It's windy out here.@VaughnTaylorPGA isn't bothered. #QuickHits pic.twitter.com/ZfXDro7jTu
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) November 19, 2017
Playing golf in strong winds is tough for anyone. The wind makes it difficult to control the distance and flight of your golf ball. It can affect you both physically (your swing) and psychologically (your mind).
As explained recently at PGA.com, an important key to mastering windy conditions is to control the trajectory of your golf ball. But how?
Lou Guzzi, 2013 PGA National Teacher of the Year, offered simple guidance on the topic. Guzzi tells his students to experiment with three backswing positions—hip high, chest high and shoulder high—to hit lower trajectory shots in the wind.
“Start out short and find what you’re comfortable with,” Guzzi said. “Because the swing is shorter, it’s not going to generate the same speed as a full swing, but you still want to produce that acceleration and full swing finish.”
Guzzi encourages students to find and commit to the backswing that works best for them. “[Y]ou’re going to be pleasantly surprised by the consistency of your lower trajectory and the distance it produces.”
He also noted that it’s not necessary to change ball position to hit this shot. “I just find there’s more consistency by keeping the ball position in a place you’re used to.”
You might not be Vaughn Taylor (above), but, like him, you can still make good swings and hit solid shots in windy conditions.
Neil Sagebiel
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