Welcome to the golf tip section, designed to assist you in improving your golf game

Weather Beaters

Bad weather tests your patience and your shot making. For example, keeping the ball down is the key to control when winds are strong. But in the rain, you need height and backspin to fight the effects of wet air and turf. Here's how to have a good foul-weather round.

Wind: Take It Easy
Resist the temptation to smash down on the ball when you're battling a headwind or crosswind. The secret to a low trajectory is less backspin, so take two extra clubs (a 6-iron instead of an 8-iron, for example) and make a smooth pass at the ball. You could also play the ball an inch farther back in your stance to deloft the clubface, but don't swing steeper, as that will only add backspin.
On the tee, make an easy, sweeping swing to produce a penetrating drive. You may lose a few yards, but not as many as you would with a hard-hit ball that balloons into the wind.

Rain: Pick It Clean
The results of fat contact are worse when the turf is wet. Catching the grass just a hair behind the ball on a rainy day will result in a "splat" and a shot that goes almost nowhere. Err on the side of thin contact, which is less penal than hitting it heavy. Take enough loft to get the ball up in the air and expect less carry, even on well-struck shots. For drives, tee the ball higher than normal and play it an inch farther forward to maximize hangtime.