“Swing with ease into the breeze” (golf adage)

“Swing with ease into the breeze” is a popular golfing adage. There is a tendency to swing too hard to compensate for the wind, but experts caution against this.
 
The original saying—“Swing with ease against a breeze”—appeared in Golf Digest in 1971.
 
 
21 February 1972, Daily Kennebec Journal (Kennebec, ME), “Golf lessons for women,” pg. 12, col. 4:
SWING WITH ease against a breeze.
 
9 April 1972, Elyria (OH) Chronicle-Telegram, “Sandra Palmer gives five tips,” pg. C6, col. 2:
Swing with ease against a breeze. “In a heavy wind you tend to steer the shot, swing too hard.”
   
11 February 1973, Naples (FL) Daily News,“Wind Affects Golf Play” by June Hall,  pg. B1, col. 8:
As one man was heard lo say, “When in the breeze, swing with ease.”
 
Google Books
The Best of Golf Digest, 1950-1975:
The first 25 years
Norwalk, CT: Golf Digest, inc.; New York, NY: distribution by Simon & Schuster
1975
Pg. 117:
Swing with ease against a breeze
When playing in wind, the tendency is to swing too hard. There is also a strong urge to “steer” the shot according to the direction of the wind. Both of these tendencies exaggerate swing faults and cause the ball to fly errantly. The ball will stay on line much better when you swing easily and concentrate on hitting it flush. Take plenty of club to get the job done, swing with less force than usual, and you are sure to play well in wind.
 
Google Books
More Instant Golf Lessons
By Peter McCleery; et al.
Norwalk, CT: Golf Digest/Tennis; New York, NY: Trade book distribution by Simon and Schuster
1985
Pg. 7:
Of the millions of words we’ve printed on golf instruction, some of our editors believe that the six used to headline an Instant Lesson in August 1975 may have had the most lasting impact: “Swing with ease against a breeze.”
 
Google News Archive
24 March 1993, The News (Boca Raton, FL), “Key to golf: How to swing in the breeze” by Bob Impaglia, pg. 2C, cols. 3-4:
Always remember these famous words: “In the breeze, swing with ease.”
     
Lifelesspeople.com Forum
SanctumLux
Posted: Sat Mar 26, 2005 7:55 pm  
Post subject: My Golf Tips For You
(...)
Remember the old saying, “Swing with ease into the breeze.”
 
Google News Archive
17 August 2005, Gettysburg (PA) Times, “Easy Ways to Improve Your Golf Game,” Fore!, pg. 2, col. 4:
Don’t let the wind interfere with how you take your swing. The saying goes, “Swing with ease into the breeze.” Think of this phrase so you don’t overswing into the wind.
 
Golf Mind Training by Roseanna Leaton
Swing With Ease Into The Breeze
7/18/11 9:31 AM
(...)
Whilst many of the younger players struggled to retain smiles or control of their golf ball in these conditions, Tom Watson appeared to be totally unaffected by it.  In fact, he even appeared to be enjoying himself out there. 
 
He said himself that he may have had a natural advantage due to his age.  He can no longer try to “kill the ball” and hits a consistently steady shot, with or without the wind.  When you hit the ball nice and easy, it’s flight is lower and less affected by the wind.  Hence the little ditty “hit with ease into the breeze”.