How does cold weather affect golf ball flight?

Asked by: Beth Marin

Cold weather will make the ball fly shorter for a couple reasons. Cold air is denser than warm air and creates additional drag on the ball. More lift and drag makes the ball go higher and shorter. Tests show a loss of two yards of carry for every ten degrees below 75°.

How much does cold air affect a golf ball?

Cold air is denser than warm air and creates additional drag on a ball. According to Trackman, the difference is approximately one yard of carry for every 10-degree change in temperature. So theoretically, you’re looking at a loss of four yards if you’re playing in 40 degrees as opposed to 80 degrees.

Do golf balls fly less in cold weather?

A golf ball will travel less distance in colder temperatures for two reasons. First, when the golf ball and golf club are colder, the transfer of energy is not as efficient, so the ball speed will be less. Second, colder air is more dense than warm air, so there is more friction and drag.

How does the cold effect golf balls?

A chill in the air affects the ball after it is struck. Cold air is denser than warm air and increases both the lift and drag forces acting on the ball, which means you’ll hit it slightly higher and shorter than normal .

Does cold weather affect ball speed?

“When the golf ball gets colder, it can lose a few miles per hour in ball speed, which can mean distance loss due to speed,” said Snell. “[The] optimum temperature range is 70 to 90 degrees. At 40-degree temps the ball can slow down and be shorter by 5 to 10 yards.

How much distance do you lose in cold weather golf?

According to Titleist research, a golfer will experience an approximately 1.5 percent drop in distance for every 20 degree drop in temperature. If you carry your driver 250 yards, that 1.5 percent drop equates to 3.75 yards.

Do golf balls go farther when cold?

The Science behind Temperature Differences
Cold air is denser than warm air and creates additional drag on the ball. More lift and drag makes the ball go higher and shorter. Tests show a loss of two yards of carry for every ten degrees below 75°. Not a significant loss unless you are playing in 40 degree weather.

What golf ball goes the farthest in cold weather?

Best Golf Ball For Cold Weather

• Titleist Tour Speed 2022 Golf Ball. Specifications. …
• Callaway Supersoft golf ball. …
• Srixon Ultisoft golf ball. …
• Bridgestone e12 Contact Golf Ball. …
• Inesis Soft 500 golf ball. …
• Mizuno RB566 golf ball. …
• TaylorMade Distance + Golf Ball. …
• Titleist Velocity 2022 Golf Ball.

Is 45 degrees too cold for golf?

Some golfers make a distinction between when it’s too cold to play golf and when it’s too cold to play well. Resolute players can be found on the green even if it’s below 45 degrees and raining, but the weather conditions can take a toll on your performance.

Does temperature affect the bounce of a golf ball?

As the temperature decreases, gas molecules move closer together. This causes them to move around more slowly with less energy. Thus, lower pressure leads to a lower bounce of the ball.

Does cold weather affect golf swing?

AKA, when it’s cold, you won’t be able to turn as far, or swing as hard, which means your swing speed will drop and you’ll hit the ball shorter accordingly. This is especially true early in the round, when you’re not warmed up from all the walking and swinging.

Does cold weather affect golf clubs?

Can you store golf clubs in the cold? Even if you live in a region with cold weather, though lower temperatures aren’t as damaging as heat, it can still cause grips to dry out and crack.

Are low compression golf balls better in cold weather?

Low compression: When it’s cold, a softer ball with low compression will provide a better feel at impact. They are good golf balls for cold weather. Softer compression balls compress more in the cold and have a good chance of flying slightly longer than harder golf balls.

What type of golf ball should you use in cold weather?

The best golf balls for cold weather will be the proper choice for you to cope with hard conditions in your golf games.
Comparison Chart.

What compression is a Pro V1?

87-90

The most popular ball on tour is the Pro V1, which has a compression rating of 87-90. The Pro V1x is also popular, which has a compression rating of 97-100. Most balls are somewhere in this range.