Full Answer
Is it difficult to play golf at elevation?
Playing golf at elevation is very difficult because the ball travels farther in the air in elevated climates like Colorado and Utah as opposed to normal elevation areas like the Midwest or East Coast. Also, you encounter uphill and downhill shots on the course, and golfers need to adjust on the fly.
How far does a golf ball travel in elevation?
If on a tee shot, for instance, the ball were to land 20 yards below the tee in elevation, it would travel horizontally 15 yards farther. I've used my golf ball trajectory computer model to calculate the actual distances uphill and downhill shots play for all the various clubs. You can instantly download my report.
How do you calculate elevation change on a golf course?
Subtract one club for every 15 feet of elevation change. For instance, if you have 160 yards down hill to the pin, and you would normally hit a 7-iron, the shot calls for an 8-iron because the ball will travel in the air longer than a shot to a flat green. Add one club for every 15 feet of uphill elevation change.
How far does a 3 degree loft Golf Club go?
Irons have ideally 3 degrees loft between clubs and 3 degrees equates to between 10 to 15 yards on each shot. Standard sets usually start from a 3-iron through to a sand-wedge.
How much further do you hit a golf ball at elevation?
First, figure that for about every 1,700 or 1,800 feet of elevation a ball will travel about 5 percent farther. That means that the ball will typically travel about 10 percent farther at this elevation than at sea level, give or take a few yards.
How much does 1 degree of loft affect distance?
Given that you're at your maximum clubhead speed, just 1-degree change in the loft angle of a golf driver can affect your driving distance by 2-4 yards. As for irons, the difference in distance between 8-iron (37-39 degrees) and 9-iron (41-43 degrees) is usually 10-15 yards.
How much does elevation change affect golf distance?
You can calculate the distance gain you will experience (compared to sea level) by multiplying the elevation (in feet) by . 00116. For example, if you're playing in Reno, at 1 mile elevation (5,280 ft.) the increase is about 6% (5,280 x .
How do you adjust yardage for elevation?
As a general rule, one yard of elevation change (up or down) equals a yard of distance. For example, if you have a shot that measures 100 yards up a hill that rises 10 yards from ball level to hole, those 10 yards must be added to the total – so it's a 110-yard shot.
Does higher loft reduce slice?
Although many slicers want to hit the ball lower, remember the additional loft provides backspin that will reduce the amount a golf ball slices through the air.
What degree is best for a driver?
The ideal driver loft depends on your swing speed and the attack angle. Average players that swing the club less than 95 MPH will likely find that a 10.5-degree driver performs the best. Better players who can control their drives and want the most distance will lean more towards a 9-degree driver.
Why do you need more club hitting uphill?
The number one thing to remember with an uphill lie it to always take more club. The incline in the slope will open the clubface so you're going to add loft to a club and the shot will go higher. If you hit an 8-iron normally, you'll want to usually go up at least one club to a 7-iron.
How much does slope affect golf distance?
Slope is very important for any golfer to consider. After your shot hits its peak, it begins to fall. And as it falls it continues to move forward. Depending on the slope of the land, this could affect the distance of your shot anywhere from 20 to 50 yards.
Do elevated greens play longer?
Playing a shot to an elevated green is basically going to flatten out your effective trajectory. All other things being equal, a shot hit to an elevated green is going to need longer to stop than a shot played to a green which is level with the fairway.
How do I find my golf elevation?
The first thing is to use the 15-feet formula. This formula should be approached as follows: If there is an uphill or a downhill shot of 15 feet of elevation, add or subtract one club. If there is more than 15 feet, add or subtract one club for every 15 feet.
How important is slope in a rangefinder?
Slope. The slope function on a rangefinder helps determine the exact yardage needed for a shot when accounting for the elevation difference from the fairway to the hole. Advanced golfers love having the slope function for shots inside 150 yards due to the precision of the readout.
Does downhill play longer in golf?
1:063:56JUDGING DOWNHILL GOLF SHOTS - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipIt depends on how steep that downhill is but that's a two club difference on a par 3 which is goingMoreIt depends on how steep that downhill is but that's a two club difference on a par 3 which is going to make huge of difference huge amounts of difference.
How many degrees are in a golf club loft?
The lofts can vary between 18 and 20-degrees. Yardages approx 190 to 200. Tip: Most golfers try to hit these clubs too hard, resulting in “gummed” thin shots that run along the ground. Swing the club like a 7-iron and see the difference.
What is loft in golf?
Loft is the angle at which the face of the club “tilts” when the sole is laid flat on the ground. It is the mechanism used to get the golf ball airborne on each shot. Another way to describe loft is it is the player’s “friend”, however, too often golfers use a loft that does not suit their game or their swing.
How high can a fairway loft go?
