Do you change for colder days

[zebra2955]

With the colder weather upon us do you change balls for it. 

Firmer or softer? 

 

[caniac6]

No, but I do change to yellow. It’s a lot easier to see on the dormant bermuda.

[j.b.newton]

I've always HEARD people say they change to a softer ball on colder days, but have not seen any real difference or data.  Curious what this board will share...

[Maine Golfer]

nah, just playing the high end balls I got and hoping I dont have to order more before seasons end lol 

[B.Easy]

I do, but purely for feel.  Left Dash gets very firm in the cold up here in the NW.  

[TKS]

Cold and wind calls for the Wilson Duo Professional - a stash remains for that purpose only. Serious wind fighter - balata-ish soft

[cgasucks]

No...but I do pray that my ball isn't plugged in the wet fairway or under some leaf after a good tee shot.

[MattM97]

If really cold might go to something a touch softer if a lot of leaves then I'll go with something I have lots and don't mind losing.

[ShortGolfer]

I switch to white balls as I think they are the easiest to find among the leaves.  But I almost lost my ball 3+ times in nine holes yesterday.  I found a plugged Pro V1 in a wet fairway.

I also aim for bunkers as they are clear of leaves where I play.  I'll play more conservatively when there are lots of leaves on the ground in front of me.

Edited October 13, 2023 by ShortGolfer

[gripandrip]

Colder usually means leaves when I was playing late fall/winter in Michigan. Softer cheaper balls are usually the play, as you can lose them in a fairway.

 

But if I didn't change balls, I usually would just rotate two balls. Play a hole with one in your warm pocket, and swap each hole.

[jholz]

I don't change my ball - but I will take temps into account when it comes to club selection. The difference for me between 80* and 40* can be a club or more. 

[grochol17]

2 hours ago, j.b.newton said:

I've always HEARD people say they change to a softer ball on colder days, but have not seen any real difference or data.  Curious what this board will share...

 

Some people believe that a softer ball will travel farther in cold weather, but there was a study done (can't remember who did it) showing that any changes in ball performance are far outweighed by other factors like how well our bodies can move in the cold or the fact that any golf ball will not travel as far through cold air.  In other words there's no reason to change for any supposed performance benefit.

[Jeff58]

V1x -> ERC Soft

 

More than you wanted to know ->
 

Balls are typically made of two different types of materials: polymers and rubbers. The core is a polymer. The cover is either also a polymer (ionomer) or a rubber (urethane).

 

Temperature affects these materials differently. Polymers become softer with reduced temperatures, while rubbers become harder/stiffer. Rubbers are also much more reactive to temperature changes. 
 

The effect for the user is that while the urethane ball feels much harder, you are feeling the cover. The core, and the bulk compression, is actually lower. The reduction in compression produces less ball speed. The harder cover increases spin and launch angle.

 

Ionomer balls tend to be lower compression to begin with, and they change less as temperatures change, particularly the cover.

 

While there are UTube’s showing this effect, you’ll notice that most are done indoors. That’s bad, since the major cause of performance change is air density. As it gets colder, air becomes more dense. The effect on the golf ball is that there is more drag and lift. The V1x is close to a worst case scenario here.
 

The optimal ball for cold temperatures is one that’s designed to have low spin to begin with that has an ionomer cover while producing high ball speed for its compression. The ERC Soft is as close to a cold weather optimized ball as exists IMO. It’s the model that will likely change the least.

[jwhite86]

2 hours ago, gripandrip said:

Colder usually means leaves when I was playing late fall/winter in Michigan. Softer cheaper balls are usually the play, as you can lose them in a fairway.

 

But if I didn't change balls, I usually would just rotate two balls. Play a hole with one in your warm pocket, and swap each hole.

 

I do this as well... one ball in the pocket to keep it warm and swap it out... works great... but i have no data to back it up

[smoova]

Years ago, I had a buddy who would bring a thermos of hot water to the course for cold rounds. He would store 2-3 balls in the thermos to "keep them warm."  It was always amusing to watch him try to pour a ball out of the thermos into a cup without losing too much water.  Seemed like far more trouble than it was worth.   

