how does humidity affect golf ball

by Eula Kreiger MD Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago

When the air is humid, it is dense and causes the ball to travel further. In contrast, when the air is dry, it is less dense and results in the ball traveling shorter distances. As a golfer, you need to be aware of how humidity levels can affect your game.

The higher the humidity, the longer the ball flies. You can feel humid air more, but water weighs less than the nitrogen and oxygen molecules that make up dry air. So, you're hitting into thinner air, which means the ball goes farther as though a golfer were playing at a higher altitude.Feb 21, 2020

Full Answer

Does humidity affect how far a golf ball travel?

Apr 30, 2021 · Humidity has minimal effect on your golf ball during flight. While humidity can decrease air density, which allows the ball to travel farther, the overall impact is negligible. Raising humidity from 10 percent to 90 percent will increase distance by …

How does weather affect your golf balls?

Humidity and its effects on the golf ball Often an overlooked subject, humidity can have a dramatic impact on how well you play golf. When the air is humid, it is dense and causes the ball to travel further. In contrast, when the air is dry, it is less dense and results in the ball traveling shorter distances.

How does air density affect golf balls?

Feb 21, 2020 · Humidity has a significant effect on golf ball distance, too. The higher the humidity, the longer the ball flies. You can feel humid air more, but water weighs less than the nitrogen and oxygen...

How does altitude affect golf ball distance?

Aug 15, 2016 · Let’s take a look at how each of them will affect how far your golf ball is flying. Humidity. The conventional wisdom is that if it’s extremely humid the ball will not fly as far because the air feels heavier. Just last week I heard a broadcaster on TV talking about this during a tournament when a player’s ball landed short of the green.

Do golf balls go farther in humid weather?

A golf ball goes a bit farther when it's humid. “Air that is hot or humid is actually lighter than air that is cold or dry or both,” according to Steve Aoyama, a scientist at Titleist, in a story published by the PGA's website. “Heat reduces the air's density by causing it to expand.Jun 15, 2020

What does humidity do to a golf ball?

Humidity has minimal effect on your golf ball during flight. While humidity can decrease air density, which allows the ball to travel farther, the overall impact is negligible. Raising humidity from 10 percent to 90 percent will increase distance by barely one yard with both driver and 6-iron.Apr 30, 2021

Do wet golf balls make a difference?

There's a good reason for it. Put simply: When both the club and ball are dry, there's more friction on the clubface. The grooves on the clubface grab the golf ball more and impart more backspin. When the clubface is more wet, there's less friction, so the ball slides up the clubface.Apr 2, 2020

Does temperature affect golf balls?

To begin with, cold air can affect the performance of a golf ball. Cold air is denser than warm air and creates additional drag on a ball. According to Trackman, the difference is approximately one yard of carry for every 10-degree change in temperature.Nov 13, 2018

How do I keep my golf balls warm?

The tips section of Golfsmith's website offers advice on how to keep golf balls warm, including putting a towel in the bottom of a pot of two quarts of water, bringing the water to 120 degrees Fahrenheit (about the temp of really hot tap water), leave them in there for 30 minutes and then dry them and place them in an ...Feb 26, 2013

How do I make my golf ball fly farther?

5 Quick Tips to Hit the Ball Farther

Watch Your Grip. First, try adjusting your left hand (for righties) a bit inward so that your knuckles are facing your target. ...
Move Your Hips. Get your hips involved! ...
Shift Your Weight. Transferring your weight is also very important. ...
Keep that Lead Arm Straight. ...
Turn Your Hands Over.

Jan 13, 2014

Does it hurt a golf ball to sit in water?

But if golf balls sit in the water for longer periods of time, permanent damage will be the result. While invisible from the outside, this damage will clearly affect the driving distance off of the tee. The further result is significant damage to the golf ball's core, which is designed to be ball's energy source.

Does rain affect your golf shot?

Oftentimes, rain is an indicator of lower temperatures, and cold air can negatively impact the distance of your golf shots. When air cools, the molecules move closer together, creating a thick invisible 'muck' for your ball to traverse. This results in a slight lowering of distance.Nov 10, 2021

How does mud affect a golf ball?

Mud on a ball can have a significant effect on trajectory, distance and in-flight curvature—as we've seen with a couple of players hitting errant shots and immediately blaming the mud on their balls.Nov 14, 2020

Do golf balls lose distance with use?

Its results confirmed that in the absence of visible damage, repeated use had no effect on a ball's performance. However, it also found that even small scuffs led to a measurable loss in distance, reducing driver distance as much as 6 yards.

How much does cold air affect a golf ball?

According to Titleist research, a golfer will experience an approximately 1.5 percent drop in distance for every 20 degree drop in temperature. If you carry your driver 250 yards, that 1.5 percent drop equates to 3.75 yards.Dec 1, 2021

What affects golf ball distance?

A golf ball will travel less distance in colder temperatures for two reasons. First, when the golf ball and golf club are colder, the transfer of energy is not as efficient, so the ball speed will be less. Second, colder air is more dense than warm air, so there is more friction and drag.Sep 3, 2020

Why does my golf ball fly farther?

