| First of all�how does the average | | | | Side Winds: |
| amateur handle windy conditions? Most swing | | | | |
| harder and faster, but unfortunately that is | | | | You have two options in this situation. You |
| the last thing you should be doing. Harder | | | | can play your natural ball flight and either |
| and faster swings lead to more mistakes, | | | | ride or fight the wind or you can purposely |
| which are then compounded by the windy | | | | curve the ball to either go with the wind or |
| conditions. What you think would work, is | | | | go into it. There is no right or wrongs here |
| often the opposite of what actually does | | | | so you must see what works best for you. |
| work! | | | | |
| | | | With the Wind: |
| The very first thing you should do when | | | | |
| playing in the wind is to throw up grass to | | | | In these situations you should use the wind |
| see which way the wind is blowing where you | | | | and get the ball up as soon as possible. If |
| are. Next, have a look at the trees around | | | | you don�t hit your driver particularly |
| where your ball is going to be going to see | | | | high then use a 3 or 5 wood instead. Let the |
| what way the wind is blowing there. If there | | | | loft of your club get your ball up in the air |
| are no trees in that area, look at the flag. | | | | but by all means tee the ball higher. |
| Lastly use your ears to hear the wind and | | | | Lastly, have fun with these shots and see how |
| this will help you to tell how strong it is. | | | | far you can hit it. |
| Once you�ve assessed the situation you | | | | |
| should then follow the pointers below. | | | | One last point. Remember everyone finds it |
| | | | more difficult in the wind so don�t beat |
| Into the Wind: | | | | yourself up if a few shots, or even more than |
| | | | a few, go astray because the same thing is |
| When playing into the wind you should take | | | | going to happen to everyone else. Expect the |
| one, two or even three clubs more than usual | | | | scores to be higher and go out on the day |
| and swing normally. Also grip down on the | | | | with a positive attitude. One of fun and |
| grip so your swing will be automatically | | | | experimentation. Good luck! |
| shorter. Because the shorter your swing the | | | | |
| lower the ball will go (generally). | | | | Nick Bayley is a professional golfer who has |
| | | | discovered just one golf swing fault that |
| Plus to help you keep the ball lower you | | | | could be stopping YOU from ball striking |
| should play the ball further back in your | | | | consistency and success. But luckily for you, |
| stance. And over all shots into a wind, | | | | now you can take a simple 2 minute golf swing |
| widen your stance because this helps to | | | | test to see if you have this swing fault or |
| create better balance and it also lowers your | | | | not. So don't delay! Go here to take The |
| center of gravity, which can only help. | | | | Golf Swing Test now. |
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