If the hitting position and green are at the same elevation, the ball lands at about 162 yards. If hitting uphill to a green elevated by 20 yards, the ball lands on the green at a horizontal distance of about 141 yards. Thus, the effective distance of the 6-iron is 21 yards shorter.
How does altitude affect a golf ball?
Because the air is less dense at higher altitudes and imparts less force on the golf ball, the ball won't slice or hook as much. It will be harder to shape shots. The shorter the shot and the slower a ball moves through the air, the altitude will have a lesser effect on golf ball aerodynamics.
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.
Is it easier to hit the ball straight at high elevation?
At 5,000 ft elevation, the air density is about 14% lower than at sea level, so the lifting force is also about 14% less and the hook or slice will curve about 14% less. It's easier to hit the ball straight, but it's harder to intentionally curve it.
How far should you hit a golf ball?
Choose the club you would normally hit from 144 yards away. Consider the temperature and humidity, notes Langer. The ball won't travel as far in cool weather or humid weather.
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 does uphill affect golf ball distance?
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.
How do you adjust yardage for elevation in golf?
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 much yardage do you take off for a downhill golf shot?
According to "Golf Digest," the ball can fly up to 40 percent farther in the thin air of these environments. Every course is different, so experiment to find the ideal yardages. Subtract one club for every 10 feet of downhill elevation change in these thin air climates.
How much distance does elevation add?
With a driver, you get an extra 2.5 yards per 1,000 feet of altitude.
How much difference does elevation make in golf?
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.
Do golf balls go farther in high altitude?
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 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.
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 a 20 mph wind affect a golf shot?
Calculating distance in the wind - Downwind 100-yard shot with a 10mph tailwind = 95 yards. 200-yard shot with a 10mph tailwind = 190 yards. 100-yard shot with a 20mph tailwind = 90 yards. 200-yard shot with a 20mph tailwind = 180 yards.
Does a golf ball go further in Colorado?
Most PGA Tour players say that the ball flies about 10 percent farther in Denver than at sea level, so up here in the mountains, I say about 15 percent longer than at sea level. So, your 150-yard club at sea level may go 165 up here, or from Denver, your 150 club may go 157.
What is the best way to carry a golf ball at high altitude?
When driving at a high altitude, you need to launch the ball higher to increase carry. You’ll also want to use a hybrid club instead of an iron club. Hybrid clubs are designed to naturally launch the ball higher, which increases ball carry.
How many yards does a golfer gain per drive?
For every 10 degree rise in temperature, the average golfer will gain around two yards per drive. However, the carry of the golf ball will also be impacted based on the type of club you’re using. The shorter the club, the less gain or loss you’ll experience on every drive.
What Is Altitude?
Altitude is the height of an object in relation to sea or ground level. The higher the altitude, the colder the air will be. So, how do altitude and air temperature impact the game of golf? The carry of the golf ball, which is how long the ball remains in the air after being hit with the club, relies on a mix of physics and weather.
How much does the carry change on a golf ball?
As you can see courtesy of the chart above, the carry change increases by about half a yard between your pitching wedge and driver, capping out at about two yards per 10 degrees of temperature. 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.
How much spin does a driver get at sea level?
But that’s not all. The “optimal spin rate” with a driver, Rice explains, increases from 2,250 RPMs at sea level to about 3,000 RPMs at 10,000 feet. Why? Because the air is less dense at increased altitude, so the importance of hang time increases.
How far can a shot go 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.
What happens when the ball warms up?
As the ball warms, the substances which make up the golf ball become easier to compress. Unless it is 250 degrees fahrenheit playing golf in the Amazon (in which case, the ball may begin melting), warmer temperatures will produce longer flights.
Why does the ball fly farther?
Bernhard Langer has said also, elements such as temperature, humidity and air conditions can have implications on the flight of the ball. With temperatures, the warmer it is, the farther the ball will fly. Why is this? Compression. As the ball warms, the substances which make up the golf ball become easier to compress. Unless it is 250 degrees fahrenheit playing golf in the Amazon (in which case, the ball may begin melting), warmer temperatures will produce longer flights.
How many yards did Rory hit a 3 wood?
Rory on the altitude at Cherry Hills: “Well, I hit a 3-wood 370 yards today.” #FedExCup pic.twitter.com/uXlI5kNtOi
Do pilots need more runway?
Pilots use this type of information regarding humidity for landings. If the dew point rises, pilots need to equate more altitude to their landings, thus needing more runway. It rings true in golf too.
Does humidity affect baseball?
This is true with humidity as well– only to a smaller margin. [Inexact] science states that higher humidity readings will lead to longer ball flight. People around baseball say, “baseballs start flying during the steamy days of summer…” …or something like that. Baseball players– do people say that?
Why does the ball fly farther at high altitudes?
The ball flies farther at high altitudes: The air is less dense, so there is less friction to slow the orb's forward motion.
