cold weather effects on golf ball distance

Re: cold weather effects on golf ball distance

Hotsauce — Mon, 15 Dec 2014 21:09:19 GMT

[quote user="garymch1"]

The original question WAS what ball is better to play in the colder weather - I normally play Pro V1 and was wondering if one of the NXTs would be easier to compress.

I'm 66 and a 10 HC- hit my drive about 230, hit a 7 iron about 152.

[/quote]

Hi Gary,

I wouldn't suggest switching balls based on weather. You'll be changing more than you think. Not every shot you hit is going to be full swing or full compression. I feel it's better to just know what the climate does to your game. Play an extra club before you switch balls to try and mimic summer distances.

Re: cold weather effects on golf ball distance

Kevin B — Sun, 14 Dec 2014 02:54:39 GMT

my 2 cents…. as others have said, once it gets to 50* or below, i find I'm at least one club shorter with my irons. i will play into the high 30's but 45-50* days are a must get out in the winter

Re: cold weather effects on golf ball distance

garymch1 — Sun, 14 Dec 2014 01:37:42 GMT

The original question WAS what ball is better to play in the colder weather - I normally play Pro V1 and was wondering if one of the NXTs would be easier to compress.

I'm 66 and a 10 HC- hit my drive about 230, hit a 7 iron about 152.

Re: cold weather effects on golf ball distance

Bill C — Sat, 13 Dec 2014 13:11:24 GMT

I'm with you late and early southeastern Mass! So far not bad down here in fact today is a perfect day for golf! Going out at 10:30 38 - 38 degrees no wind!

Re: cold weather effects on golf ball distance

Davis L — Sat, 06 Dec 2014 02:05:54 GMT

I also have a question related to this. Living in Colorado, I wondered, does altitude also add the the less far the golf ball go in the cold?

Re: cold weather effects on golf ball distance

Tony R — Wed, 19 Nov 2014 16:04:15 GMT

[quote user="Greg M"]

I play golf almost year round and a couple of guys are always switching to different type balls. I know cold weather has some effect but does it really matter?

[/quote]

Re: cold weather effects on golf ball distance

Stan K — Fri, 22 Nov 2013 18:13:57 GMT

It's a combination of things. Dense air in the winter, more clothing, harder golf balls due to cold. I play a softer ball (ladies golf ball) and keep them in the house in the winter. It will take the better part of a day to get the mass of a golf ball up to room temperature. Plus play "winter rules" since you can't enter a handicap this time of year in the northeast keep 1 in your pocket and switch out every hole

Re: cold weather effects on golf ball distance

Jason C — Fri, 22 Nov 2013 00:13:16 GMT

When it's about 45 F or below I feel like I need to hit a half or full club more on my iron shots. I'm sure it is partially the ball, but for me I think the layers of clothing restrict my swing

Re: cold weather effects on golf ball distance

Zach S — Thu, 21 Nov 2013 21:40:21 GMT

I played in the cold last week and i tried both a Pro V1 and a Pro V1x and the balls went the exact same distance as each other but about 5 yards shorter than they both would in the warmer weather. So i think through my experience that the weather affects all balls the same.

Re: cold weather effects on golf ball distance

Ross H — Thu, 21 Nov 2013 15:44:19 GMT

[quote user="Brian K"]

Just curious.. would the temperature difference have an effect on your clubs as well?

[/quote] Yes, the weather would effect the clubs as well. I never leave my clubs and balls in my car on a cold night before I plan to play the nest day. It not only effects the clubs but the change in weather will deterrant the grips. I have played golf for over 45 years in North Carolina near Pinehurst, NC.

Re: cold weather effects on golf ball distance

Dani N — Wed, 20 Nov 2013 21:46:50 GMT

Cold weather, what's that? It was 93* here in California last week mid November. The solution is to just move West.

Re: cold weather effects on golf ball distance

Brian K — Wed, 20 Nov 2013 15:52:17 GMT

Just curious.. would the temperature difference have an effect on your clubs as well?

Re: cold weather effects on golf ball distance

Steve M — Tue, 19 Nov 2013 16:51:01 GMT

Hi Folks!

Living in cleve we experience a lot of pretty cool weather in the fall, but there are too many nice days to give up golf. My solution to the loss of distance from the cold, extra clothing, etc. is to switch golf balls. I play the NXT Tour most of the season, but switch to the DT Solo once it gets down to 55 & below. I find this restores some height and distance to the ball flight. I'm not sure what all the causes and effects are, but the ball makes a difference.

Steve M.

