Play better this winter
Playing this great game of ours during the winter months can be a very different proposition to the heady golfing days of summer. We’re forced to layer up, try to keep warm and look to deal with a softer and wetter golf course and everything the elements might throw at us in the way of wind, rain or worse. It’s different, but it’s certainly not impossible if you go about things the right way.
In this winter instruction special, Neil Marr, PGA Professional at Meldrum House in Aberdeenshire, shares some tips and advice to help you play better golf this winter. So, when the mercury dips and the heavens open, you’ll be well placed to deal with the game’s many off-season challenges, from driving in the wind and playing from wet grass or sand to putting on slower greens.
Read on if you’re keen to keep playing to the best of your ability over these more testing golfing months…
1Driving in the wind The first thing I would say is you should adjust your expectations and gameplan, as you’ll be driving it different distances due to the softer ground conditions and cooler air. So, bunkers and certain danger spots you’re normally worried about may be out of range.
Downwind
‘Tee it high, let it fly’ is an old cliche, but a good one. Stand a little wider, keep the ball forward in your stance and set more weight on your right side. Do this by tilting your spine away from the target a little to hit it on the up and make full use of the tailwind.
Into the wind
‘Swing with ease into the breeze’ is the opposite cliche! Tee the ball down a little, move it a ball’s width further back in your stance and grip down perhaps an inch. Your spine should feel more vertical at address. Taking something off your swing rather than hitting it harder will help reduce spin.
2Irons from wet rough Judging the lie is key. If it’s sitting up on a tuft and there’s moisture, there will be less friction on the clubface. The ball will spin less, so consider clubbing down and allowing for more run. From heavy, wet rough, grip the club a little firmer and set more weight on your left side with the ball further back in your stance. The worse the lie, the more loft you’ll need.
If the lie is so bad that you’re just looking to get it back in play, think clearly about your line, target and likely distance. I find a lot of golfers don’t think about it fully when taking their medicine and end up in trouble on the other side of the fairway. They get a little cautious with their line but then don’t take the right club for that more cautious line!
3 Compacted sand
The club will bounce more at impact and you won’t be able to slide it through and get the ball coming out on a cushion of sand as easily. You need to adjust how far you hit behind the ball and that starts with set-up, so have the ball further back than for a standard splash shot with the clubface square.
You still don’t want the club digging in too much, so make sure your upper half keeps turning through the ball, even if your lower half stays relatively stable. Turning your feet and knees out a little at address helps to stabilise your feet and hold your legs in position.