Every golfer is impacted by the wind, though some golfers manage it better than others. I want to discuss methods that will increase your consistency. Some suggest flinging grass into the air. This is not, in my opinion, the best method for estimating the wind. The ball will soar much higher than you can throw that grass, if you give it some thought. If you are not on a course that is entirely covered in trees, then the grass throw will work. Otherwise, look at the tips of the trees. When the wind feels like it is swirling close to you, the tops of the leaves on the trees are a great indication of the direction the wind is actually blowing.
I had 165 yards to the par-3 hole while competing in a tournament in Florida. The first golfer, who had little wind in his face, struck an 8-iron but came up far short and into the green-side bunker. I already had a 7 iron in my hand before I even saw what he had hit, and I flighted the ball lower to avoid being hit by the wind. Observing a consistent wind blowing in my direction while scanning the tree tips was crucial.
Tom Watson loved to club until he thought he had enough to reach the pin. I don’t like this very much because it requires too much feel and you can’t just rely on your golf swing.
Go out and hit into the wind whenever there is a windy day and you have the luxury of doing so on the range! Instead of swinging the club any faster than you normally would, I want you to concentrate on not doing so. You might actually make the ball spin more quickly and be more affected by the wind by trying to compress the ball more forcefully with a faster swing speed. Practice your follow-through throw only going halfway up and taking half shots with all of your irons. By doing so, you can prevent the ball from spinning left or right and make it travel a little bit more straight.
The position of the ball is the next consideration; make sure it is near your back foot. This makes it possible to de-loft the club, which lowers ball flight. I believe that honing these shots will improve your tempo and make it much simpler to hit shots with the wind at your back or no wind at all. Every chance you get, practice shooting into the wind at the range. It will greatly improve your game. The last thing I want to say is to embrace a windy day because if you do, you will already be at an advantage over the person whining about the wind’s strength.