The range of fairway metals available allows for every skill level to find a club that suits their swing. Lofts as low as 13-degrees are available on the 3-metal and can go as high as 15-degrees. Many players find these lofts a little low due to the tight fairway conditions at their home course.
What is the biggest fault with amateur golfers?
The biggest fault with amateurs is the lack of loft on the driver. Because the pros hit 7 or 8-degree lofts does not mean that the rank amateur can emulate this.
Why do putters use more loft?
More loft should be used to prevent a downward motion during the stroke to enable a smooth roll and avoid a “chopping” action. Hands behind increases the loft. Less loft will ensure an upward stroke and a smooth role. The best putters in world golf today strive to stroke the ball with an upward motion.
What is the difference between a 3-metal and a 5-metal golf club?
A 5-metal is equivalent to a 2-iron but easier to hit . Lofts vary, but an 18 to 19-degree is very popular.
What is hybrid golf?
Hybrids. The introduction of hybrids to golf is und oubtedly one of the most significant technological advancements in the golf industry. Full sets of hybrid clubs are very popular for the social golfer. Hybrids are much easier to hit consistently than long irons.
How to make sure your golf ball doesn't climb too high into the sky?
Use a punch-style shot whenever possible on downhill shots to make sure your ball doesn’t climb too high into the sky. You will find that controlling the distance of the ball and landing the shot on the green will become much easier with this strategy.
How to deal with elevation change?
When you have to deal with elevation change, you will need to adjust your club selection to match with the ‘effective’ distance of the shot, and you will also need to think about your trajectory. New golfers often get tripped up when dealing with uphill or downhill shots, but you will get better and better at this task with experience.
What are the challenges of changing elevation?
Changing elevation is one of the biggest challenges you will face on the golf course. Sure, hazards like big ponds and deep bunkers are daunting, but something as simple as an approach shot played to a green well above the level of the fairway can be just as tough.
What should you do when coming up to a shot which will include elevation change?
The very first thing you should do when coming up to a shot which will include elevation change is to get an accurate yardage. This initial yardage should not be adjusted for the slope at all, just find the yardage to your target.
What are the biggest mistakes made by amateur golfers?
One of the biggest mistakes made by amateur golfers in this situation is lacking confidence once they do swing the club. With your decision made and the club in your hands, there is nothing to do but make the swing to the best of your ability. It does no good to doubt yourself, so let it fly and hope for the best.
Is it safe to play a shot uphill or downhill?
Taking an aggressive approach is not the right way of thinking when playing a shot significantly up or downhill. Rather, you should be playing it safe in these situations, aiming for the center of the green in hopes of a two putt par.
Can you hit a shot downhill?
It is tempting to hit your ball as high as possible when playing a downhill shot. Between the height of the ball flight on its own, and the downhill slope, this kind of shot can hang in the air for an extremely long time – and it looks cool to hit that kind of shot.
How many yards can a driver carry in 70 degree conditions?
So, if your driver carries about 250 yards in 70-degree conditions, according to Rice’s research, the same shot will travel about 254 yards in 90-degree conditions, and 246 yards in 50-degree conditions. Altitude, as you can see above, is the other big factor. With a driver, you get an extra 2.5 yards per 1,000 feet of altitude.
Does humidity affect golf ball carry?
Rice also found that humidity had “almost no effect on carry,” — temperature and carry were the two primary atmospheric conditions (outside of wind, which is a different matter) that effect your golf ball. So, if your driver carries about 250 yards in 70-degree conditions, according to Rice’s research, the same shot will travel about 254 yards in ...
What is the trajectory of a golf ball?
The trajectory of a golf ball is now well understood. It depends on ball velocity, trajectory, and spin as well as on air temperature, humidity and density. Below is a graphic of the trajectory of a golf ball hit with a driver, 5-iron, and 9-iron. Note that in the first part of each trajectory, the path of the ball steepens.
How far does a 6 iron go downhill?
Thus, the effective distance of the 6-iron is 21 yards shorter. If hitting downhill to a green, 20 yards below, the ball lands ont he green at a horizontal distance of about 180 yards. Thus, the effective distance of the ...
Which is steeper, 9 iron or driver?
The 9-iron 's impact is the steepest and the Driver's impact is the least steep. Because of this, a Driver's range is more greatly affected by elevation changes than a 5-iron and the 5-iron's is more greatly affected than the 9-iron's. For every yard of fall, the Driver ball travels farther.
Why is the downhill drive longer?
Even if there was no roll, due to very damp fairways, the downhill drive would be longer. ". It's not always obvious to golfers that when hitting uphill, you need to hit more club and when hitting downhill, you need to hit less club. The question is how much more or less. Of course, it depends on many conditions.
What does elevation change mean in golf?
For most golfers, hitting a shot that involves elevation change boils down to simply guessing at which club to use. Without a plan in mind for dealing with this situations, most players will just grab the club that they feel like may be able to handle the shot, and then they swing away while hoping for the best.
