When golfing in windy conditions, it’s a good idea to know how to hit those lower trajectory shots and even bump-and-run chip shots like they do in Scotland.
The first thing to do is to remember this sage advice: “When it’s breezy, swing easy.” Trying to force a shot and hit it harder can result in a steeper angle of attack that causes the ball to balloon or to exaggerate whatever slice or hook spin you happened to put on the ball. Using a three-quarter swing and sweeping the ball off works a lot better.
Club selection is very important, too. Just because you hit an 8-iron 140 yards doesn’t mean much if you are playing into a 30 mph wind. Add a club for each 10 mph is one rule. Aim for the fronts of greens when playing downwind as the ball will roll farther.
When the wind comes from the side, I like to take one more club than usual, fading it into a right-to-left wind and drawing it into a left-to-right wind. You can usually aim right at the pin as the wind will blow the ball back toward it.
Here are some other minor adjustments to make when playing in windy conditions:
Move the ball back a “smidge” in your stance;
Take a wider stance so that you will be more stable over the ball;
Choke down on the club as this shortens the swing arc;
Strengthen your grip by rotating your hands more to the right (right-handed player).
Be careful not to overdo these adjustments.
One more tip: do not ground your putter to avoid a possible penalty if it happens to move.
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