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What's the Secret

• RickRR 125 Posts

  Mon, Jul 4 2016 1:08 PM

  What is the secret to the Wind? I was playing St. Andrew the other day, as you know there can be some wind, I saw a lot of 16-18 and 18-20 winds. So I started keeping track of + or - on distance to see what I would come up with, more or less try and get an average, like 16-18 mph tailwind 170 yards out I subtracted 14 yards, so I did, ball hit 5 yards past hole. So I thought next time I have this similar shot only subtract 9 yards.. I was and still am tracking the adjustments. So a couple of days later same course, ran into a similar shot, thought ok -9 yards. Ball was 6 yards short.. 

  Now I am to the point where it is just a plain guess. Is there a secret as to when the wind will work and when it won't? It is mainly the headwinds and tailwinds that cause the guessing issue.  Is there a message at the beginning of the game that warns a player that "Wind is only at 75% of posted speed for this game"?

  I have used the 1 yard for 3 mph estimate to some success, but it too is a guess lately.

  I am playing pretty well, just get frustrated when you think you have it close and it goes 10 yards past or short. Oh today at Bethpage Black hole 10 approach shot 180 yards to pin with a 10 - 12 headwind. I wanted to leave it below the hole so I calculated distance to hit 176 yards, which with my ball (Nike RZN Level 90) and clubs a 5 iron with full backspin, ball went 186 like there was no wind at all, made the putt to birdie, but by my calculations I should have been below the hole with an easier uphill putt.. 

  I just moved up to Tour Legend, so I am blaming that aspect first, trying to get used to the new tier.. 

  Thanks

• mathia14 1,271 Posts

  Mon, Jul 4 2016 2:11 PM

  RickRR:

  What is the secret to the Wind? I was playing St. Andrew the other day, as you know there can be some wind, I saw a lot of 16-18 and 18-20 winds. So I started keeping track of + or - on distance to see what I would come up with, more or less try and get an average, like 16-18 mph tailwind 170 yards out I subtracted 14 yards, so I did, ball hit 5 yards past hole. So I thought next time I have this similar shot only subtract 9 yards.. I was and still am tracking the adjustments. So a couple of days later same course, ran into a similar shot, thought ok -9 yards. Ball was 6 yards short.. 

  Now I am to the point where it is just a plain guess. Is there a secret as to when the wind will work and when it won't? It is mainly the headwinds and tailwinds that cause the guessing issue.  Is there a message at the beginning of the game that warns a player that "Wind is only at 75% of posted speed for this game"?

  I have used the 1 yard for 3 mph estimate to some success, but it too is a guess lately.

  I am playing pretty well, just get frustrated when you think you have it close and it goes 10 yards past or short. Oh today at Bethpage Black hole 10 approach shot 180 yards to pin with a 10 - 12 headwind. I wanted to leave it below the hole so I calculated distance to hit 176 yards, which with my ball (Nike RZN Level 90) and clubs a 5 iron with full backspin, ball went 186 like there was no wind at all, made the putt to birdie, but by my calculations I should have been below the hole with an easier uphill putt.. 

  I just moved up to Tour Legend, so I am blaming that aspect first, trying to get used to the new tier.. 

  Thanks

  1st.  Congratz on making tour legend.  Have you ever tried topspin not backspin??  Maybe start with 75% top then adjust.  I know, I'm just a stupid legend.  But works for me.

• JimbeauC 5,835 Posts

  Mon, Jul 4 2016 2:17 PM

  RickRR:

  What is the secret to the Wind?

  This

  used to work nicely, and is still a decent starting point. 

• RickRR 125 Posts

  Mon, Jul 4 2016 5:27 PM

  Thank you for the suggestion I will try the topspin, I don't use top spin much.. No such thing as stupid Legend, I was called a "Work In Progress" now I am stupid.. Its a hole new game.

• RickRR 125 Posts

  Mon, Jul 4 2016 5:32 PM

  Thank you for the link and suggestion.. I had to go and try just for fun, and I admit I am a lot closer than I was.. On St. Andrew hole number 2 107 out with a 16 mph tail wind, did the math (hit 98) I was pin high and right (missed the ding badly) but I was pin high..  I will fine tune tomorrow and read the entire list of comments

  Thanks again

• JimbeauC 5,835 Posts

  Tue, Jul 5 2016 2:26 PM

  RickRR:

  Thanks again

  Most welcome.

  That formula has been around for ages. A few years back WGT decided to tinker with wind VEM, so it's not nearly as accurate as it once was, but still can make for a few shorter putts. 

• WigerToods2010 8,448 Posts

  Tue, Jul 5 2016 3:06 PM

  JimbeauC:

  RickRR:

  What is the secret to the Wind?

  This

  used to work nicely, and is still a decent starting point. 

  Had a peek over there, Jim. Some great forum contributors on that thread.

  Cantankerous Bubba used to have me creased in two with some of his posts.

• bubbsboy 6,879 Posts

  Tue, Jul 5 2016 3:41 PM

  That Bubba seemed a right laugh lol

  Edited ;-)

• PaulTon 10,731 Posts

  Wed, Jul 6 2016 6:11 AM

  No surprise you two sarcastic b'stards liked Bubbadork's posts!

  One of the best, I miss him.

• JimbeauC 5,835 Posts

  Wed, Jul 6 2016 8:44 AM

  WigerToods2010:

  Some great forum contributors on that thread.

  Yep. It always brings to mind Ffudd, who I learned the formula from. I have no idea if he was the original or got it from someone else. One does make friends here and miss them when they're gone.