Playing In The Wind...

[golfgnome]

Jeff (and others), It's spring here in Indiana, which means lots of wind. I'm curious about what kind of strategies you employ when playing in the wind - both a mild wind and the 20-30+ variety.

The course I usually play has small, fast, domed greens, and I'm having a hard time hitting them in a strong wind, especially from the scoring areas - 150ish and in. Outside that yardage, and I can punch in a mid iron or smooth a long iron and have actually been closer to the pin than when I'm approaching from inside that yardage. I guess I need to work on some softer, smoother punch shots with my wedges and short/mid irons??

I have actually had some of my best success when it blows very hard because it makes me focus on rhythm and pace more than anything else. I never try to overpower the ball when it is windy because more speed equals more spin which is bad in the wind.

I think most players swing to hard into the wind AND downwind which gets them of their game. I use the less is more philosophy when playing in the wind. Less effort into the wind with less loft. Use more loft downwind with the same effort and you will see better results.