how does temp affect distance?

[mancest]

I have always heard a few anecdotes about how the temperature affects the distance you will hit the ball. like 20 degrees = about 1 club. I have tried something new with my swing and am currently getting out and playing in the low 40s, and would like to try and figure what my distances might translate to playing this summer. Does anybody have any better way to judge or any opinions?

Thanks!

[niblick]

It's not the temperature of the air that matters as much as the temperature of the ball. Cold rubber compresses less than hot, which means less energy transfer.

Pinpointing exactly how much distance is affected is difficult to say the least, but there's no question the temperature makes a difference. I routinely play in sub 40 degree weather, and I'm at least a full club shorter than in the heat of summer, in some cases two. Keeping your balls warm prior to and during the round can mitigate this somewhat.

[mancest]

I have been figuring I am about 1 and a half clubs shorter (a normal 7 I am playing as about strong 6 or easy 5). thanks for the feedback.

[jcrew]

also for a less-scientific reason: if you're wearing more layers, they may inhibit your swing slightly, restricting your body turn; also causing a distance loss.

[Bignose]

There was a good mini-article posted last year right before the very hot and humid PGA Championship: http://www.golfdigest.com/golfworld/...0803pgaweather

The effects weren't as large as most assume, though the article only dealt with the change in ball flight due to the change in the fluid properties of the air. In summary (all based on a driver swung at 109 mph): 5000 feet of elevation (less pressure) = an extra 10 yards. A change in 10 degrees Fahrenheit = a change in the same direction of 1.3 yards (i.e. 10 degrees warmer means 1.3 extra yards and vice versa). And only 1 to 2 yards difference between 100% relative humidity and 0% relative humidity.

The other points in this thread are very valid, as well, though. A colder ball will be less efficient and having to wear more layers will restrict you. Don't discount cooler muscles being more tight instead of loose in the warmer weather, and even the psychology of being cold. Golf is a mental enough game and so if you think how the cold it going to make the ball flight that much shorter, your body will figure out a way to make it happen. Many, many factors and I think that every one of them play a small part and add up to the whole significnat difference that is reported in the anecdotes.

[pom]

There was a good mini-article posted last year right before the very hot and humid PGA Championship:

Living in the tropics I play in hot temperatures & high humidity all the time. I doubt that the changes in temperatures that we get would have much effect on ball flight. However there is no doubt in my mind having played in high humidity a lot of the time that this does affect the balls flight considerably. In fact as much as 1 full club (about 10m ) on really hot & humid days.I factor this difference into my shots & it does work.

[Bignose]

pom, I don't want to say that you are lying, however, your story there is only anecdote. The tests reported in the article were performed in a closed, controlled environment, using a robotic tester. You're going to have to provide a lot stronger evidence than "this is what I do"

Again, like I said above, golf is an awfully mental game, and I don't think that you are counting the placebo effect enough. That is, you have in your mind that high humidity means one full club difference, so your brain makes it happen. But, the controlled experiments don't reflect that.

Unless you think that there was something wrong in the way the test was performed, I'm going to put a little more faith in the objective test than your personal experiences. Just to be clear, this is not a personal affront on you or your opinions, but I am going to side with science and objectivity over anecdote.

[Plank]

The temp does affect the distance of the ball. Living in Wisconsin in the sping I expect at least 10 yards less. May-August is normal distance than after that it is back to at least 10 yards less.

[lamebums]

I have always heard a few anecdotes about how the temperature affects the distance you will hit the ball. like 20 degrees = about 1 club. I have tried something new with my swing and am currently getting out and playing in the low 40s, and would like to try and figure what my distances might translate to playing this summer. Does anybody have any better way to judge or any opinions?

Air at 20 degrees is roughly 13 percent denser than air at 85 degrees, so adjust accordingly.

°C kg/m³ −10 1.342 −5 1.317 0 1.292 +5 1.269 +10 1.247 +15 1.225 +20 1.204 +25 1.184 +30 1.165 (This applies to gas mileage, as well...)

