The #1 Skill Most Golfers Lack! (It Costs You Strokes Every Round)
Mike Granato and Shaun Webb from Athletic Motion Golf use launch monitor data to prove how wind significantly impacts carry distance. The test reveals that a headwind penalizes the golfer twice as much as a tailwind helps, and explains why swinging harder into the wind often results in shorter shots due to increased spin.
A 10 mph headwind results in roughly a 10-yard loss, while a 20 mph wind can cost 25+ yards.
Tailwinds provide less than half the distance benefit compared to the loss experienced in an equivalent headwind.
Swinging harder into the wind ('goosing it') increases spin rate, causing the ball to balloon and lose even more distance.
The most effective strategy into a headwind is taking more club (often two clubs more) and making a smoother, controlled swing.
Side-spin is amplified by headwinds; a draw or fade will curve significantly more when hitting into the wind.
Go deeper
Distance loss — Causes, drills and coaches for this miss