Distance gap between 5i and 4h in cold weather....

[bjwestner]

Fortunately we've been able to play basically without interruptions so far this year and I am grateful for that.  Living in Maryland, I know that at some point once snow comes, I'm not going to be able to play until it melts.  With that being said, it has been pretty cold and I've found myself playing many rounds with the temp under 40 degrees.  I set up my bag so that I have all of my distances covered with no gaps.  I was hitting (in warmer weather) my 5i up to 175y or more and I have a 4h which I hit a minimum usually of 175y.

Lately, in the cold weather, there have been several times where I've been 170y out or so and because of the cold weather, this is too long for my 5i but too short for my 4h.  Has anyone else run into this kind of issue in the winter time?  In the summer there is no distance gaps in my bag but because of the cold weather and the ball not going as far, now there is a gap.  If anyone has had this issue, please share what you have done to fix it.  Thanks,

[saevel25]

Probably have something to do with the flight characteristics of a hybrid versus a long iron. Hybrids have a lower COG, a higher MOI, so they launch the ball higher with less spin. This probably means the ball travels better in cold weather, than warmer weather.

I doubt there is anything you can do than have two sets of clubs, one for winter, one for summer. Maybe pick up a 4 iron, and ditch the Hybrid, you might be a little shorter towards the long irons section of your clubs, but it would gap better.

[DocWu1948]

Maybe the gap comes from the frozen ground, as you are in effect hitting it thinner with an iron while you can still sweep the hybrid?

[Tom Shanks]

Wrap your balls in a small towel and throw a few handwarmers in there. Balls lose compression the colder it gets.

[rehmwa]

Originally Posted by Tom Shanks

Wrap your balls in a small towel and throw a few handwarmers in there. Balls lose compression the colder it gets.

Isn't that a little personal for a golf forum?

(I also considered a more subtle version - Sure, he's more comfortable, but this is about hitting farther in cold weather)

[Tom Shanks]

Haha! I think this thread is about to get hijacked by ball jokes. I suppose you could also rub your balls when you're on the teebox.

[bjwestner]

Originally Posted by saevel25

Probably have something to do with the flight characteristics of a hybrid versus a long iron. Hybrids have a lower COG, a higher MOI, so they launch the ball higher with less spin. This probably means the ball travels better in cold weather, than warmer weather.

I doubt there is anything you can do than have two sets of clubs, one for winter, one for summer. Maybe pick up a 4 iron, and ditch the Hybrid, you might be a little shorter towards the long irons section of your clubs, but it would gap better.

Thanks for the idea.  I think I am going to take the 4h out and put the 4i in the bag.  Worst case scenario is that I can still use my 3h on a shot where I would have used 4h.  There is not that much of a difference in distance between those two clubs.

This is my first winter of golf ever and although I continue to improve, I guess I did not think that it would be that much of a difference from summer distance and winter time distance.  It's one thing to play in 50 or 55 degree weather and even then the ball does not go as far, but once you get down below 40 it's a really big difference.

[rehmwa]

Originally Posted by Tom Shanks

Haha! I think this thread is about to get hijacked by ball jokes.

I suppose you could also rub your balls when you're on the teebox.

It's comforting.....

Anyway - on topic - I suspect you're right that the more major effect is the golf ball.  The OP could also try lower compression golf balls before restacking his iron layout.

Also, some golf bags have an insulated pocket for cold drinks.  they are also better than nothing for keeping warm golf balls warmer.  heat them up before going to the course and put them in the insulated pocket (with those hand warmers).  I'm not sure how long it would last, seems every shot would require replacing the ball (it would get cold by the time you'd walk up to it).

If someone is driving, they could even use a cooler with a bunch of heaters - new ball for every long shot then.  It wouldn't be difficult.

Hell - I'm hitting into a tarp in my garage where the outdoor temp is -2F.  So I'm not too sympathetic to losing a one club to loss of compression due to cold air.....

[rehmwa]

and there is the question about having a restricted swing just from wearing extra layers..........

move up a tee box in the very cold months and enjoy the game seems simple too

[cooke119]

Cold weather has a big effect on the ball, less compression, like hitting a rock. I know some guys who play with ladies balls (yes, I know they are hard to find ) given they are softer and compress more in cold weather.

[Dave2512]

IMO it's a minor adjustment, mostly mental and probably only coming into play on par 5's and the one or two long par 3's. How often are you hitting a club that long? That said you make it count from the tee because you get extra roll due to the dead grass. There isn't any rough because it too has died. For me a bigger problem is getting the balls to stop on the green. We were rolling flops 30+ feet and off the green last time out. It sounded like the ball hit the cart path when it landed on the green. Frozen to within an inch of the surface. If anything we were getting too much out of every shot because there was nothing to stop it. Just roll and more roll.

[rehmwa]

Originally Posted by Dave2512

IMO it's a minor adjustment, mostly mental and probably only coming into play on par 5's and the one or two long par 3's. How often are you hitting a club that long? That said you make it count from the tee because you get extra roll due to the dead grass. There isn't any rough because it too has died. For me a bigger problem is getting the balls to stop on the green. We were rolling flops 30+ feet and off the green last time out. It sounded like the ball hit the cart path when it landed on the green. Frozen to within an inch of the surface. If anything we were getting too much out of every shot because there was nothing to stop it. Just roll and more roll.

If they are that hard and frozen, you might be killing the grass on the green just from walking on it.

[bjwestner]

Originally Posted by rehmwa

and there is the question about having a restricted swing just from wearing extra layers..........

move up a tee box in the very cold months and enjoy the game seems simple too

I made the decision that I am now moving up a tee box.  After thinking about it I see no need to play from the same tees in the winter in the cold that I would in the summer.  I don't care if people think I'm a wuss playing from just over 6k yards versus 6333 yards, it just makes more sense.  I also did not think about the extra layers.  I pile them on 3 or 4 deep and I'm wondering if that also has an effect.....

[saevel25]

This is why if it is uncomfortable for me when i am wearing my underarmor and light jacket, then i wont play golf. I refuse to play golf all bundles up

[dsc123]

Originally Posted by bjwestner

I made the decision that I am now moving up a tee box.  After thinking about it I see no need to play from the same tees in the winter in the cold that I would in the summer.  I don't care if people think I'm a wuss playing from just over 6k yards versus 6333 yards, it just makes more sense.  I also did not think about the extra layers.  I pile them on 3 or 4 deep and I'm wondering if that also has an effect.....

Where do you play?

[bjwestner]

Montgomery Country Club in Laytonsville

[dsc123]

Originally Posted by bjwestner

Montgomery Country Club in Laytonsville

Ah, I played there once last year, nice track.  I usually play Redgate in Rockville, and the Montgomery County courses (Laytonsville, Northwest, Needwood, etc.)

Anyway, other than the the frozen greens making it tough to keep anything on them, we've lucked out with the weather thus far.  Have you tried hitting the 5iron and hoping to get it to roll out?  I find that my distances on the long clubs aren't that far off from normal because the ball runs out more.