cold weather golf

[wild dan]

how it influences your swing

just played a really really chilly round... rain threatening/ windy and just a few degrees above freezing.... (it snowed but melted here yesterday, winnipeg manitoba)

i found it really really tough to stay loose when hitting, and my irons seemed to have all the snap taken out of them... really really not great.

the drives were actually pretty good considering the softer fairways. I couldn't believe what i had to hit into a few greens so consequently left myself short a few times (more than a few)... even though i thought i was clubbing up!!! really frustrated.... managed to shape a decent back nine but that was because i put gloves on and a woolen hat... and started swinging my arms like a lunatic track star as i approached my shots.



how does the weather change your game??? I felt really really short today with my irons and felt i left a lot of strokes out there????

does the cold sap your strength!!! looking for excuses here

thanks

[3_Jack_Par]

I love cold weather golf. The course is empty, so you can play fast, and I much prefer throwing on an extra layer of clothing to trying to stay cool in the middle of summer. There are some adjustments that you need to make -- I usually find that the combination of a slightly restricted swing (due to extra clothing), and the cold air can result in two clubs difference from my midseason yardages. I also find that the more dense air means that wind affects the ball more than in the warmer months. Basically, I try to forget my pride, and if I need to hit a 5-iron from 150 yards, I just do that. It helps that I'm longer than most players, so I don't find that I'm unable to reach greens in regulation, but coursed definitely play longer.

As for staying loose, I definitely find that it's easy to tighten up, but fortunately, there's usually not a lot of time that you have to wait when it's cold. If I feel tight, I just try to do some quick stretches before hitting the shot. It's important to stay loose and hydrated, because it's easy to pull a muscle in the cold.

[wild dan]

i guess i swallow the pride... just freaks me out... but i agree the wind seems like it has more of a life and out on the prairie wind is the hand of god

[golfortennis]

The extra layers mess me up pretty good. I end up pulling everything when I have too much on.

 

I do like the fact no one is out, but sometimes it can be tough if everything is going left on me.