You can feel humid air more, but water weighs less than the nitrogen and oxygen molecules that make up dry air. So, you're hitting into thinner air, which means the ball goes farther as though a golfer were playing at a higher altitude.

How far can a golf ball travel above sea level?

Altitude, or elevation, and wind have the greatest and most apparent effect on golf ball distance. Every 1,000 feet above sea level a golf course sits, a golfer can expect their ball to travel approximately 2 percent farther.

How far does a golf ball fly?

According to the folks at TrackMan, for every 10 degrees of increase in temperature, the golf ball flies approximately 1.33 to 1.66 yards farther, depending on the club being used. This is because the temperature changes air density, which is ultimately the factor determining how well the golf ball can fly through the air with minimal drag ...

Do weather factors have more effect than a whole club?

All told, these kinds of common weather factors will never have more effect than a whole club.

Does the golf ball fly farther in the summer?

However, the effect heat has on the distance the golf ball travels isn't as much as most golfers, including many professionals, think. If playback doesn 't begin shortly, try ...

What is the biggest impact on golf ball flight?

Wind and altitude have a much larger impact on your ball flight, and for most golfers wind is really the culprit. The other culprit is honesty. Most golfers aren’t realistic with their distances. Let’s face it, most of us are overstating how far we hit the ball.

Why won't my golf ball fly far?

The conventional wisdom is that if it’s extremely humid the ball will not fly as far because the air feels heavier. Just last week I heard a broadcaster on TV talking about this during a tournament when a player’s ball landed short of the green.

How far can you see in a golf game?

You’re not likely to see anything more than 2-3 yards at most.

How much does a 40 degree temperature affect a 6-iron?

Going from 40 to 100 degrees will increase a 6-iron carry by 8 yards and a driver by 9 yards.

What are the factors that affect air density?

The key factors for air density are humidity, air pressure, and temperature.

Do you need to keep your head down to hit a golf shot?

There’s a lot of misinformation out there amongst golfers. For example, you don’t need to keep your head down in order to hit a great golf shot, despite what your friend keeps telling you at the range.

Do golfers have excuses?

All of us golfers are full of excuses.

Where does the golf ball travel the furthest?

So ideally, if you were looking to play in conditions where your golf ball will travel the furthest, high on a mountain in high humidity would be perfect. Or on the moon.

Does golf affect humidity?

Physics of Golf: The Effect of Humidity. Everyone knows that playing golf at a high altitude will make your golf ball travel further as the air is less dense.

How does cold weather affect golf ball travel?

When the temperature decreases by 20°F you can expect a 1 – 2 yard decrease in distance for every 100 yards in a shot. Other factors like wind, rain and snow will affect the distance a golf ball travels more than temperature.

Why does my golf ball curve?

Mud causes friction and added weight which results in the ball travelling less yards. Not known by your everyday golfer, mud stuck on golf balls will cause the ball to curve. A small amount of mud will cause the ball to curve in the opposite direction. Things are different when a ball has a larger piece of mud.

What factors affect the distance a golf ball travels?

Other factors like wind, rain and snow will affect the distance a golf ball travels more than temperature. However, advanced players will take into account the amount of humidity in the air, and how cold conditions are.

Why does a cold golf ball drag?

This is because the temperature of cold air is denser than warm air. When a cold club comes into contact with a cold golf ball, drag will be experienced. The cooler energy affects the distance and speed when a golf ball is hit.

Why do golf balls travel shorter distances?

Both cold and warm golf balls will travel shorter distances than normal. This is because materials in the golf ball change properties. This temperature change results in reduced shot velocity, especially during the initial lift off of a golf shot. Keep in mind there is a caveat here.

What to do if you see mud on your golf ball?

For example if you see mud on your ball, or water trapped on your club face, adjust your shots. This will no doubt result in a better shot and is far more practical.

Why does a ball curve in the opposite direction?

A small amount of mud will cause the ball to curve in the opposite direction. Things are different when a ball has a larger piece of mud. In the latter case, the ball will curve in the same direction the mud is placed.

How fast does a golf ball go in a headwind?

Even more fascinating are our findings on shots hit into a headwind and or with a tailwind—and it’s not just Mother Nature playing games. We found that golfers tend to subconsciously adapt in breezy conditions, swinging up to 2 mph slower when facing a headwind compared to when it’s gusting against their backs. For Tour players, a drive that carries 300 yards in calm conditions will carry 259 yards when hit into a direct 20 mph headwind, and with a 20 mph tailwind the ball carries 333 yards. That’s a 74-yard swing! Atmospheric conditions are real, and while most recreational golfers are mostly concerned with putting a good swing on the ball, that good swing may lead to trouble if you don’t consider the conditions around you.

Is golf an outdoor game?

Golf is an outdoor game. It’s played in the elements. Courses are situated at both altitude and at sea level. These facts beg the question: How do these atmospheric conditions affect ball flight? Parts of the answer are intuitive. Others, as I’ve recently found while taking part in a year-long (and ongoing) study with Trackman, are sublime. My role in this research? Taking the Trackman system to as many different courses and climes as possible and recording swings under a massive variety of playing conditions.