Golf Tips: Practice In The Wind

Thought about heading to the driving range to hit a bucket, but changed your mind because it was too windy?  Shame shame.  Next time that situation arises, hit that range and have some fun.  You will encounter windy conditions on the course so you may as well be physically and mentally prepared. Tips For Wind Practice When it is windy on the course, that can wreak havoc on one's game and score.  One tends to try to swing harder in windy conditions.  But that is exactly the wrong thing to do.  Swinging harder messes up your timing and swing mechanics for one.  But perhaps even worse, the harder swing puts more spin on the ball.  Balls that spin more in windy conditions are more out of control and go farther off line.  Swing easier in windy conditions.  Remember the phrase "swing easy when its breezy."  Work on easier swings at the range in windy conditions. When you are practicing in the wind at your range, try some different shots.  Throw some grass up in the air and try to get a good read on the wind direction and strength.  Try hitting some punch shots not only against the wind, but with the wind as well.  With the driver, tee it higher when downwind and lower when into the wind.  Remember these quotes.  Downwind: "Tee her high and let her fly."  Into the wind: "Tee her low and let her go." If you are lucky like me, you have a range which allows people to hit shots on both ends.  My local range has hitting areas on its north and south ends.  Winds in this area seldom go east/west and most often go north/south.  So when I'm practicing in windy conditions I like to hit half my allotted bucket on one end of the range (say with the wind), and the other half of the bucket on the other end of the range (against the wind). How does one know what clubs to use in the wind?  Feel is your best guide as some winds could contain up drafts or down drafts.  It is possible for downwind shots to fly shorter than normal if the wind is a "knockdown wind."  In regular head or tail wind situations, a good rule of thumb is to add one club for every 10mph of wind when hitting into the wind, and subtract one club for every 10mph when hitting downwind. Practice Makes Permanent Like Gary Player always said, "the more I practice, the luckier I get."  Practice in windy conditions and try to produce all the different shots and scenarios you might encounter during a windy day on the course.  You'll be ready when the time comes.  And it will...