How many yards does elevation change?
As a general rule, one yard of elevation change (up or down) equals a yard of distance. For example, if you have a shot that measures 100 yards up a hill that rises 10 yards from ball level to hole, those 10 yards must be added to the total – so it's a 110-yard shot. In other words, you must trust your yardage, not your eyes, when picking a club.
Why does my right shoulder drop when playing uphill?
When playing uphill, the tendency is to try to lift the ball into the air. This causes the right shoulder to drop, producing fat shots. Focus on making your normal swing and letting the club's loft do the work of sending the ball up the slope. Conversely, it's easy to come up and out of shots when hitting downhill.
How tall is a golf cart?
For example, a golf cart is around six feet tall, so you could use a cart that is up by the green as some kind of indication of how much height you are gaining or losing.
How many irons do you need to play a 150 yard shot?
If this shot is being played over flat ground with no wind, you will simply pull your 150-yard club (maybe a seven iron) and make a confident swing. However, if that shot is significantly downhill, it may only play like a 135-yard shot, meaning you could use an eight or nine iron.
Is golf an easy game?
Golf has never been an easy game, and the challenge of even the most basic shots is a testament to the overall challenge of this sport. Of course, the game gets even harder when elevation change is added in to the equation.
Do you need to swing harder when playing downhill?
If you are playing a downhill shot, for example, you will be holding less club than you are used to using for the distance you are facing, but that doesn't mean that you need to swing harder. You should be making your usual swing, unless you have decided to alter your ball flight by hitting a lower shot, etc.
How to gain distance in golf?
A faster tempo is crucial to gain distance. Sometimes golf players tend to slow down. You will not gain a better distance if you start swinging slower. So, you need to start increasing the tempo of your swing to have a better speed. By speeding up your backswing, you can increase speed in your downswing too.
What is loft in golf?
The loft of a golf club is the angle that the clubface makes with the shaft. Drivers along with 2 and 3 irons have a little loft. Short irons and wedges are designed to have a considerable loft. The higher the loft of your club is, the higher will be the flight path of your golf ball.
How many yards is the difference between golf clubs?
For more golfers, the general difference between their clubs is 10 yards . However, others also get 12 yards as the overall difference.
Why do you need a speed in your clubhead?
Your clubhead needs to have a particular speed so that the ball can be compressed for improving distance. Have some technology that can measure particular parameters. While choosing which golf ball is the best for you, take certain popular brands of balls and get them tested out of the course.
How to cover a golf ball better?
Longer hand arc. The more you take your hands back, the better distance your ball will cover. Remember not to lift your arms further and not to pick your club more than required. You can get this right by making your shoulder and hip turns bigger and lifting your left heel from the ground.
Why is center contact important in golf?
Center contact is essential for golfers. It makes the shot great by optimizing your distance. Most amateurs suffer from two issues. Either they hit the golf ball all over the face of the club, or they end up hitting the same spot that happens to be the wrong area.
How to improve swing speed?
Practicing swinging faster will help you increase your swing speed. The main aim here is to make yourself comfortable while making a faster swing and holding it till a good finish. Swinging out of control is undesirable.
How far can you drive a golf ball at sea level?
If you normally drive the ball 250 yards at sea level, you will likely drive it 265 yards in Reno. The golf ball does not spin any less at high elevation. However, because the air is less dense and imparts less force on the ball, the lift force is also lower.
Why does a golf ball fly at high altitudes?
The golf ball flies further in high altitudes mainly due to the change in air density, which decreases as elevation increases. Thinner air exerts less drag force on the ball. The ball moves more easily through the air and doesn't slow down as quickly as it flies, resulting in greater distance.
What is a hook in golf?
A hook or slice is generated when the ball's spin axis is tilted and the lifting force pulls a little to the left or right (as a result of the golfer imparting some amount of sidespin to the ball) instead of straight up.
What is the effect of the spin of a ball on the trajectory of an airplane?
Thus, at higher elevations the trajectory is less influenced by lift, and thus has a "flatter" shape and a more glancing impact with the ground.
Why is gravity reduced at higher elevations?
The notion of reduced gravity at higher elevations is technically true, because the strength of gravity decreases with increased distance from the center of the Earth. When playing golf in Denver, for example, we are about a mile farther from the center of the Earth than we are when playing in Los Angeles.
How much does gravity decrease on Mount Everest?
However, that results in only a tiny reduction in gravity. Even on the top of Mount Everest the gravity is only reduced by about 1/4 of one percent. There are greater variations (around 1/2 percent) due to factors such as latitude or local variations in the Earth's makeup, and nobody worries about that.
Does elevation affect golf ball aerodynamics?
This means, on short approaches and greenside shots, you don't have to adjust for elevation.
