5 Steps To Golfing In The Wind

If you've been golfing for a while then you know that you don't always get to play golf in perfect weather. There are golf days when you're playing in the rain or it's really cold out, but the hardest time to play is when it's windy. I'm talking about the kind of winds that gust 25 to 40 mph.

When the wind is blowing this hard it will do some pretty crazy things with your golf ball if you don't keep it down and out of the wind as much as possible.

If you're able to perform these steps then I guarantee you'll cut at least 3 to 5 strokes off your score during these conditions.

1. Take a wider stance than normal. About 2 to 3 inches wider, which gives you a more stable base.
2. Move the ball back in your stance about 2 to 3 inches.
3. During your backswing try to keep your weight on your left side. This will help you with step number 4 below.
4. Make a sweeping swing through the shot and make a thin divot. This will help reduce spin and give you a little bit more roll.
5. Take more club and swing a little easier with more control. This too will reduce the amount of backspin to keep the ball from ballooning up.

The only way you're going to be able to play these type of shots is to go to the golf range and practice them. If you can get out to the range on a windy day even better.

A visual tip that I use sometimes while on the range is to imagine a clothes line about 10 feet in front of me that's about 18 to 24 inches off the ground. I'll take a 5 or 6-iron and try to have the initial ball flight go underneath the clothes line.

I know other golfers who imagine themselves hitting their golf ball through a tunnel that's about 24 inches high. Try one of these or make up your own, but the key is to practice these shots so that you're prepared for the wind the next time you play in it.