How do you hit a low shot in the wind? A windy day means – most of the time – a card with more hits than usual. However, you can correct this adverse effect by applying nautical elements, choosing the clubs and the indicated position. However, following some simple tips can help you hit a low shot in the wind.

It is recommended to use a club with less loft and swing more smoothly to promote a lower and more controlled flight. To do this, you must take the shorter club, slightly delay the ball (towards the right foot in a right-handed player) and make a swing ¾, somewhat shorter back and the same in the forward movement. Hands should not be above the head at the finish.

Let’s discuss this in detail, considering all the factors that make a golf hit successful in the wind!

How Do You Hit a Low Shot in the Wind?

Playing golf in bad weather is always a challenge. Forcing the swing and fighting the wind is not the best alternative. Knowing how to quantify its intensity, interpret it to determine how much it will affect the distance of a shot and understand what type of swing to perform is essential to explain this phenomenon. Added to this, the player requires an extra dose of patience and concentration.

The truth is that playing golf with the wind is a situation that must be faced with a solid strategy. Increasing the power of your swing will only help to increase the back-spin of the ball, lose control over it in the shots and increase your handicap.

All golfers, amateurs and pros, have difficulty playing golf in windy conditions. The key to playing in the wind is to swing a smoother and controlled swing. This will help you hit the ball more solidly, without much spin. In general, it is good practice to try to hit at 75% -80% of your usual speed.

Here are a series of tips that will help you play golf in the wind. But before that, you must understand how the wind can affect your shots.

How Can the Wind Affect Your Shots?

Downwind: if the wind blows in your favor, the shot will be longer and reach less height than normal. In addition, when touching the ground, the ball will travel a greater distance.
Headwind: when the wind goes against you, the ball will reach higher, travel less distance and have a more abrupt landing than in regular conditions. Contrary to the previous point, once the ball touches the ground, its spin will be greater and stop quickly.
Side Wind: This is the one you will often face in your punches. Depending on which side it’s coming from, it will push your ball in the opposite direction. Depending on the affects you give to the ball in the shot, the wind can enhance or cancel them.

Know the Intensity and Direction of the Wind

It is also necessary to learn about wind speed. Although it sounds obvious, you can observe the wind direction just by looking at the flags or by the movement of the leaves.

It is also important to learn to quantify, even roughly, the wind speed since you will evaluate different alternatives when hitting depending on it. To quantify its intensity, you can use the Beaufort Scale (which is usually used for this purpose on ships at sea). It uses, among other objects, a flag to measure the wind and indicates in the following way:

Light (8 km / h): there will be a gentle wave of the flags. You can also see it in the leaves of the trees that will crack slightly.
Moderate (16 km / h): the flags will be extended, and the branches of the trees will not stop moving.
Strong (32 km / h): you will notice that the flags are flying with great force.

Once you know the direction and power of the wind, you will have to choose the best club to execute a stroke in those conditions.

Club Choice: Which Is Better, Long or Short?

If the wind is favorable, it is best to opt for a club that allows you to add a little extra height. In this way, you can counteract these effects on your hits.

If the reverse happens, if the wind blows against you, the best option is to use a long pole, following the same logic as before.

How Do You Hit a Low Shot in the Wind?

The blows should not lift the ball much. Otherwise, it will tend to deviate, and you will lose total control over it. This is especially important on short shots, where it is advisable to use a 7 iron or even a hybrid to play as close to the ground as possible.

To make the ball not reach too high, you can follow these two recommendations:
Use longer or lower loft sticks: If the face of the club with which you hit has a lower degree of inclination than that of the club you normally use, the ball will not be propelled up as much, reaching a lower height but also sacrificing distance.
Modify your swing a bit: As for the ball, you must position it closer to your right foot, in the case of a right-handed golfer; otherwise, do the reverse. In the posture, you must recharge a little more weight than normal on the left part of your body and open your legs more in the stance. In this way, your base will be more solid, and the wind will not be able to destabilize you. Finally, you must hit the ball with “three quarters” of movement (shorter backward and forwards) and with slightly less force than normal.

Conclusion!

Getting in or out of swing is often dependent on timing. The wind tends to destabilize these two, so when you play with a lot of wind, and you start to frustrate, do not forget the rhythm and muscle relaxation, lower the intensity of both, and you will see how everything returns to its normal course. Do not forget to share this information with your golfer friends and let us know how it worked for you!

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Travis

A former college golfer who played professionally for a short time, Travis brings a wealth of knowledge about the game of golf to Tee Precision.He currently plays to a +2 handicap and shares his insights with the Tee Precision community.