Putting · Tip
How to Putt in the Wind
Part of our putting programs for three-putts, reading greens. Build a program with it
Wind can move your body and your ball. Build a strong base. Widen your stance. Keep your head and body as still as you can. Grip down a little for control. When you read, think about how the wind will change speed and line. Be firm on all putts on windy days, not just the ones into the wind. And stay confident. Tough conditions affect everyone.
Step by step
- Widen your stance.
- Keep your head and body still.
- Grip down slightly.
- Factor wind into your read.
- Putt firmly and confidently.
Why it works
Wind pushes on your body, and a body that sways moves the putter off its path and changes where the face points at impact. A wider stance and a still head lower your center of mass and cut that motion, so the stroke stays repeatable. Gripping down shortens the lever, which gives you more control of the face. A firmer roll holds its line better because the ball spends less time slowing down where wind can push it.
Common mistakes
- You keep your normal stance and sway with each gust.Set your feet wider than usual and feel your weight settle into the middle of both feet before you start the stroke.
- You read the putt as if the air were calm.Check wind direction before you pick a line, then adjust for extra speed loss into the wind, extra speed with it, and some push on a crosswind.
- You get tentative and leave putts short, or you rush and hit them too hard in anger.Pick a target speed in your read and commit to a firm, even stroke to it on every putt, not only the ones into the wind.
How you'll know it's working
- Your head and chest stay in the same spot from address until after the ball has left.
- The ball starts on your chosen line even when a gust arrives during the stroke.
- Your putts finish at or just past the hole instead of dying short, and the contact feels solid on the middle of the face.
Make it easier or harder
Easier: Practice on a calm day or in a sheltered spot first, so you can learn the wider stance and the still head before wind is added.
Harder: Practice on a windy day with crosswind putts of different lengths, and pick your line and speed before each stroke without any practice swings.
Common questions
Should you widen your stance when putting in the wind?
Yes. A wider stance gives you a steadier base, so gusts move your body less and your stroke stays on the same path.
How does wind affect the line and speed of a putt?
Wind into you slows the ball and wind behind you speeds it up. A crosswind can push the ball off line, mostly as it slows near the end of its roll, so allow for it in your read.
