Direction
How Does the Wind Effect Your Golf Shots
05/07/21 11:45
Even though Poole is blessed with more than its fair share of sunny weather compared to many areas of the British Isles, because it is located by the coast, the courses in the area are sometimes exposed to what many golfers would describe as particularly windy conditions. For the uninitiated these can be particularly difficult to handle so here are a few facts and tips that can help you handle the wind.
Headwind and Tailwind
The following table shows you how much a headwind or tailwind can affect your carry distance. I have used an amateur golfer who swings a 6 iron at 80 mph in this example which normally leads him to carrying the ball 153 yards when there is no wind.
As you can see, a headwind hurts more than a tailwind helps. It is worth noting that headwinds and tail winds also affect the height and land angle of a golf shot. When hitting into a headwind shots will fly higher and land steeper and a tailwind produces shots that fly lower and land flatter. Contrary to popular belief, the wind does not have an effect on the spin rate of the golf shot but into a head wind, spin is the enemy as it increases lift and drag. Swinging harder creates more club head speed which creates more spin. To counter this you should use a club with less loft as this will reduce the spin loft and therefore the spin rate. If you want to take maximum advantage of a tail wind, make sure you use a club that enables you to launch the ball higher as otherwise the ball will fall to the ground too soon.
Headwind Driver Tip: You may have heard of high launch and low spin to maximise distance? Theoretically, when hitting a driver into a headwind you will still benefit from doing this unless the wind speed is above 30mph. However, the longer the ball is in the air the more the ball can be affected by the wind. This means that if you sometimes have difficulties hitting the ball down the middle you may benefit from launching the ball lower and relying on more roll to get the ball to travel the expected distance.
Crosswinds:
The following table shows you how far offline the ball will travel when hitting into crosswinds. Again I have used an amateur golfer who is swinging a 6 iron at 80 miles per hour.
As you can see, a 20 mph crosswind will send a straight shot 81 feet to the side, that is a full 27 yards to the side! Make sure you are aware of this so you can sufficiently allow for it when you are next on the course.
Many people are often shocked when they find out quite how much the wind can affect a golf shot, make sure you don’t let it surprise you.
Headwind and Tailwind
The following table shows you how much a headwind or tailwind can affect your carry distance. I have used an amateur golfer who swings a 6 iron at 80 mph in this example which normally leads him to carrying the ball 153 yards when there is no wind.
As you can see, a headwind hurts more than a tailwind helps. It is worth noting that headwinds and tail winds also affect the height and land angle of a golf shot. When hitting into a headwind shots will fly higher and land steeper and a tailwind produces shots that fly lower and land flatter. Contrary to popular belief, the wind does not have an effect on the spin rate of the golf shot but into a head wind, spin is the enemy as it increases lift and drag. Swinging harder creates more club head speed which creates more spin. To counter this you should use a club with less loft as this will reduce the spin loft and therefore the spin rate. If you want to take maximum advantage of a tail wind, make sure you use a club that enables you to launch the ball higher as otherwise the ball will fall to the ground too soon.
Headwind Driver Tip: You may have heard of high launch and low spin to maximise distance? Theoretically, when hitting a driver into a headwind you will still benefit from doing this unless the wind speed is above 30mph. However, the longer the ball is in the air the more the ball can be affected by the wind. This means that if you sometimes have difficulties hitting the ball down the middle you may benefit from launching the ball lower and relying on more roll to get the ball to travel the expected distance.
Crosswinds:
The following table shows you how far offline the ball will travel when hitting into crosswinds. Again I have used an amateur golfer who is swinging a 6 iron at 80 miles per hour.
As you can see, a 20 mph crosswind will send a straight shot 81 feet to the side, that is a full 27 yards to the side! Make sure you are aware of this so you can sufficiently allow for it when you are next on the course.
Many people are often shocked when they find out quite how much the wind can affect a golf shot, make sure you don’t let it surprise you.
5 Tips to Stop Swinging from Out/In
05/07/21 11:43
If you struggle with slices, pulls, short clubs that fly too high and long clubs that fly too low or a general lack of distance there is a good chance you suffer from this fault. These are shots that for a right handed golfer fly to the left and stay to the left left or shots that curve excessively to the right. Swinging across the ball is commonly known as swinging from out/in. For right handed players, it means your club head is moving to the left of the target as you strike the ball.
Here are 5 tips you can follow to correct this issue:
1. Weight location Your weight should be forwards as you strike the ball. Often golfers will have too much weight back at address, move it back during the backswing, during the follow though or a combination of all these. Your hips must shift forwards during your downswing. It is common knowledge that the hips must turn but there must also be an element of lateral slide. If the hips turn but don’t slide, your club will begin to swing across the ball.
2. Handle location When the handle leans away from the target at impact the club head will swing across the ball. You do not want to deliberately attempt to roll the wrists through impact. Instead focus on keeping the distance between your elbows constant throughout your swing as this will enable you to hit the ball with your handle leaning towards the target.
3. Hand Path The hands should work backwards, upwards and inwards during the course of the backswing. Golfers who swing across the ball often don’t move the hands sufficiently inwards and instead lift the arms off the ribcage in an overly upward motion.
4. Lead Knee Action Make sure you don’t straighten your lead knee too soon during your downswing as this throws the hips back and spins them open. Straightening the knee is a power move but should not start to happen until the club shaft is parallel to the ground during the downswing. The lead knee should not be straight until your arms are parallel to the ground during the follow through.
5. Ball Position Move the ball slightly back in your stance so you make contact with the ball earlier on the club head’s arc through the ball.
Play well and I look forward to your feedback when you try these 5 tips.
Here are 5 tips you can follow to correct this issue:
1. Weight location Your weight should be forwards as you strike the ball. Often golfers will have too much weight back at address, move it back during the backswing, during the follow though or a combination of all these. Your hips must shift forwards during your downswing. It is common knowledge that the hips must turn but there must also be an element of lateral slide. If the hips turn but don’t slide, your club will begin to swing across the ball.
2. Handle location When the handle leans away from the target at impact the club head will swing across the ball. You do not want to deliberately attempt to roll the wrists through impact. Instead focus on keeping the distance between your elbows constant throughout your swing as this will enable you to hit the ball with your handle leaning towards the target.
3. Hand Path The hands should work backwards, upwards and inwards during the course of the backswing. Golfers who swing across the ball often don’t move the hands sufficiently inwards and instead lift the arms off the ribcage in an overly upward motion.
4. Lead Knee Action Make sure you don’t straighten your lead knee too soon during your downswing as this throws the hips back and spins them open. Straightening the knee is a power move but should not start to happen until the club shaft is parallel to the ground during the downswing. The lead knee should not be straight until your arms are parallel to the ground during the follow through.
5. Ball Position Move the ball slightly back in your stance so you make contact with the ball earlier on the club head’s arc through the ball.
Play well and I look forward to your feedback when you try these 5 tips.