[mikelz]

I have always heard a few anecdotes about how the temperature affects the distance you will hit the ball. like 20 degrees = about 1 club. I have tried something new with my swing and am currently getting out and playing in the low 40s, and would like to try and figure what my distances might translate to playing this summer. Does anybody have any better way to judge or any opinions?

Most of the guys I play with really struggle with distance in cold temps. They all keep their equipment in the garage or the vehicle. I keep my bag in the house. Air density notwithstanding, a 70 degree ball will fly a lot further than a 40 degree ball. Oh, hand warmers warm more than hands. I place a premium on ball temperature over air temperature.

[Bignose]

Air at 20 degrees is roughly 13 percent denser than air at 85 degrees, so adjust accordingly.

Density isn't the only factor that affects drag, though, and density doesn't affect drag in a linear matter, so 13% isn't very meaningful.

The drag term's general form looks like: FD = (rho*CD/r)*(Vair-Vball)^2 FD = drag force rho = density CD = drag coefficient r = radius of ball Vair = velocity of the air Vball = velocity of the ball But, the drag coefficient is also a function of the density. A correlation that is pretty good over a wide range of value is (there are others. Also, this is for a smooth sphere, not a dimpled one like a golf ball, but the idea is the same): CD= 0.28 + 6.0/sqrt(Rep) + 21.0/Rep Rep is the particle Reynolds number Rep = rho*|Vair-Vball|*(2*r)/mu mu is the viscosity of the air, which is also a function of the temperature. So, density shows up in quite a few different places and the change in viscosity does too, so just knowing that the air is 13% denser at a colder temperature doesn't mean a while lot, really.

[jrm1493]

Just got back from the range, which faces due east. Current winds are 090 at 14 gusting to 22 (knots). Also the temp is about 50°. I was a good 2-3 full clubs shorter than normal because of the wind an temperature. One of the target greens that I normally hit 5-iron into I was rolling a 3-hybrid on, and landing 3-wood on and rolling over. I could only carry that green with driver, and not by much! For the green where I normally practice partial pitching wedges, I was hitting full 9-iron into. All said, I did hit the ball well (just really short). Man, this sure is a technical game!

I also found that my 5-iron and 5-hybrid went about the same distance today, because the hybrid goes higher it just got knocked down in the wind. Usually the 5-hybrid is about 5-10 yards past the 5-iron (same loft). Off topic but does anyone else carry an iron and hybrid of the same loft? My hybrid is a 1/2 inch or so longer and has a graphite shaft and I bought it on closeout for $50 to bridge the 15-20 yard gap I had between my 4-hybrid and 5-iron, and on a calm day it works pretty well for that purpose. Obviously not today...

[mikelz]

Density isn't the only factor that affects drag, though, and density doesn't affect drag in a linear matter, so 13% isn't very meaningful.

I have no idea which calculations are right. Where did we get these physicists? I'm impressed.

[mancest]

I had no idea I would start a physics battle, you guys could tell me that because E=MC2 then I should be hitting the ball farthur in cold weather and I would have no argument for you.

really appreciate all the feedback!

[neudi]

I don't have a huge difference in distance when it is cold out, but that might be because I keep my golf balls warm.

[michaeljames92]

has anyone thought that hot summer and less watered fairways harden and cause you to get more roll?

[mikelz]

has anyone thought that hot summer and less watered fairways harden and cause you to get more roll?

Sure I've noticed it and I think it's called "the course is playing fast".

[osean79]

I actually find all my shots way longer during the winter.
I've been out playing when it's 30-40 degrees outside in NYC right now and the frozen ground just keeps my ball rolling forever. LOL. It's quite fun seeing your ball roll and roll and roll and bounce and roll some more... Not to mention all my approach shots that land on the green bounces up like it hit a cart path and goes 15yds past the green! Can only do low punch type bump and run approach shots just to stay on the green =P.
As for the flight distances, I seem to be hitting the irons 1 club shorter in 30-40 degree temps. But the roll adds about 15-20 yds... so... grabbing a club shorter is working right now. The cold weather, and 4-5 layers I'm wearing might be restricting my swing though... =)