Playing in the wind - what's your tactic?
 

Playing in Ireland I'm more often than not faced with very windy conditions. I usually try one of two options, either a) hit low punchy shots under the wind and try to run everything onto the green, or b) hit a normal shot and play for the wind. Neither is really the perfect solutions for me as I sometimes struggle keeping it low and sometimes don't allow for enough wind movement (or I do and I hit a perfect piercing shot and the wind doesn't effect it at all), so end up doing a bit of both (always low and punchy with the wind straight in my face though).

Just curious what people's preferred tactic is for (very) windy conditions? Also wondering how much your normal shot shape and the wind direction (I hit a bit of a fade so as a lefty right to left wind can be a bit tricky in terms of the ball moving quite far left) affects your choice?

When it is really windy I try to cut through the wind with a lower shot. I put the ball a bit further back in my stance and try to get it to roll up on the green. Luckily I dont play in really bad wind too often

Choke down to the steel and make easy swings. Learn your distances with those shots on a calm day and it will help you. It stiffens the shaft up a bit and lessens the spin to make a penetrating, yet almost spinless ball flight. Spin and wind do NOT go hand in hand!

Well considering I know exactly how you feel also being in Ireland, I would say keep with the low punchy shots unless the wind is down the back of your neck obviously... these shots help me dramatically anyway..

~Shane

I just play my normal game, aim off for wind and when I'm into the wind just swing slower. I just like to keep the ball in play when it's windy and don't want to confuse myself with thinking about all the things needed to do to keep it low/work it against the wind.

If you swing easy on a day like today here especially, the ball would probably end up behind you...

~Shane

I usually just take more club and hit the ball the same way I always do. Then I come here and complain afterwards.

take one more club, choke down an inch and make the same swing.

I'm a high spin player for the most part, so I'm in deep trouble in wind.

My goal for the late summer/fall of 2012 is to learn a knockdown game.. I've seen it described a number of different ways and in practice, I draw/hook, so I've got a long way to go. Guess that's just the way it goes for now.

I have always had the philosophy with the wind that, if it's in your face, take one more club and swing easy, and if its at your back, take one less club and swing a little more aggressively. I don't play in bad bad wind alot, but when I do, that usually works out for me. As for side to side wind, I just try to play it if I know it is hard enough to effect ball flight.

BDG

Mainly this but I also will add a club depending on the hole itself(bunkers and such)

I second that. Over here a 1 club wind really isn't windy at all. It's great fun for driving down wind. Not so much fun for that 400 yard par 4 into the wind.

I have terrible issues trying to flight a ball lower, so I tend to club up more than needed and hit a less than full shot if possible into the wind. With the wind, I usually club down and throw a normal shot up in the air and hope.

The hardet part is relaxing on the tee and not overswinging/swaying/flailing madly in an attempt to overcome a headwind. Crosswinds, I'll TRY to shape a ball off the tee, approaches I try to allow for drift and let the wind take it.

What part of Ireland are you in? Like are you playing park land or links? I would recommend the punch either way but especially on links... unless there is a lot of trouble in front of the green in which case take a couple extra clubs and hope for the best tbh...

West of Dublin (Maynooth area). Play a bit of both but probably more of a park land kinda guy (although a proper links can be fun as well). I do use the punch shot quite a bit but distance control is sometimes an issue.

I played with a guy once who said you need to hit it above the wind. Since then I use the clouds as my starting line. It should start working soon. It’s a process.

- RB.

Now there is a innovative approach. Sounds perfectly feasible to me. Let us know when you start seeing results...http://www.thehackersparadise.com/fo...es/biggrin.png

Alright, so your'e not too far from my self, I'm out near Sandyford...

But yeah I would say whatever you're comfortable with if that is taking extra clubs etc, but for me if i was an 8 iron distance out on a perfect day maybe about 165 give or take, i would then take a 6 maybe a 7 and swing only to just above parallel in my back swing and then just drive in low... This usually gives me a good bit of draw aswell which I allow for but it also gives me extra roll...

I would just the next time you are out in crazy win (probably in the near future looking at the forecast) just dont worry about scoring and just try a few different things out and see what works for you... Good luck with it anyway

I play normal shots and play for the wind. I'm not good enough to flight the ball down or do anything fancy like that.

Cheers...yeah I am resigned to the fact that the punch shot has to become a stable part of my arsenal over here.

By the way it says a lot about my knowledge of the local geography that I had to look up where Sandyford is!