Welcome to Play Smart, a regular GOLF.com game-improvement column that will help you play smarter, better golf.
If you’ve been tuned into the U.S. Open at all thus far, you know that the wind is howling at Shinnecock. With gusts of up to 40 mph in the forecast throughout the afternoon, players are battling not only the diabolical William Flynn design, but also Mother Nature.
Playing golf in the elements isn’t easy — and strong winds may be the most difficult of them all. When gusts are ripping across a golf course, controlling your ball becomes a near-impossible task.
Shinnecock Hills has plenty of defenses at its disposal, but the most treacherous of them all may be the wind. In its four previous times hosting the U.S. Open, the wind blew plenty and, as a result, just three players total finished the championship under par.
Weekend warriors seldom face blustery conditions like those at Shinnecock this week, but in case you do, it’s important you know how to control your ball in the wind. Check out the three keys below from some GOLF Top 100 Teachers that can help you out.
3 keys for playing golf in the wind
1. Move the ball position back
When you are facing a shot dead into the wind, you’ll want to keep the ball low so that the elements have a negligible effect. One easy way to do so is to move your ball position so it is farther back in your stance.
“Moving the ball slightly back in your stance helps you de-loft the club, which naturally brings the trajectory down,” says Jim Murphy. “A lower flight means less exposure to the wind and more predictable results.”
2. Club up
Don’t be afraid to take an extra club when playing in the wind. It can be tempting to play your normal yardage and try to swing hard and muscle it through the breeze, but this will only add spin and cause the ball to come up short. Instead, take an easy three-quarter swing.
“The smaller the swing, the less speed, lift, and spin your ball will have,” Kellie Stenzel says.
3. Think pitch shot
If you are struggling to conceptualize the size of your three-quarter swing, try thinking of your technique when hitting a pitch shot. Move the ball back in the stance, open the clubface just a touch and have a nice tempo back and through.
“You’ll hit a guaranteed low little burner,” Jonathan Yarwood says. “Really low spin, really low trajectory that’s going to cut through the wind.”
