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  1. #1
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    Default Playing into the wind

    With the upcoming Vic champs at Barnbougle, I thought this might be a good time to ask low markers and good wind players how they keep the ball in play in the wind.

    I have no problem with down wind or even side wind but when the wind is into me, I find it hard to keep the ball straight. It seems to magnify any sort of side spin on the ball and too much backspin means the ball will balloon up and make distance control difficult.

    What’s your strategy playing a hole, especially a tight one, into the wind?

  2. #2
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    Keep the driver clubhead speed down below 84mph.

    You don't get me. I'm part of the Union.

  3. #3
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    Quote Originally Posted by Dotty View Post
    Keep the driver clubhead speed down below 84mph.
    Ha ha. One thing that does seem to work for me is to choke down on the driver by 1-2 inches and tee it low and put what I feel like a 9 iron swing on it.

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    Just hit it back in the stance, to keep it low and if possible get some grass behind the ball to lessen spin. To the green choke down and take extra club. In the bunker shut eyes quickly after hit, here you have an edge. On the green widen stance. Choice of ball can help.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Jono View Post
    With the upcoming Vic champs at Barnbougle, I thought this might be a good time to ask low markers and good wind players how they keep the ball in play in the wind.

    I have no problem with down wind or even side wind but when the wind is into me, I find it hard to keep the ball straight. It seems to magnify any sort of side spin on the ball and too much backspin means the ball will balloon up and make distance control difficult.

    What’s your strategy playing a hole, especially a tight one, into the wind?
    Welcome to physics, it beith a heartless bitch.

    Essentially there's not a lot you can do in the grand scheme of things into the breeze. Take more club, swing slower to reduce backspin (stop ballooning) and sidespin (amplified into the wind), but focus on hitting through your shot, chasing it down your target line. If you're confident enough that you can play a shot on demand, play a draw. It'll effectively lower your ballflight, and if YOU KNOW that ball is going to move right to left for you (and it's just the amount that varies) then you now have 40 yards of fairway to hit instead of 20 each side.

  6. #6

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    Hit it lower and straight.

  7. #7
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    Hit it harder

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    Quote Originally Posted by LeftyHoges View Post
    Welcome to physics, it beith a heartless bitch.Essentially there's not a lot you can do in the grand scheme of things into the breeze. Take more club, swing slower to reduce backspin (stop ballooning) and sidespin (amplified into the wind), but focus on hitting through your shot, chasing it down your target line. If you're confident enough that you can play a shot on demand, play a draw. It'll effectively lower your ballflight, and if YOU KNOW that ball is going to move right to left for you (and it's just the amount that varies) then you now have 40 yards of fairway to hit instead of 20 each side.
    Cool. Thanks mate.It certainly takes some confidence and trust to be able to put a good swing on it when you’re hitting into a 40mph head wind.

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    Quote Originally Posted by 3puttpete View Post
    Hit it harder
    Nooooooooo!

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    For me it more depends on the length of the hole.If a 360 par 4 then I just accept that I might not be their in 2,I cant hit most par 5's in 2 anyway so I would probably go something like 4 iron and 4 iron and then something to the green.Other than that I have been learning to tee the ball lower and take a bit off my swing and try to hit a little draw

    Sent from my SM-G960F using Tapatalk

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    Quote Originally Posted by Jono View Post
    Nooooooooo!
    Blade it?

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    Quote Originally Posted by 3puttpete View Post
    Blade it?
    Putter

    Sent from my SM-G960F using Tapatalk

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    Quote Originally Posted by LeftyHoges View Post
    Welcome to physics, it beith a heartless bitch.Essentially there's not a lot you can do in the grand scheme of things into the breeze. Take more club, swing slower to reduce backspin (stop ballooning) and sidespin (amplified into the wind), but focus on hitting through your shot, chasing it down your target line. If you're confident enough that you can play a shot on demand, play a draw. It'll effectively lower your ballflight, and if YOU KNOW that ball is going to move right to left for you (and it's just the amount that varies) then you now have 40 yards of fairway to hit instead of 20 each side.
    It was blowing a pretty stiff noreasterly today and our club driving range faces east so it was a left to right head wind. I dropped by on my way home and hit about 50 shots. I was trying to hit a little knowck down shots which worked well for irons but not so well with the driver. The club pro was walking past and showed me to hit draws with a relatively normal trajectory that the wind hardly seemed to touch. It highlighted exactly what you said.

