We asked Andy Sullivan how to play in crosswinds, when controlling your ball flight becomes extremely tough. Here the Englishman explais how to fight a left-to-right wind

In this exclusive feature we asked English European Tour Professional Andy Sullivan How To Play In Crosswinds. Here he offers his essential advice.

Crosswinds pose the golfer some difficult questions and it is in this scenario that you really need supreme control of your ball flight. For the right-hander the really difficult crosswind is left-to-right (the opposite is true for left-handers). In this situation, my experience has taught me not to fight the wind too much but to hit my target through a combination of a lower flight and allowing for the wind through my alignment. By changing my technique slightly I can prevent the ball from climbing too high and this should really help my control.

What you need to guard against is hitting the ball too hard and losing it right - here's what to do.

More top golf tips

The way to control ball flight is through the pace of your swing. Essentially, the key is to find a smoother tempo than usual. So take a club more than you usually would and keep the pace of your swing as smooth as possible. Try to curtail your finish position a little as this will take speed away at impact. By reducing the speed of your swing you are reducing backspin created at impact and this will help you find a ball flight that is a little lower than usual. So if the wind is off the left, I take my aim up the left side of the hole and swing a little smoother. The lower flight will prevent it from drifting too far to the right side. When you are out on the course and competing for real, this is the best way to find the control that will help you attack the flag when the wind is blowing across you.

Neil Tappin
Editor

In July 2023, Neil became just the 9th editor in Golf Monthly's 112-year history. Originally working with the best coaches in the UK to produce instruction content, he has also presented many Golf Monthly videos looking at all areas of the game from Tour player interviews to the rules of golf. 

Throughout his time with the brand he has also covered equipment launches that date back well over a decade. He clearly remembers the launch of the Callaway and Nike square drivers as well as the white TaylorMade driver families, such as the RocketBallz! If you take a look at the Golf Monthly YouTube channel, you'll see his equipment videos dating back over a decade! He has also conducted 'What's In The Bag' interviews with many of the game's best players like Rory McIlroy, Dustin Johnson and Jon Rahm. Over the years, Neil has tested a vast array of products in each category and at drastically different price-points. 


Neil is currently playing: Driver: TaylorMade Stealth Plus Fairway Wood: Titleist TSR2 Hybrid: Titleist TS3 Irons: PING Blueprint S (4&5), PING Blueprint T (6-PW) Wedges: Titleist Vokey SM7 50˚, 54˚, 60˚ Putter: Odyssey Triple Track Ten Ball: Titleist Pro V1X