Golfing in the wind can be tricky. You hit the perfect shot expecting it to land right next to the flag, but are left scratching your head when it comes up 10 yards short of the green. How may times has this happened to you? It’s possible that you forgot about the wind speed and direction when choosing what shot to hit. Unfortunately golf is a game played outdoors and because of this every shot is subject to the control of mother nature, even a three foot putt.

Don’t worry though, Cowabunga Golf is here to help you play better even in the most tricky conditions. This article will discuss how the wind affects your shot, how to read the wind, and three tips to help you shoot lower scores when it's windy. 

Wind Effects on Your Golf Ball

If you have ever hit a golf shot in the wind then you know how difficult it can be to find your target when the wind is blowing. A golf shot hit into the wind will fly a shorter distance than normal and the opposite is true when hitting a shot downwind. I’m sorry to tell you that the wind will have a greater effect when it is against you versus when the wind is helping you. The spin on the ball is amplified when traveling into the wind causing it to balloon high into the air. This allows the wind more time to rob your perfect shot of its carry distance. Hitting golf shots into the wind will also have an increased effect on side spin resulting in greater misses to the left and right. Controlling spin is critical when hitting shots into the wind.

A general rule of thumb for gauging how much the wind will affect distance is to add 1% for every 1 mph into the wind and subtract 0.5% for every 1 mph when the wind is helping. Check out the chart below to see how much the wind can affect a golf shot. 

These charts are a basic way to calculate how much the wind might affect your golf shot. For example if you are hitting a 100 yard golf shot into a 5 mph wind, it will travel 5 yards shorter. As a result you will need to hit a shot that normally travels 105 yards without wind. On a 200 yard shot into a 5 mph, the golf ball will travel 10 yards shorter. For this shot, a 210 yard shot is required to travel 200 yards. This is a simplified calculation because the amount of spin on the golf ball will also determine how far the ball travels into the wind. 

Determining Wind Direction and Strength

Knowing how to judge the speed and direction of the wind is just as important as understanding the effects that wind has on a golf shot. Pulling some grass out of the ground and tossing it into the air can give you a general idea of the direction the wind is blowing. This method has its downfalls however. Throwing grass into the air only gives you information about the wind a few feet off the ground. The wind can actually be traveling in a different direction at the height the golf ball travels due to the effect of the trees and the earth.

The surface of the earth actually has an effect on the direction and speed of the wind close to the surface. Due to the drag and friction caused by the surface of the earth, the wind will actually turn in a different direction at ground level. In the northern hemisphere, the wind direction at the height the golf ball travels can be as much as 30 to 40 degrees from the right. The opposite is true in the southern hemisphere. Don’t worry we have a few tricks to help you determine the correct wind direction. 

In the northern hemisphere, if you read the wind at ground level it will likely have the following effect:

• Wind in your face: the shot will loose distance and travel a little to the left
• Downwind: the show will go farther and a little to the left
• Left to right wind: the shot will loose a little distance and travel a little to the right
• Right to left wind: the show will go farther and a little to the left

As far as wind speed, you can look at the environment to get a general idea. Looking at the tops of the trees can help you determine the strength of the wind as well as its direction. If large trees are swaying in the wind, then it is likely a stronger wind. Additionally, the wind will be stronger in front of the direction a cloud is moving and the wind will be weaker once the cloud has passed. Rain clouds generally have very strong winds associated with them. Finally, the colder the temperature the less effect the wind will have and the hotter the temperature the greater the effect. 

Tips to Shoot Lower Scores

Check the weather report before you play

You should be able to find information about the speed and direction of the wind from a local weather report. Use this when you are warming up on the practice range to get a feel for how the wind is affecting your shots. If the wind is from the left to right, try taking an extra club and aiming a little left of your target. Observe how much the wind affects your shot and use this information in your round to hit more greens and fairways. 

Leave you ego at home

If you are hitting into a 10 mph wind, you are better off taking 2 extra clubs and making a smooth easy swing. Don’t let your ego cloud your judgment. The yardage might say 175 yards and your partner might be hitting a 6-iron, but you know it’s gonna go 17.5 yards shorter than normal because of the wind. If your partners give you a hard time about hitting a 4-iron don’t worry. Smile when they all come up short and tip your hat when you stick your 4-iron in the center of he green.

Aim for the middle of the green

This gives you the greatest margin of error and allows you to 2-putt to par. Pick the appropriate club to find the center of the green. Make the appropriate club selection based on how much the wind will affect your golf shot. If you are hitting into the wind and the flag is in the front of the green, it is still better to choose your club based on the yardage to the center of the green. In this case if the wind affects your shot more than you anticipated, the ball could potentially still land on the green rather than short of the green in the case you played your shot to the yardage of the flag. This results in a potential birdie putt instead of scrambling for par. 

Focus on smooth clean contact when hitting into the wind

We learned that the wind has a greater effect on the spin of the ball when going into the wind. This will cause shots to miss farther right and left. Allow for this when hitting into the wind by aiming further to the right or left if you aren’t hitting it the straightest that day. Trying to hit the ball harder to compensate for the wind will increase the spin causing it to travel even shorter. It is best to take an extra club and focus on making a smooth swing with clean contact. Hitting a lower shot with less spin will give the wind less of a chance to effect your shot. Don’t hit harder into the wind, take more club and swing smoother. 

Use a compass to help read the wind

Since you checked the weather report you should already know which way the wind is traveling. If you are doubting which way the wind is going, check a compass. Most phones have a built in compass, but you can also buy a cheap one to clip onto your bag. Looking a compass will give you the best idea of which way the wind is traveling. 

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