Wind Question

[HRC99]

Just finished a 3rd Division Open at Hornsea Golf Club. Really terrific course and well worth a visit. But the finish was just brutal:

14 469 yard par 4
15 448 yard par 4
16 528 yard par 5
17 173 yard par 3
18 409 yard par 4

All directly into a 25-30 mile an hour wind. It was as tough a finish as I've ever played. We were all shattered by the time we'd finished.

I really struggle on club selection with the wind and wondered if anyone had any tips as to how to decide what club to hit in windy conditions?

 

[kid2]

HRC,
Let me know when you figure this one out...
Our course is wide open and its nearly always windy up there....I struggle also with it unless its directly behind me....
If im hitting into it i try everything your supposed to do Ball back a little,less club,swing easy.....
Then what happens i hit it fat
When its blowing from the side i find it hard to determine how far left or right of my target i need to be aiming to compensate for it...
Its like a vicious circle.

 

[HRC99]

I played ok but kept misjudging club selection. Just couldn't get it right - kept hitting them short into the wind or long downwind. Wasted a ton of shots.

 

[kid2]

I played ok but kept misjudging club selection. Just couldn't get it right - kept hitting them short into the wind or long downwind. Wasted a ton of shots.

Yep that my problem....Sometimes ill get it right and when the situation arises again i pull the same club only to see it baloon and fall short....I then walk away scratching the head wondering what happened.

 

[Pro_V_wan_kenobi]

Hi HRC99
I learned to play on the east coast of Scotland, N Berwick and Gullan. The wind can be a bit tasty up there but it’s the same for us all. When you play in the wind you have to play a different game altogether, forget your yardages and just judge the shot with say 3 or 4 clubs more than you would normally hit. The closer to the ground you can hit it the better. Let is land short and run or hit is all the way if it is straight into the teeth. There is nothing better than seeing a 6 iron from about 120yards fight its way through the wind to land in the middle of the green.

 

[Putting_Green_Pro]

Golfer's instinct is what i use... anyway it must have worked, eagle 2

 

[pokerjoke]

My dad is 67 years of age and is an absolute demon in the wind as i found out friday,it seemed no shot went over head height but of course it did,it seems its all in the set up funnily enough its the same as if its not windy.Most players including myself change there setup allowing for the wind and aim left or right,imo just aim straight try not to hit too hard and relax.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Its all about hitting 3/4 swing low chasers into the wind and clubbing down. You need to swing within yourself as the harder you hit it the more spin on the ball and the more it will balloon into the headwind. Similarly downwind, club down and swing easier and let the wind work the ball down the hole towards the green for you.

 

[Region3]

I would have no idea how to judge the distance hitting a low shot with lots more club, so I try to guess how far I should try to hit it, so the wind affects it to the right distance.

So if I have 150 to go into a fairly strong wind I might decide I need to try to hit it 180, and select the club for that distance.

 

[stevek1969]

Hitting in to the wind is great ,take 2 clubs more ,ball back in the stance 3/4 swing and punch it ,if you hit it correct the wind won't touch it ,can't beat it.

 

[HRC99]

Some great tips here - as always!

I never thought about hitting it harder would make it spin more and therefore potentially move more in the wind.

I'm ok with the punch shot but have no idea how far they go. I tend to use them for laying up in the wind.

Wish I'd asked this morning before heading out!

Hope it blows tomorrow now. New things to try!

 

[Region3]

As you say, hitting harder makes the ball spin more, but it's backspin.

That will make the ball go higher into the wind, but should make it hold it's line better in a cross-wind.

 

[daymond]

Allow one club up for every 10mph of wind. Swing easy. Dont try and fight it.