[RightHandRough]

4 hours ago, gripandrip said:

Colder usually means leaves when I was playing late fall/winter in Michigan. Softer cheaper balls are usually the play, as you can lose them in a fairway.

 

But if I didn't change balls, I usually would just rotate two balls. Play a hole with one in your warm pocket, and swap each hole.

This is how I do it in NW Wisconsin, gotta have warm balls, cold balls is a no go 😉

[Mike_C]

I have done it in the past.   For me it doesn't seem to matter as much until we are talking past sub 50 degrees.  Part of it is that its just harder to keep your swing speed up when it colder, not just the cold impact on your body, but all the extra clothing...

 

I normally play the Srixon Z-Star XV, but in the cold I might play the Q-Star, or maybe the regular Chrome Soft.   The Chrome soft is interesting, I had a few sleeves in the spring, they seemed to go real far off the irons, noticeably shorter off my driver. 

[Doyouevenblade]

Playing a tree lined course in Canada so leaves are everywhere… I bring out what I don’t mind losing. Which is usually the dozens of chromsofts and supersofts I find over the year. 
 

so yes, but not for the feel. 

[soregongolfer]

Cheaper.  

[bcjim]

Store balls inside the night before playing.  A cold golf ball will not warm up and balls that start out warm will take time to cool off. 

[AnthonyC143]

I haven't made a change yet, but I will try it this year.  I know Titleist says not to change balls due to cold, and they have the science to back it up I guess.  I may try a different ball on each hole in the cold to see what I like.

Edited October 14, 2023 by AnthonyC143

[nitram]

Nah, just keep the BSX in my pocket as long as possible.

[Jackal]

If it's really cold less that 45°, I switch to a Callaway Super Hot.

Usually, it's the  neon color and easier to find.

Also, I would rather loose a cheaper ball than a Pro V.

They seem to play well, considering I have on a bulky shirt and can't swing normally.

[Ajota]

On 10/13/2023 at 9:36 AM, Maine Golfer said:

nah, just playing the high end balls I got and hoping I dont have to order more before seasons end lol 

 

Funny enough with all the leaves on the ground I switch to my shag bag of marked up balls xD

[Maine Golfer]

Pro-V1s , 18 holes of golf today mid 40s temps, 2 diffrent 9 hole (home course + par III place) Felt it in the morning, just dealt with it but you could really feel it.  Got the par III course and kept missing greens by 6 to 15 yards maybe, just way off!   Dug into my bag had a Callaway  Diablo, woah 2 par's and felt a whole LOT better. So ive done a 180, I might have another 2 weeks left by no Pro-V1s if its cold, cheaper stuff. Its not worth playing pro-v1's that almost feel like Nitro's if its sub 60 for me.

 

 

[bluedot]

On 10/13/2023 at 12:25 PM, Jeff58 said:

V1x -> ERC Soft

 

More than you wanted to know ->
 

Balls are typically made of two different types of materials: polymers and rubbers. The core is a polymer. The cover is either also a polymer (ionomer) or a rubber (urethane).

 

Temperature affects these materials differently. Polymers become softer with reduced temperatures, while rubbers become harder/stiffer. Rubbers are also much more reactive to temperature changes. 
 

The effect for the user is that while the urethane ball feels much harder, you are feeling the cover. The core, and the bulk compression, is actually lower. The reduction in compression produces less ball speed. The harder cover increases spin and launch angle.

 

Ionomer balls tend to be lower compression to begin with, and they change less as temperatures change, particularly the cover.

 

While there are UTube’s showing this effect, you’ll notice that most are done indoors. That’s bad, since the major cause of performance change is air density. As it gets colder, air becomes more dense. The effect on the golf ball is that there is more drag and lift. The V1x is close to a worst case scenario here.
 

