CorporateGolfXtra 2024
+ Reply to Thread
Results 1 to 17 of 17
  1. #1
    Lob Wedge Leprechaun is on a distinguished road
    Join Date
    Nov 2003
    Posts
    10

    Question Cold weather distance

    I went to the 19th Tee today and hit a bucket. Much to my dismay, in spite of the fact that I felt I was hitting well, I was consistently short 20-30 yards with every club! I thought it was just me but I talked to a few other die hards at the range and they all reported the same thing.

    Why?

  2. #2
    Big_duck
    Guest
    Quote Originally Posted by Leprechaun
    I went to the 19th Tee today and hit a bucket. Much to my dismay, in spite of the fact that I felt I was hitting well, I was consistently short 20-30 yards with every club! I thought it was just me but I talked to a few other die hards at the range and they all reported the same thing.

    Why?
    Cold balls don't compress as well as warm balls.

  3. #3
    Founder Kilroy is on a distinguished road Kilroy's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2001
    Location
    Ottawa
    Posts
    22,281
    What about "shrinkage"?

  4. #4
    Lob Wedge Leprechaun is on a distinguished road
    Join Date
    Nov 2003
    Posts
    10

    shrinkage

    Quote Originally Posted by Dan Kilbank
    What about "shrinkage"?
    One of my favourite Seinfeld episodes!

    So is a loss of 20-30 yards due to shrinkage normal?

  5. #5
    Way Beyond Help Colby is on a distinguished road Colby's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2002
    Location
    Ottawa (Orleans really)
    Posts
    3,770
    If I remember correctly, range balls tend to be harder than normal balls (higher compression) so that they last longer. When they get cold, they won't go as far due to the fact that they don't compress as much as they do when warm (mentioned above). Some range balls are also limited flight, so your milage may vary.

    I've been playing a low compression ball outside for the last couple of weeks and although there's been some loss in distance, the bounces off of the frozen tundra seems to make up for it, lol
    It could be that the purpose of your life is only to serve as a warning to others.
    Colby

  6. #6
    Hall of Fame mpare is on a distinguished road mpare's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2001
    Location
    Newmarket, Ontario
    Posts
    5,113
    Be thankful that the golf ball technology has improved. The original Strata balls used to literally crack open when struck in very cold (near 32 degrees F) weather. When that happened we invoked the unofficial but understandable "do over" rule. This is my nephew's term for a mulligan.

    Any man who has swum in the North Atlantic will intuitively understand why a golf ball has no get up and go in cold weather!

  7. #7
    Lob Wedge Leprechaun is on a distinguished road
    Join Date
    Nov 2003
    Posts
    10
    So 20-30 yards less distance per club is to be expected?

  8. #8
    Big_duck
    Guest
    Quote Originally Posted by Dan Kilbank
    What about "shrinkage"?
    And here I was "Biting my toungue" when I answered so I wouldn't get bounced.

  9. #9
    Way Beyond Help Colby is on a distinguished road Colby's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2002
    Location
    Ottawa (Orleans really)
    Posts
    3,770
    Quote Originally Posted by Leprechaun
    So 20-30 yards less distance per club is to be expected?
    Maybe. It depends on the make up of the ball. A limited flight high compression ball will go almost nowhere. A high compression regular ball will go less than a low compression ball in colder weather. That's why you play 80 compression balls this time of year.

    Will it go 20-30 yards less? Could be, hard to say. You mioght want to ask at the 19th tee what they usually see. I never trust the flight or distance of range balls, just how my swing looks/feels.
    It could be that the purpose of your life is only to serve as a warning to others.
    Colby

  10. #10
    Hall of Fame NoBack is on a distinguished road NoBack's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2001
    Location
    Nepean
    Posts
    4,136

    Talking the answer is yes

    Yes that's right it will be anywhere from 10-30 yrds shorter in the cold. Colby is just adding some more facts about range balls. They do have different balls for ranges and they are "shorter" as well. The ball you use on the course will go further than the range but still will go less in the cold.

    Was out at Falcon Ridge today with a Top Flight ball and it was fine for this time of year. Had to hit more club than in the summer with ProV1's, but hey ........... we're still playing!!
    I've spent most of my life golfing .... the rest I've just wasted"
    www.nationalcapitalgolftour.com

  11. #11
    Lob Wedge Leprechaun is on a distinguished road
    Join Date
    Nov 2003
    Posts
    10
    Since most of the balls in the bucket looked to be well used I'm not so worried!

    Heading to Orlando next week, looking forward to nice warm balls!

  12. #12
    Birdie Slammin' Stever is on a distinguished road Slammin' Stever's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2002
    Location
    Ottawa
    Posts
    336

    Thumbs down Lost of distance this time of year.

