks like the wind magnifies a poorly struck shot.

 

[Mike07]

I once played driver, 3 wood, 3 wood to get up to a green on a par 5. That was definitely the wind!!!

 

[Region3]

If the wind had such a little effect on a well struck ball, the pro's wouldn't be as concerned about knowing what it's doing as much as they do.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

I think he means that if you take into account the wind direction and speed in your shot choice and then hit the ball properly (well) and as intended - then the wind will not have any significant impact on what you expect of the shot. Sudden unexpectedly strong gusts (or drop-offs) are of course are going to change the outcome of even the most perfectly executed shot.

 

[Jimaroid]

I think it's nonsense, it's impossible for a ball to to not be affected by wind. I suspect shots that go surprisingly straight are ones that have been hit with a spin axis pointing into the wind direction, so the relative velocities are cancelling each other out. E.g., just the right amount of draw into a left-to-right wind means the ball goes straight.

The only way I can hit a lovely straight drive is in a right-to-left crosswind.

 

[Robster59]

Our course is pretty windy and I have hit shots which have just gone dead straight in spite of the crosswind. The less sidespin there is on a ball, the less likely the wind is to affect it.
However I have noticed the winder affect the more lofts shots more, presumably as there is more backspin on the balls and also because the speed of the ball is slower. Just a theory.

 

[fundy]

golf ball defies the laws of physics or has some spin on it which counters the wind that makes it look like it does. you decide

 

[Deleted member 21258]

When the wind if behind and in front, it affects distance without a shadow of doubt.

Sideways, a properly hit shots is affected less for sure than a side spin shot that shoots off when the wind is blowing.

 

[Fyldewhite]

golf ball defies the laws of physics or has some spin on it which counters the wind that makes it look like it does. you decide

I'm with the laws of physics! Fly a plane with exactly the same settings, power etc in differing wind conditions and you will end up in different places.......unless you adjust the controls to counteract the forces from the wind. Ergo, so will a golf ball....even if struck perfectly.

 

[Three]

I'm with the laws of physics! Fly a plane with exactly the same settings, power etc in differing wind conditions and you will end up in different places........

Over a distance of 150 yards?

 

[turkish]

Over a distance of 150 yards?

I would say depending on the wind speed. Don't tell me a perfectly struck 150y shot with a 90 degree 50 mph crosswind is not going to affect the ball.....

 

[Deleted member 1147]

I can believe that for the majority of the balls flight the wind may have little effect, but when the ball is slowing down, at the end of it's flight (descending) the wind seems to have a greater effect.

 

[Three]

I would say depending on the wind speed. Don't tell me a perfectly struck 150y shot with a 90 degree 50 mph crosswind is not going to affect the ball.....

Can anyone play golf in 50mph winds?

 

[Jimaroid]

but when the ball is slowing down, at the end of it's flight (descending)

What do you mean by end of flight? Do you mean peak height or when it's about to hit the ground?

The reason I ask is that a ball can't descend and slow down at the same time. A descending ball is accelerating, like the apple on Newton's head.

 

[Deleted member 1147]

What do you mean by end of flight? Do you mean peak height or when it's about to hit the ground?

The reason I ask is that a ball can't descend and slow down at the same time. A descending ball is accelerating, like the apple on Newton's head.

I'm no scientist, so am just saying what appears to happen, but when a ball is coming down it seems to be more affected by the wind.