The optimal ball for cold temperatures is one that’s designed to have low spin to begin with that has an ionomer cover while producing high ball speed for its compression. The ERC Soft is as close to a cold weather optimized ball as exists IMO. It’s the model that will likely change the least.

Thanks for the thoughts.  
 

If I understand you, you’re saying that premium balls actually get softer in the cold, which I’ve never read anywhere, while lower compression balls play more like premium balls (higher compression and spin rates). 
 

If you can provide links to what you say about the changing compression of golf balls in the cold, I’d love to read that.  The studies I’ve read, by both MGS and Titleist, say that compression changes so little 2 or 3 points) that the impact is negligible, and that’s after hours in the freezer.  
 

Titleist’s advice is to use the same ball that you use in warm weather, but to simply be sure that the balls are stored at room temperature.  I think it’s fair to say that the temperatures that would make a difference to the playing characteristics of the ball (IF stored at room temperature) might very well close the golf course due to frozen greens.

 

By far the bigger impact during winter golf are air temperatures and turf conditions.  Cold, dense air cuts distance dramatically, and I agree with you 100% about lift and drag.  I think this changes distance a lot, and trajectory a little, and while it does increase the spin rate, I just don’t think it’s significant.  

[GolfGuitarsCars]

Yes.  Softer

Edited November 1, 2023 by GolfGuitarsCars

[Jeff58]

5 minutes ago, bluedot said:

If I understand you, you’re saying that premium balls actually get softer in the cold, which I’ve never read anywhere, while lower compression balls play more like premium balls (higher compression and spin rates). 

 

There are several basic types of material in most balls, and they behave differently when exposed to temperature variation.

 

Urethane is categorized as a rubber.

Ionomers are plastics.

Polybutadiene is an elastomer.

 

In “cold”, a urethane cover becomes denser/harder and less elastic. The core becomes softer and less elastic. Ionomers become brittle at very low (Tg) temperatures, but tend to show little response within their “normal” use range.

Overall, the thing to keep in mind is that compression doesn’t equal elasticity. The effects on bulk compression, which is what is typically measured, has little to do with the ball’s elasticity or rebound characteristics. The reason that higher compression balls tend to have higher speeds is because they loose less energy through impact distortion (they have higher COR’s), not because they’re more elastic.

[bluedot]

14 hours ago, Jeff58 said:

 

There are several basic types of material in most balls, and they behave differently when exposed to temperature variation.

 

Urethane is categorized as a rubber.

Ionomers are plastics.

Polybutadiene is an elastomer.

 

In “cold”, a urethane cover becomes denser/harder and less elastic. The core becomes softer and less elastic. Ionomers become brittle at very low (Tg) temperatures, but tend to show little response within their “normal” use range.

Overall, the thing to keep in mind is that compression doesn’t equal elasticity. The effects on bulk compression, which is what is typically measured, has little to do with the ball’s elasticity or rebound characteristics. The reason that higher compression balls tend to have higher speeds is because they loose less energy through impact distortion (they have higher COR’s), not because they’re more elastic.

I understand what you’re saying about the lab science, but I’ve never read anything that indicates that testing has shown any significant changes in compression from cold. The things I’ve read on the subject (MGS and Titleist specifically) indicate that any compression changes due to cold are so small that they are insignificant to the performance of any golf ball.  If you have a link “real world” testing that shows otherwise, I’d love to read it.

[Augie53]

This is the time of year I dig into the "found" bucket of "cheap" balls, Nitros, Noodles, "refurbished", balls that have blemishes, etc.  So many leaves on the course, grass is tall, sometimes it is impossible to find a ball hit in the fairway.  Not worth playing a premium ball this time of year.  Last night finished up 9 at sunset and it was about 40 degrees.  The ponds on the course are starting to ice over.  So cold and tight, it's tough to swing.  

 

At this point in the year it's not about scoring, it's about getting in those last few holes before winter sets in and shuts golf down until April.

Edited November 2, 2023 by Augie53