    Leprechaun,

    Originally Posted by Leprechaun
    I went to the 19th Tee today and hit a bucket. Much to my dismay, in spite of the fact that I felt I was hitting well, I was consistently short 20-30 yards with every club! I thought it was just me but I talked to a few other die hards at the range and they all reported the same thing.

    Why?

    The 4 main reasons why you loose distnce this time of year.

    #1. Any ball looses it's ability to compress in cold weather. These balls sit around on the ground or outside all the time so there cold. Range balls are usually 100+ compression which are like rocks to most golfers anyway. So if it feels like a rock coming off the club face it probably is!

    #2. Range balls are usually made up of both this years and last years balls. You can tell either by the lines - two lines verses three etc.- or color.
    Last years balls have amost zero compression and they crack. This years supply has been beat up to pulp and is ready to give up the ghost for next year.

    #3. the third reason which not too many golfers stop to think about. That is the COR or trampoline effect on the face of your club. It becomes less also. The resilience of the club face is reduced by the cold. I have seen over the years a greater increase in number of Titanium faces breaking by those who want to get an early start in the season hitting balls in the early spring and late fall. The combination of hard golf balls and cold club faces takes it's toll. Both on your distance and equipment.

    #4. the fourth reason has to do with the hot summer before the late cold fall. Read the article below from

    http://www.golftoppoint.com/ezine.asp#core

    for the fourth reason.

    final note: The typical shelf life for a modern golf ball is three to five years, says Calabria. Heat is the enemy of any golf ball; to help them maintain velocity and compression, store them at room temperature and in relatively low humidity. Exposing golf balls to high temperature –like that of your car trunk on a hot day—will degrade their performance in many areas, including distance. All in all, teeing up a new ball at the start of your round is a small price to pay to ensure the greatest possible accuracy and distance.

    So range ball spend alot of time in the heat of summer lying on the range.

    Hope this helps.

    Stever

  13. #13
    Founder Kilroy is on a distinguished road Kilroy's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2001
    Location
    Ottawa
    Posts
    22,281
    Quote Originally Posted by Big_duck
    And here I was "Biting my toungue" when I answered so I wouldn't get bounced.
    Just keep it from going over the top. :blush

  14. #14
    9 Iron Christian is on a distinguished road
    Join Date
    Nov 2001
    Posts
    53

    Talking

    I vaguely remember reading in a physics text a few years ago that the optimum temperature for the launching of a golf ball with a driver was somewhere around 80oF (can't remember the exact temp) and that for every oF below the optimum, you could expect a decrease of 1 yard in distance.

    As an example, if you normally hit it 250 yards with your driver in 80oF weather, you should reasonably expect to hit it around 200 in 32oF (0 Celcius) a decrease of 20 percent in overall distance.

    This same ratio would apply to all clubs but would get less "obvious" with more lofted clubs as their relative distance is less.

    Of course, other factors, such as humidity and wind will have a significant impact on distance. Simply keep this in mind and use more club

  15. #15
    King Hawk Sphere Hunter is on a distinguished road Sphere Hunter's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2003
    Posts
    323
    Christian,

    Under this theory, how far should a 7 iron fly in 5 degrees C when the player normally flies it around 174 yards in 80 degree conditions.
    I ask because I recently saw someone hit a 7 iron about 200 yards in 5 or less degree weather without a helping wind.
    Is it possible that the theory is flawed or was this golfer just swinger "out of control"?
    Just curious.

  16. #16
    Lob Wedge Leprechaun is on a distinguished road
    Join Date
    Nov 2003
    Posts
    10
    How the heck anyone can hit a 7 iron 200 yards in any weather condition is completely beyond me.

  17. #17
    3 Wood Rough Stuff is on a distinguished road
    Join Date
    Jun 2003
    Posts
    207
    I've been hitting buckets for 17 years (cold and warm)...I've never seen distance INCREASE in cold weather (except the roll)...

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

     

Similar Threads

  1. Crazy Weather....Crazier Weather Forecasters
    By Hacker in forum Almost Anything
    Replies: 10
    Last Post: 06-02-2009, 12:12 PM
  2. Cold Weather Golf Balls
    By Del Delaplante in forum Other Equipment
    Replies: 11
    Last Post: 11-16-2006, 05:26 PM
  3. Rain Gear and cold weather wear
    By Txxxxxxx in forum Golf Clubs
    Replies: 10
    Last Post: 09-15-2006, 10:02 PM
  4. Replies: 0
    Last Post: 02-17-2003, 04:11 PM
  5. Cold Weather Balls
    By Chris in forum Other Equipment
    Replies: 15
    Last Post: 12-31-2002, 01:02 PM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts