Wind - for and against

[Sam]

If you were capable of hitting 2 drives exactly the same with one into wind and one wind assisted (same wind speed), would the yardage loss on the 1st drive be the same amount of yards as that gained on the 2nd drive?

Subjective view is that I gain more with wind assitance than lose when wind against. Does anyone know the fizzicks on this one please?

 

[Swinger]

Would have thought every player is different. Would depend on ball flight and spin a lot.

 

[Ken_A]

No - A ball flying into the wind will lose distance as it balloons (increasing height and landing angle - hence run)and then as the wind overcomes the spin the ball will drop (sometimes making the ball go backwards) this should stop a lot of the run.
A ball flying with the wind will not balloon as high and the wild will carry it forward - even as the spin (and lift) reduces the ball will still have forward motion and should roll on landing.

But in gusting wind - well that is a different story - the direction and continuity of wind will affect the flight. Then the gust strengths should effect the spin.

Fap me you have me excited here - in short - into the wind you want as little spin as possible (though enough to get the ball in the place you want - that’s why you hit easy with a few clubs more) When downwind spin will have an effect but not just as much as into the wind - really you hit them high so it is 'pushed' more by the wind (higher = more wind effects and motion transfer) and roll.

I played a team match last night in a proper gale force wind (massive tree even fell down) I played fantastic - I used Irons off tees (1 driver in 16 holes) and either punched or smashed it high in the wind. It was a real test but I really enjoy these conditions as it makes you really think about the shots.

 

[Adrena1in]

Good question...in my mind I would imagine the loss/gain being about the same. For example, if I were to take two clubs more than I normally would into the wind, I'll take two clubs less going the other way.

 

[viscount17]

you need to read 'The Science of Golf' (available on Amazon*)



* Amazon does not pay me a finders fee - b******s

 

[HawkeyeMS]

What Ken_A said. Balls hit into the wind will lose more distance than balls hit in the direction of the wind will gain.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I'm a short hitter at the best of times (HTL, Hawkeye and Pieman in particular were in different counties to me with their drives at times) and so any hole into the wind makes my life particularly difficult.

All I tend to do these days is accept that I'm going to lose maybe 10-30 yards dependant on strength. On the par 3's I'll club up as best I can and still back myself to reach 90% of them (220+ and its a challenge). On the par 4's I'll look to see where the trouble off the tee is and if it is still a shortish hole (under 360 yards) I'm confident I can still get there so if there is water or bunkers where a wind affected drive would land I might go down to a 3 wood. On the long par 4's and par 5's I accept that I won't reach (especially the 4's) and usually have a shot anyway so just concentrate on making a good swing and getting it in play without worrying about the distance. From there I can re-assess and either take it on with a 3/5 wood or lay up, play on for 3 and hope to make a putt

 

[DingleBerry]

HeHeHe you make me laugh!! I will tell u the science behind it if u can give me some proper mathematics to work from!! I E... wind speed into wind wind speed against umm direction of wind? attitude of wind etc etc etc

 

[kid2]

Too much info for the OP to be thinking about while hitting a ball....Just bash the thing up the fairway and take your medicine wherever it lands.....Try hitting a Long Iron off the tee the next time you have a head wind and keep the ball back a little in your stance....Ill bet it'll be longer than your driver!

 

[CliveW]

Tee the ball lower when hitting into the wind and higher when hitting with the wind, and remember "In the breeze, swing with ease!"

 

[Swinger]

Tee the ball lower when hitting into the wind and higher when hitting with the wind, and remember "In the breeze, swing with ease!"

Teeing the ball lower could make the player create a steeper angle of attack, I would say that this is not a thing that all should do.

Steeper angle, more spin. big balloon.

Swinging easy is the best advice, some get on better teeing higher into the wind as it help eliminate more spin.

 

[19th]

Tee the ball lower when hitting into the wind and higher when hitting with the wind, and remember "In the breeze, swing with ease!"

Teeing the ball lower could make the player create a steeper angle of attack, I would say that this is not a thing that all should do.

Steeper angle, more spin. big balloon.

Swinging easy is the best advice, some get on better teeing higher into the wind as it help eliminate more spin.

As per Swinger for me!

We always seem to play in a windy conditions up here but for instance, last Saturday was really bad, caddycars blowing over bad, so in those conditions I also widen my stance to flatten the swing, go down the grip a bit and 3/4 swing to take some wrist action out. Result? Lower penetrating drive and STRAIGHT!

Accept loss of distance and just aim to be on short grass for next shot.

 

[Ethan]

If you were capable of hitting 2 drives exactly the same with one into wind and one wind assisted (same wind speed), would the yardage loss on the 1st drive be the same amount of yards as that gained on the 2nd drive?

Subjective view is that I gain more with wind assitance than lose when wind against. Does anyone know the fizzicks on this one please?

This question was examined in a golf magazine a few years ago and the answer is that most people lose more into the wind than they gain down the wind.

It probably depends how you play it. I don't like too much wind behind because although the drives look great, is a problem for stopping balls on green. Pros like a little wind against for tight pins because they can use it to slow the ball and let it drop down softly.

 

[SwingSlow]

With the added excitement of all the extra sideways movement you get hitting into the wind if you don't get it quite right.