Distance changes

[Bosock]

Hi All

First year I have really gotten into golf and got hit pretty hard by the bug. Have a implemented almost a complete new swing midway through the year and it is finally coming together. I went out this last time by myself and was hitting the ball straight and sweet, so sweet i could hardly tell i made contact with the ball (cleveland CG7 irons). Now i have never golfed this late into the year before and this last time out was the first time i golfed with the temperature in the mid-50s. My problem, the ball distance on each of my clubs was 10-15 yards shorter respectively. My approach wedge (50 degree) i usually hit 100 was going about 85...my 6 iron about 160 (170-175 usually).

Would the weather have this much impact. Another possibility I am thinking, is that as I was golfing alone, without my friends, I may not have been swinging as hard, hence could be why such a drastic improvement in how straight the shots were going. However, I do not believe i was swinging any less harder and really did not think about this until after i was done...so did not test it. Now, when the temperature was in the 80-90s I was driving 280-290 yards on the same course. I did notice a drop to about 265-275 when the temperature dropped in the 60s. This has occurred with one of my friends as well who was driving right along with me. So based on this info I wrote it off as tempature. Wednesday, when i was by myself, i was hitting probably 240-250 on my drives. Bad thing is i hit the fairway 6 out the 7 holes i drove on...the one i missed i was trying to cut a dog leg and it went were I aimed...just to short to cut it...i have made that cut in the past.

I live on the bench next to the mountains (4500-4700 ft) and would say the golf courses are close to that elevation. Use Bridgestone E6+ which i changed to about a month ago from a Pinnicle gold. So give me your best guesstimate. You think the cold air could impact distance to this extent, or you think i might have lightened up on the swing, or combination. Also, what do most of you hit your 6 irons and pitching wedges. Appreciate any info i can get. Did a search, and like the search expecting varying opinions, but still would like to hear them...thanks.

[chilly]

It definitely has an impact, I'm a fairly new golfer so I don't have it down to a science, but basically if it's in the 40s I need to go an extra club for irons and figure on 20yds lost on driver/3wd.  I haven't played in the 30s, but I wouldn't be surprised if I have to go two clubs.

[tsajjad]

cooler air=denser air=more obstructions for the ball to pass through=loss in distance=what i think :D

[andef]

i've had the same problem. i left norway in early july (when the temperature was 25* celcius) and came back a month later. the temperature was more like 15 degrees and i lost about 10 meters in distance. i asked the pro here why i was losing distance and he told me it was because it was colder than in july. i have recently gained a bit of distance because my swing (which i had changed before summer holidays) is coming together. hope this helps

[Lefty22]

Don't think it's as easy to compress the ball when it's colder - Harder to compress = Less Distance. I think it would have to be WAY colder than 65 to cost you 30-40 yards though...