How much to deduct for golf shots at high altitude?
Although the general rule is to deduct 10 percent to determine the "true" distance for shots to the green at high altitude, it's not a rule you can bank on. As "Golf Digest" put it, the 10 percent rule, even for the professionals, is "more of a ballpark figure than an exact science.".
How far does a 160 yard shot go?
Your 160-yard shot to the middle of the green will travel roughly 16 yards farther because of the thin air. Choose the club you would normally hit from 144 yards away.
How many yards does Kenny Perry hit at sea level?
If he has 200 yards to the pin, he selects a club he normally hits160 yards at sea level.
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.
What is the most important factor in hitting it long?
The most important factor in hitting it long is increasing your swing speed.
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.
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.
Can you apply probability golf to the course?
You can apply Probable Golf to the course with success right away, unlike swing changes.
Can you provide yardages for each club in your bag?
You can provide me with yardages for each club in your bag. I'll input your values into a program I have written, and send you a template which will outline how different speed winds will change the real yardages for each club.
How far can a golf ball fly in thin air?
According to "Golf Digest," the ball can fly up to 40 percent farther in the thin air of these environments. Every course is different, so experiment to find the ideal yardages. Subtract one club for every 10 feet of downhill elevation change in these thin air climates. The air provides less resistance, and the ball will generally travel farther ...
Why is golf so difficult?
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.
What happens when you hit a downhill shot?
With downhill shots, the ball will be in the air longer, and therefore more susceptible to the effects of the wind. You should choose more club accordingly. On uphill shots, the wind will have slightly less effect.
How to measure the distance to the flag?
Measure the distance to the flag using a rangefinder. Alternatives to this are to use a golf GPS, or to employ your yardage book and calculate the exact distance to the hole.
Where to base your judgments on a golf course?
Make sure you base your judgments off exact numbers to the center of the green and to the pin. Nothing throws off distance adjustments like obtaining the wrong yardages.
Why do you need an 8 iron in golf?
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.
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.
How many combinations of wind and elevation change?
There are really four combinations of wind and elevation change that you will need to learn how to deal with if you are going to come up with the right distance for your shots time after time. You will have to handle into the wind shots both uphill and downhill, along with downwind shots that are going uphill and downhill. The effect on the ball and your trajectory will be different for each of these circumstances, so it is important that you have a clean plan for all four.
What is the easiest shot in golf?
Uphill and into the wind. Of all four, this might actually be the easiest shot in the group. Since you are going into the wind, the ball will want to stop faster on the green, which will help when dealing with an uphill shot. As long as you are able to carry the ball far enough to land on the green, it should put on the brakes pretty quickly after coming down. Get the club selection right and make a good swing to conquer this type of shot.
How many irons do you need for a par 4?
For example, imagine that you have 150 yards to the middle of the green for your approach shot on a par four. 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. On the other hand, an uphill shot from 150 may play like 170, meaning you will need a six or even five iron to cover the distance. All of these shots are technically played from the same distance from the green, but they can require wildly different club selections depending on the topography of the course.
How to find yardage on a par 3?
Normally, getting a yardage is one of the easier parts of the game. You can use a handheld laser rangefinder or GPS device, you can look for a sprinkler head with a yardage marked on it, or you can even look on the scorecard in the case of a par three. Good golf courses are well marked to help you know exactly how far you are from the green on any given shot. Unfortunately, when you start to deal with elevation change, you are going to have to adjust the yardage you find to accurately reflect the kind of shot you will need to hit.
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 fast does a golf ball hit?
A normal drive will typically land at around 65-70 mph, but some of these shots were landing at nearly 100 mph. Because the downwind was reducing the amount of drag the golf ball was experiencing, the ball was hitting the ground faster and at a flatter angle.
How does wind affect golf ball bounce?
A great example of how wind affects bounce and roll was seen at the World Long Drive Championship a few years ago. The wind was blowing from behind the players and they were hitting drives that were going 450 yards or more. Yes, they were seeing more carry due to the wind, but they were also seeing a lot of bounce and roll. When I looked at the data, I noticed that not only was the landing angle of the ball shallower, but the landing speed of the ball was significantly higher. A normal drive will typically land at around 65-70 mph, but some of these shots were landing at nearly 100 mph. Because the downwind was reducing the amount of drag the golf ball was experiencing, the ball was hitting the ground faster and at a flatter angle.
Does wind affect shot?
Since there isn’t a hard rule for how wind affects all shots, I would encourage you to find a certified TrackMan professional and play around on a windy day. He or she will be able to use the normalization feature in TrackMan to show you how far the ball would have carried under calm conditions, as well as show you real-time data of what the ball did in the conditions that day.
Do you need a trackman to play golf?
The good news is that you don’t need to play with a professional golfer to fully understand the effects of wind on the golf ball. Chances are that there’s a Trackman somewhere near you, and it measures the entire ball flight to help golfers understand what wind does to their shots.
