The
Wind
by Eddie Lee
Wailea Golf Academy Pro Tips
The
Wind
by Eddie Lee
If you're on vacation, the last thing you'll want is a complete
swing overhaul. Here's some breezy advice to get you
around the golf course with your normal swing motion and still have
fun.
Treat the wind as a friend, not a foe. The breeze can
add up to 30 yards to your drive depending upon your ball flight,
so use it to your advantage. Here are four typical wind
situations and some strategies for riding them successfully:
Left to Right Wind: The Slicer's Delight
I've seen countless golfers add 20 to 30 yards to the tee shots when the cross breeze is blowing from left to right. This phenomenon is due to the player's natural out-to-in swing path. The golfer's stance is slightly open to the target line, and their toe-line, in relation to the orientation of their hips and shoulder, is entirely left of the intended target line. Combined with a slightly open clubface position, the golfer has established the ideal position for a left-to-right shot pattern. Align a litte to the left and let it go.
I've seen countless golfers add 20 to 30 yards to the tee shots when the cross breeze is blowing from left to right. This phenomenon is due to the player's natural out-to-in swing path. The golfer's stance is slightly open to the target line, and their toe-line, in relation to the orientation of their hips and shoulder, is entirely left of the intended target line. Combined with a slightly open clubface position, the golfer has established the ideal position for a left-to-right shot pattern. Align a litte to the left and let it go.
Right to Left Wind: The Hooker's Heaven
Where slicers tend to have an open body postion, the opposite is true for golfers who tend to hook the ball. In this case, the player's toe line in relation to where their hips and shoulders are pointed is entirely right of the intended target line. This set-up causes the club shaft to drop a little to the inside during delivery, and the clubface strikes the ball at the 4 o'clock position. This is a good set-up when the wind is coming from the right.
Where slicers tend to have an open body postion, the opposite is true for golfers who tend to hook the ball. In this case, the player's toe line in relation to where their hips and shoulders are pointed is entirely right of the intended target line. This set-up causes the club shaft to drop a little to the inside during delivery, and the clubface strikes the ball at the 4 o'clock position. This is a good set-up when the wind is coming from the right.
Tip: Know the difference between alignment and
aim. In both of the above situations, it's critical to
align left or right, and not aim left or
right. Alignment is all about your body. Aim
is about your clubface. Always take dead aim at your
target.
Downwind: Nice and Easy
All golfers love this situation. This is the one time we can hit one comparable to those of the Tour players. So what do we do? Many of us will grip the club a little tighter, widen our stance, take a deep breath, and swing as hard as humanly possible. The result is often the worst shot of the day. It was our one chance to challenge John Daly and we blew it. As in all windy conditions, a good mantra is: When it's breezy, swing easy; if you don't, you'll be dizzy. Take an easy swing, and the helping wind will take a lot of the spin off the ball, creating an effect similar to a knuckle ball. The launch angle will flatten, and your ball will go out, not up. You'll gain distance without the aggravated effort.
All golfers love this situation. This is the one time we can hit one comparable to those of the Tour players. So what do we do? Many of us will grip the club a little tighter, widen our stance, take a deep breath, and swing as hard as humanly possible. The result is often the worst shot of the day. It was our one chance to challenge John Daly and we blew it. As in all windy conditions, a good mantra is: When it's breezy, swing easy; if you don't, you'll be dizzy. Take an easy swing, and the helping wind will take a lot of the spin off the ball, creating an effect similar to a knuckle ball. The launch angle will flatten, and your ball will go out, not up. You'll gain distance without the aggravated effort.
Into the Wind: Where's that
Pain-Killer?
This shot gives players more headaches than any other situation. To understand why, let's look at the behavior of the ball.
This shot gives players more headaches than any other situation. To understand why, let's look at the behavior of the ball.
Headwind golf shots impedes additional spin on the ball,
creating a reverse spin effect that generates tremendous
drag. This sends the ball into a vertical upward
tilt. Bottom line: you lose
yardage. Before you rummage through your bag for an
aspirin, try this tip:
Play your ball position two to three inches back from your
normal set-up. Widen your stance for
stability. As you swing back, focus on maintaining a
good sense of rhythm and balance. The key to this shot
is the downswing. Through the hitting zone
(approximately 10 inches before and 10 inches after you hit the
ball), keep the clubhead low to the ground. Your hands
should lead the clubhead, causing it to hit the ball on a lower
trajectory.