Does the golf ball fly shorter in colder weather?

[willamette]

Here in Oregon, in Oct now the average high temp is about 60, compared with 78ish in summer. It also rains every other day now, and the air is much more "wet" - lots of fog in the mornings and just seems like thicker and more humid in the afternoon.

 

Now, I bring this up because it seems like I've lost about 5 yards on irons and 10 yards on driver since summer. Is this attributable to the weather....even just a 18 degree difference? Or have I just leaked some power somewhere?

[bignose]

See this old Golf Digest article: http://www.golfdigest.com/golfworld/2007/0...70803pgaweather

 

In summary (all based on a driver swung at 109 mph): 5000 feet of elevation (less pressure) = an extra 10 yards. A change in 10 degrees Fahrenheit = a change in the same direction of 1.3 yards. And only 1 to 2 yards difference between 100% relative humidity and 0% relative humidity.

 

Frankly, I think you have to be a pretty good golfer to have to account for the differences between a dry 70 degree day and a humid 100 degree day. In that example, it would be a maximum difference of 5.9 yards on a drive. Personally, my spread in distance is wide enough (inconsistent enough) that I would not notice 6 yards either way. Now, the pros I can understand needing to know that, but me, nope.

 

So, let's see from your situation, williamette: 18 degree F colder = -2.34 yards. More humidity would actually be an increase in yards (humid air "feels" heavier and thicker, but it is actually less dense than dry air), but the increase is pretty small, so let's call that a push. From what you've described, you should have lost no more than 2 1/2 yards on a full drive, due to changes in temperature and humidity.

 

If you know your game well enough to notice the 2 1/2 yards, then you know your game pretty well.

 

Are you wearing more clothing (long sleeve shirt or jacket) than you were in the middle of summer? If the ball wet from rolling in wetter grasses? Are the grasses wetter? These are things I'd think would be more significant than the weather. Or, it could just be mental, too, since you think that the weather is going to have a large impact, your brain finds a way to make it happen? Whatever it is, unfortunately, you can't blame the change in the atmosphere for more than a few yards off your driver, sorry.

[jcjr34]

The general theory is that the colder it is, the less compression you will get out of a golf ball, thus you get less distance. However, this usually applies for weather under 50 deg or so. This is why you'll see that many golfers on this forum use lower compression balls in the late fall thru early spring. In regards to it being 60 deg out, it should have minimal effect on your golf ball.

[Swingtheclub]

The general theory is that the colder it is, the less compression you will get out of a golf ball, thus you get less distance. However, this usually applies for weather under 50 deg or so. This is why you'll see that many golfers on this forum use lower compression balls in the late fall thru early spring. In regards to it being 60 deg out, it should have minimal effect on your golf ball.

 

 

I read and article years ago that pretty much said lower compression balls did not go farther in cold weather. What they do is feel a lot better in cold weather. Higher compression balls feel like rocks.

 

Note I do not know if the article was correct. I too always thought that cold weather made the ball go shorter, according to science not much. Oh well.

[larrybud]

One thing this article doesn't state is that while they may have measured the distance a ball will travel in ambient air temperature, do they take into account the temperature of the golf ball itself? I bet that has an even larger effect than the air temperature.

[Terrible-Tom]

I'm not a scientist, but from experience I'll guarantee you it's a huge difference. I play down into the forty's and it's considerable the difference between where my drives go from in the mid summer 80's.

[hoganfan924]

One thing this article doesn't state is that while they may have measured the distance a ball will travel in ambient air temperature, do they take into account the temperature of the golf ball itself? I bet that has an even larger effect than the air temperature.

 

I'm pretty sure the temp. of the ball has a much greater effect than the air temp.

[jcjr34]

Yes, the temp of the ball is what counts in compression, not the air. I would bet if you had a golf ball in your beer cooler overnight and tested it on a warm day against a ball out of your bag that it wouldn't fly as far.

That's why many people suggest not to keep your golf balls in the trunk of your car on a cold night because it just doesn't compress as much when its cold.

It's widely suggested that if you want to keep your golf ball working at its peak, keep it warm. Maybe keep another ball in the inside pocket of your jacket (somewhere it can be warmed by the body) and use each one on alternating holes? ;)

[bignose]

I'm not a scientist, but from experience I'll guarantee you it's a huge difference. I play down into the forty's and it's considerable the difference between where my drives go from in the mid summer 80's.

 

But, again, if you are playing in the 40's, you are more bundled up than when you are playing in the 80's. Your clothing is going to restrict you at least somewhat. Also, you cannot discount how much easier it is for your muscles to loosen up on a warmer day, and how much more likely they are to tighten up on a cooler day.

 

All of these factors matter, and yes, including the temperature of the ball.

 

It is most likely a situation where no one factor is dominant, but the combination of all of them: the cooler air, the cooler ball, the tighter clothers, the tighter muscles, etc. all add up.

[oregongolf]

I've found a perceptible difference first hand with regards to carry. Not only is it colder in now, but the air is much heavier. I can't carry the ball nearly as far in this heavy air as I could in Arizona or some places in California.

 

We get crapped on here in the Northwest. We can't carry the ball as far and our balls plug in the fairway!

[AcesAZ]

I'm not a scientist, but from experience I'll guarantee you it's a huge difference. I play down into the forty's and it's considerable the difference between where my drives go from in the mid summer 80's.

 

 

It is most likely a situation where no one factor is dominant, but the combination of all of them: the cooler air, the cooler ball, the tighter clothers, the tighter muscles, etc. all add up.

 

 

And the ground is usually wetter when it's colder, thus less roll. The clubface especially the driver could also be a little less springy.

 

1.) Colder air

2.) Colder ball

3.) More clothing, more restrictive swing

4.) Tighter muscles

5.) Wetter ground generally

6.) Colder club faces

 

I've been figuring about an extra club when it's around 50 degrees nowadays.