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how much farther to golf shots to at higher altitudes

by Elenora Becker Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago

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.Jul 23, 2019

Full Answer

How far should you hit a golf ball at high altitude?

Add 10 percent of extra distance for every 5,000-foot increase in altitude. If you normally hit your 7-iron 150 yards at sea level, you should plan for 165 yards in the Rocky Mountains. Add 20 percent if you are playing an extremely high golf course, at 10,000 feet above sea level. Determine how far your ball actually travels.

Do golf shots fly farther at higher altitudes?

If you hit shots with a high trajectory, they will fly farther in high altitudes. If you hit low shots, you won't get as much additional distance as those who hit the ball high. One such golfer, Kenny Perry, subtracts 20 percent to calculate his yardage in altitudes above 3,000 feet.

How far should you hit a 7-iron at high altitude?

Add 10 percent of extra distance for every 5,000-foot increase in altitude. If you normally hit your 7-iron 150 yards at sea level, you should plan for 165 yards in the Rocky Mountains. Add 20 percent if you are playing an extremely high golf course, at 10,000 feet above sea level.

How far does a driver travel in a golf shot?

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.

How much difference does elevation make to golf distances?

approximately 2 percentAltitude, 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 much does elevation change a golf shot?

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. 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.

How much farther does golf ball fly in Denver?

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.

How much elevation makes a difference?

For every thousand feet of elevation increase above 1,000 feet above sea level, VO2 max max dropped by 1.9%. Additionally, time to exhaustion on a constant-speed treadmill run decreased by 4.4% per 1,000 feet of altitude.

How do you compensate 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.

Does the golf ball go further in Arizona?

It usually takes two to three rounds to make these minor adjustments and feel confident about the shot. Because you are at a higher elevation above sea level, combined with the hard fairways and the dry air, the ball travels farther.

Does a wet golf ball go farther?

Typically when the club is wet it produces slightly less spin and slightly higher shot then when the golf ball and golf club are both dry. We see very minimal differences between the club being wet or dry.

Do matte golf balls go further?

Regular Golf Balls Have A Higher Flight Path This is why it is important to use a regular golf ball instead of a matte finish ball when playing on the green. The matte finish ball has a higher flight path and will travel further than a regular golf ball.

How much does slope affect distance in golf?

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.

How does altitude affect a golf ball?

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.

Does the golf ball go further in Arizona?

It usually takes two to three rounds to make these minor adjustments and feel confident about the shot. Because you are at a higher elevation above sea level, combined with the hard fairways and the dry air, the ball travels farther.

How many yards do I need for an elevated green?

Add one club for every 15 feet. On a reverse situation, where you are 150 yards to the pin and would use your 7-iron, but you are hitting to a green that is downhill, you would use your 8-iron, subtracting one club for every 15 feet of elevation.

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.".

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 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.

Can a golf ball travel in cool weather?

Consider the temperature and humidity, notes Langer. The ball won't travel as far in cool weather or humid weather. It will travel farther in warm weather and when the air is dry.

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 ...

How far should you hit a 7 iron in the Rocky Mountains?

Add 10 percent of extra distance for every 5,000-foot increase in altitude. If you normally hit your 7-iron 150 yards at sea level, you should plan for 165 yards in the Rocky Mountains. How to Determine Walking Speed.

Where is golf played in 2011?

With a wide variety of courses around the world, odds are you will play at least one course in your travels that takes you to great altitudes. Colorado is a favorite golf location in the United States, while the rocky terrain of Switzerland has several famous courses overseas.

Does altitude affect golf shots?

Lower shots will be less affected by altitude, while shots that travel higher tend to hang in the altitude for longer periods of time, carrying farther. The Average Golf Loft Degrees. Learn More. Choose your club and note its tendencies.

How high is the elevation of the golf course in Mexico?

Club de Golf Chapultepec — venue for the WGC-Mexico Championship in Mexico City, Mexico — sits at 7,500 feet above sea level. The higher the elevation, the thinner the air.

How many yards does a golfer hit at 9 iron?

What you might find, Labritz explained, is if you're someone who typically hits your 9-iron 150 yards, suddenly that club from that yardage is going to be flying over the green. "Playing well at altitude requires you to commit to a mindset," Labritz said. "Just like a round at sea level, you want to make solid contact.

What does it mean when you play golf near the ocean?

If you are playing golf near the ocean you are obviously playing very close to sea level. That means no elevation. Nowhere on earth will the ball go shorter than it does at sea level. When playing near sea level the air is thick and creates more resistance for your ball to travel through.

Does it matter how high you hit the ball at sea level?

How high or low you hit the ball doesn't matter much when playing at sea level. When playing at elevation, however, trajectory is a massive factor in controlling your distance.

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 ...

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.

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 ...

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