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    Quote Originally Posted by JoeS View Post
    For me it more depends on the length of the hole.If a 360 par 4 then I just accept that I might not be their in 2,I cant hit most par 5's in 2 anyway so I would probably go something like 4 iron and 4 iron and then something to the green.Other than that I have been learning to tee the ball lower and take a bit off my swing and try to hit a little drawSent from my SM-G960F using Tapatalk
    Yeah, I’m happy to concede that I’m not going to hit some greens in reg into the wind. Where I really struggle is the sideways dispersion into the wind. Little fade becomes a big slice and draw becomes a hook.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Jono View Post
    It was blowing a pretty stiff noreasterly today and our club driving range faces east so it was a left to right head wind. I dropped by on my way home and hit about 50 shots. I was trying to hit a little knowck down shots which worked well for irons but not so well with the driver. The club pro was walking past and showed me to hit draws with a relatively normal trajectory that the wind hardly seemed to touch. It highlighted exactly what you said.
    When I'm not drunk, stoned or knee deep in hooker blood, I do make some good points.

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    Quote Originally Posted by LeftyHoges View Post
    When I'm not drunk, stoned or knee deep in hooker blood, I do make some good points.
    😂

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    Quote Originally Posted by LeftyHoges View Post
    When I'm not drunk, stoned or knee deep in hooker blood, I do make some good points.
    Hang on, isn't that when you make your best points?

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    Quote Originally Posted by Jono View Post
    Yeah, I’m happy to concede that I’m not going to hit some greens in reg into the wind. Where I really struggle is the sideways dispersion into the wind. Little fade becomes a big slice and draw becomes a hook.
    I know this sounds a bit simple,but if you stand on the tee and start to worry about something like head wind and the result before you have even teed off,then you are already beaten.If you stand on the tee and accept what is in front of you,then you will be less stressed,more focused on setting up a plan to play the hole,and end result should be a par.But if you hit a big block or hook,well then that is golf,throw the driver in the trees and go buy a new putter

    Sent from my SM-G960F using Tapatalk

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    Quote Originally Posted by benno_r View Post
    Hang on, isn't that when you make your best points?
    Correct. I make good points when I'm not, but my best points when I am.

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    A shank is wind indifferent

  21. #21
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    Dont forget the phrase "When its breezy swing easy"

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    Quote Originally Posted by BUSHY View Post
    Dont forget the phrase "When its breezy swing easy"
    Never heard it but I do know the following:

    When it's airy don't swing like a fairy
    When it's gusty swing it lusty

    and from the old links golfers, If the waves are crashing give it a thrashing

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    I shot 9 over off the back tees at Barnbougle on a windy day with a very simple game plan. I just hit cuts all day because I know I can do them reliably. Not a great shot in the wind but I was able to hit almost every fairway and not lose any balls. If it took me an extra shot to get to the green no problem. Just keep it in play by playing shots you find reliable and comfortable.

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    Quote Originally Posted by 3puttpete View Post
    Never heard it but I do know the following:

    When it's airy don't swing like a fairy
    When it's gusty swing it lusty

    and from the old links golfers, If the waves are crashing give it a thrashing
    I think it was a Gary Player quote.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Rodent View Post
    I shot 9 over off the back tees at Barnbougle on a windy day with a very simple game plan. I just hit cuts all day because I know I can do them reliably. Not a great shot in the wind but I was able to hit almost every fairway and not lose any balls. If it took me an extra shot to get to the green no problem. Just keep it in play by playing shots you find reliable and comfortable.
    But your a Playa!


 

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