Upwind vs. downwind: How to master these tricky shots

Welcome to Shaving Strokes, a GOLF.com series in which we’re sharing improvements, learnings and takeaways from amateur golfers just like you — including some of the speed bumps and challenges they faced along the way.

Depending on what the wind is doing on a specific day, your shots can be impacted greatly. It can be especially tricky deciphering how to play shots upwind vs. downwind.

While most amateur players know to try and keep the ball down when the wind is in their face, it’s not always the easiest thing to execute. It takes a different type of golf swing, and then requires practicing those types of shots before ever getting to the course.

Instruction

The same practice must be applied when hitting downwind on the golf course, understanding what club to choose and which type of ball-flight to go with in order to use the wind to your advantage — rather than flighting everything 10 yards over your target.

To help navigate hitting upwind vs. downwind, GOLF Top 100 Teacher Debbie Doniger shares a few tips to follow. So take a peek below and start mastering these tricky types of shots.

Use these adjustments when hitting upwind vs. downwind

No matter what level of player you are, facing a shot either upwind or downwind is difficult. But with the right technique and adjustments, you can see more success the next time Mother Nature wants to stir it up and make things tricky on you. Just follow the steps below.

3 ways to master upwind shots

1. When dealing with severe upwind, it’s a must to control your irons. This means learning how to hit your lower irons to shorter distances vs. full distances. To practice this, try utilizing a three-quarter swing.

For instance, I work on hitting my 4-wood to 100 yards first, then increase the length of my backswing to have the ball travel to 140 yards next. By shortening my backswing, I’m able to keep the ball lower and beneath the wind. This also gives me the feel I need to use the correct rhythm and tempo to hit a certain yardage with a less lofted club.

Instruction

2. Next, it’s imperative you deloft your irons. This can be done a few different ways, but one of the simplest is to avoid using too much shaft lean — helping reduce the loft of the clubhead.

3. Finally, always take more club, choke down a little bit, and swing slower by using a three-quarter swing. When dealing with wind in your face at 10 miles per hour, you can typically expect the conditions to knock your ball down by about eight yards.

3 ways to master downwind shots

1. Most golfers salivate at the opportunity to hit downwind shots off the tee — because we simply envision bombing it by getting the ball up into that stream of air. But first, you need to know how to do that.

In order to hit the ball higher and make it ride the wind from the tee box, tee it higher, widen your stance, and hit more up. This helps launch the ball, which allows the wind to catch it and basically carry it farther distances.

2. Since downwind shots don’t typically impact the curve of the ball, you should always be a bit more aggressive on these types of shots. Sure, you need to maintain proper swing sequencing in order to avoid an open or closed clubface, but stare down your target and go for it, as the wind can help make sure you at least get it there.

Approach Shots

3. If you choose to use a full swing, remember that downwind can impact the distance of your ball by about 12 yards, so be mindful of this when making your club selection.

For instance, if you’re on a par-3 that measures 185 yards to the middle of the green, go with the club that you consistently hit 175 yards. That ensures you that a mishit will likely still reach the green, while a pure shot won’t completely carry the green and go off the back.

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