When the weather cools and the winter months begin, there are certain truths that apply to golf.
The colder air impacts how far the ball travels, and the softer ground changes shot selection around the greens, but there is an indisputable fact that is often ignored, and it has to do with what you’re wearing.
Wherever you live in Australia, golf in winter invariably involves extra layers in terms of jumpers or rain jackets and it affects how you swing the golf club. For most it will restrict the rotation of the swing and the speed that can be generated at impact, while for others adding layers will change the swing in such a way as to produce a completely different shot shape.
Before your next round, spend time at the range hitting balls with a jumper and/or rain jacket on and take note of your distances and ball flight. You will find that simply wearing more clothes necessitates taking an extra club for approach shots into greens.
Wind, rain and layers; take them all into account when you play this winter.
If you have any questions or are interested in undertaking some online lessons, e-mail me at [email protected]
QUICK TIP: Wind it back
Wind is a part of the game year-round in Australia, but it can feel particularly influential through winter. Don’t fight it. Instead, take an extra club, swing at 60 per cent and swing through to about 3 o’clock (for right-handers). Control of trajectory trumps distance in the wind.
Getty images: Sam Greenwood, Phil Inglis