Re: cold weather effects on golf ball distance

Philip — Sat, 16 Nov 2013 00:00:43 GMT

A lot of fellows switch to a women's ball during the winter months to try and offset some of the lost distance from the colder air. Keep the golf balls warm before going to the course and consider trying a very low compression women's ball.

Re: cold weather effects on golf ball distance

Chris K — Mon, 11 Nov 2013 18:52:34 GMT

Your right Josh. I play in cold weather from Nov through Jan here in North East Ohio. Keep them in your pocket and keep changing. But the loss of some yards can be made up with club selection. Anyway a few yards is no big deal. It's not distance with win's it's having a good swing and hitting your target.

Re: cold weather effects on golf ball distance

Hotsauce — Mon, 04 Nov 2013 22:00:28 GMT

Thanks for the reply Mike,

In all seriousness I will keep a ball in my pocket and switch it every other hole. I definitely notice distance loss in the winter, but like your R&D buddies said, it could be from a combination of things. Clubbing up usually does the trick for me. I'd rather lose yards than lose spin and feel from close range.

Re: cold weather effects on golf ball distance

Mike D., Titleist Staff — Mon, 04 Nov 2013 13:04:41 GMT

Hi all,

Great discussion going here. Just wanted to jump in quickly with some feedback from the golf ball R&D team on the topic of weather/temperature and the effect on your golf ball. Here is what they had to say when asked...

“Will temperature effect golf balls in different ways?”

R&D: If you are playing with cold golf balls you’ll see distance loss. We recommend playing with room temperature golf balls. However, the other factors that typically accompany cold-weather golf (i.e. wearing more layers, frozen ground, wind, etc.) might have a bigger impact on a golfer’s overall performance.

We would recommend always playing the same model golf ball. Keep in mind, changing golf balls changes every shot. So the best way to take that element out of the equation is to find the best golf ball for your game and play it consistently.

Hope this helps provide some more insight.

Cheers (and stay warm out there)!

- Mike

Re: cold weather effects on golf ball distance

Tyler V — Mon, 04 Nov 2013 04:30:40 GMT

The cold weather causes the compression to get higher. For someone with a higher swing speed, that could, and theoretically should mean that the ball with fly farther. For someone with a slower speed, however, that would make the ball go even shorter, as you would be unable to compress the ball as much as normal.

For example, someone with say, a pro long driver swing speed, they could theoretically play a max compression ball in the coldest possible weather and still hit it farther, so long as they can still swing max speed, and still fully compress the ball (there should be no reason for them not to be able to).

Re: cold weather effects on golf ball distance

Sterling P — Fri, 01 Nov 2013 22:10:16 GMT

I know a "scratch" golfer (assistant pro), and he says that in temperatures of less than 50 degrees, he will play a ball that has less compression. In that way he was able still to compress the ball a bit easier.

Re: cold weather effects on golf ball distance

Ross H — Fri, 01 Nov 2013 20:43:03 GMT

I have been golf for over 40 years and I have found out that cold weather effects the golf ball distance. Keep your bag with sticks and balls in your home before playing. Thanks, Ross Pinehurst, NC

Re: cold weather effects on golf ball distance

Hotsauce — Fri, 01 Nov 2013 17:38:48 GMT

[quote user="clayton t"]

josh what i do it take a 1 doz balls open the box take out all 4 sleeves line the inside the box with foil make sure shiney side toward you do both top and bottom of the box ... while your driving to the golf course take sleeves back out pace all sleeves and empty box of floor have your heater going on the floor... when get there put sleeves back in wrap box with towel or felt bag or something

[/quote]

Do you think it could hold a breakfast burrito also?

Re: cold weather effects on golf ball distance

tyler s — Fri, 01 Nov 2013 01:25:09 GMT

I actually did a science fair project for my school on the effect of temperature on a golf ball and calculated that you will lose 5-7 yards because of cold weather

Re: cold weather effects on golf ball distance

clayton t — Thu, 31 Oct 2013 16:27:41 GMT

Re: cold weather effects on golf ball distance

Hotsauce — Wed, 30 Oct 2013 17:24:28 GMT

[quote user="clayton t"]

well josh there is nothing in the usga rules for amateur status that covers club head covers or about heating prior to arrieving to course

[/quote]

You are correct. I'm just asking if this is something that you actually do, and if so would you be willing to share a picture of your ball heating contraption.

Re: cold weather effects on golf ball distance

clayton t — Wed, 30 Oct 2013 01:23:36 GMT

well josh there is nothing in the usga rules for amateur status that covers club head covers or about heating prior to arrieving to course