A wind that blows across the course is rather more difficult to deal with. Under such circumstances a ball that is driven absolutely straight will suffer a certain hindrance. You may, however, make such a use of the wind that it actually helps rather than impedes your stroke. Technically speaking, you can play for a pull with the wind blowing from right to left, and play for a slice with the wind blowing from left to right.

These terms are a little misleading, because in reality you must pull or slice, as the case may be, only to a fraction of a hair's breadth. It is easy enough to pull your ball badly. You need only stand in front of it, aim well to the right, and the pull will come. But then you will find that your ball travels no farther than if you had hit it straight down the course. The proper method is far more artistic. You must aim very slightly to the right, place your ball a very little farther back than usual, grip your club firmly in both hands, and then hit your ball straight and clean, without thinking of the pull at all. As soon as you begin to think about it, you will draw your arms and shoulders round to the left at the end of the swing, and the result will be a very bad pull indeed. All you have got to do is to hit the ball true and follow the stroke through to the finish, and the wind will do the rest.

When the wind is in the other direction, you must be particularly careful not to slice, because however much you may allow for it, a slice is almost sure to land you in trouble. And yet it is very hard to avoid slicing with a wind blowing over your left shoulder, because in aiming well to the left you forget to change the position of the ball in addressing it; consequently it is too far back, and a true swing is impossible.

Remember, then, in playing for a slice you must endeavor before all thing's not to slice at all. Aim to the left and keep the ball well in front of you when you address it - that is to say, almost opposite to your left foot.