Tip of the week

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The playing conditions have now changed. The weather is colder, the fairways are wetter and as a result the golf ball does not fly as far or roll as far. So, the big question is what are you doing differently when you play, how are you adapting and altering your thought process and strategy whilst playing.

The adage of failing to prepare is preparing to fail is very relevant and a big part of playing in the cold and/or wet is your choice of clothing, it is making sure you have a spare glove or two, spare towels, winter mittens etc.

But there are also a few simple alterations you can make when playing the shots, and these are all very simple considerations that can really help your score.

1. Club Up! Even in the summer months I am always surprised at the club choices amateurs make. When it is cold the ball will not fly as far. When you have more layers of clothing on it is unlikely that you will generate as much speed which will also reduce the distance that you can hit the ball. So, the simple advice here is take an extra club or two.
2. Although this point slightly contradicts my first point be careful with your club choice in the rough. Loft is your friend and sometimes you will hit a more lofted club further from the rough simply because you are able to strike the ball better.
3. Between the green and the next tee keep your golf ball warm – it will go further. Some people even opt to swap their golf ball on every tee for one that has been in their pocket and is warm. Just remember that you must let your playing partners know if you change your golf ball at the start of a hole.
4. Clean the golf ball. I have always found the ball cleaners located on a golf course slightly amusing. Generally, they are located next to tees. Surely no one needs to clean their golf ball after finishing a hole as that would imply that they have just attempted to putt with a dirty golf ball. If your golf ball is dirty whilst you putt you have greatly reduced your chances of putting nicely and instead made this part of the game extra difficult, so the advice is simple. Whenever you are allowed to mark your ball and clean it make sure you do.
5. Mud on the ball. During the wetter months you will occasionally find that mud sticks to your golf ball. If you have missed a fairway, you are not allowed to use preferred lies and cannot clean it. So generally, if the mud is stuck on the left side of the ball when you hit it the ball will move to the right in the air and if the mud is on the right side of the ball, it is likely that the ball will move to the left as it flies.

These five tips are very basic but very relevant. A golf pro or accomplished amateur understands the importance of preparation for their round, and they are much better than the average golfer at understanding what is and isn’t possible to do with a golf ball depending upon the way it is lying. Making necessary adjustments you will help you to lower your scores and enjoy the game.