ShotTally / Launch monitor & sim
Wind adjustment calculator
Headwinds hurt roughly twice as much as tailwinds help. Enter your shot and the wind, and get an adjusted playing distance plus a crosswind aim offset.
How it works
Wind effects aren't symmetric. A headwind increases drag and effective spin, ballooning the ball — costing about 1% of carry per mph. A tailwind reduces drag but also reduces lift, returning only about 0.5% per mph. Crosswinds push the ball roughly 0.75% of carry per mph of wind.
The two rules the formula encodes
First: "when it's breezy, swing easy." Into the wind, a harder swing adds spin, and spin into wind is a distance killer — the smooth three-quarter swing with more club flies more penetrating and often goes farther than the full send. Second: downwind approach shots land flatter with less spin, so they release — plan for run-out, not a dart. For quartering winds, decompose: a 20 mph wind at 45° is roughly 14 mph of headwind plus 14 mph of crosswind.
FAQ
How many yards does a 10 mph headwind cost?
About 10% of carry — 15 yards on a 150-yard shot. The same 10 mph as a tailwind only gives back about 5%, which is why into-the-wind holes play so much longer than the card suggests.
Why does a headwind hurt more than a tailwind helps?
Drag scales with the square of airspeed, and headwinds amplify the ball's spin-generated lift, ballooning the flight. Tailwinds reduce lift as well as drag, so some of the free distance is lost to a flatter, shorter-carrying flight.
Should I club up or swing harder into the wind?
Club up, always. Swinging harder adds spin, and spin into wind balloons the ball. One to two extra clubs at 80% effort is the play used at every level of competitive golf.
How do I judge crosswind aim?
Roughly 0.75% of the shot distance per mph of full crosswind — about a 17-yard offset for a 150-yard shot in 15 mph. Aim adjustments beat trying to hold a shot straight against wind.