how much farther will a golf ball go at 8000ft ellevation

by Scottie Frami IV Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago

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.

How far does a 160-yard golf ball travel?

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. 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 far does a golf ball travel at sea level?

Every 1,000 feet above sea level a golf course sits, a golfer can expect their ball to travel approximately 2 percent farther. For example, if a golf course were a mile above sea level -- hi, Denver -- then you could expect the golf ball to go approximately 10 percent farther than at sea level.

How much does heat affect how far a golf ball travels?

So how much does heat affect how far the golf ball travels? 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.

How much farther does a golf ball go 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 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.

How much does elevation change affect golf 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 much distance does elevation add?

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 do you adjust yardage for 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.

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.

How can you calculate the distance a golf ball travels?

How to Calculate How Far I Hit the Golf BallTake your tee shot as per normal, and then find your ball and stand directly beside it.Turn on the range finder, hold its sight to your eye and aim it directly at the flagstick. ... Subtract the distance to the flagstick from the total yardage of the hole.More items...

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.

Do golf balls travel farther in warm weather?

Now as for the golf ball itself, when its warmer, the rubber materials used to make the balls respond better. So, a warmer ball will come off the clubface with more velocity and spin than a colder ball. Plus, it will carry a bit farther because warm air is less dense.

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.

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 does slope affect a golf shot?

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. The more slope, the more club you should take.

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.

What is the lifting force of a 5,000 ft slice?

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 .

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.

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

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 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 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.

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 far can a golf ball travel above sea level?

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 ...

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 many yards do you lose on a golf drive?

He determined that for golfers who hit their drives about 250 yards (with a ball speed of about 150 mph), they will lose about two yards on their drives for every 10 degree drop in temperature. On the flip side, golfers will gain about two yards on their drives for every 10 degree rise in temperature. The distance increase/decrease will decrease ...

Is golf open in the offseason?

The general rule of thumb in golf courses during the offseason is that if there’ s not snow or frost on the ground, the course is open . The trade off? You’ll probably have to play in some rather frigid temperatures. And that cold weather can have a small but significant effect on your game.

How far can a golf ball travel?

For every 1000 feet (about 300 metres) you travel above sea level, you can expect roughly two yards more carry distance.

How does air pressure affect golf ball flight?

Air pressure can also influence the way in which the ball travels through the air. At sea level, high and low pressure systems will alter air density , in turn affecting the flight of a golf ball, but not by much. Low pressure systems decrease density, increasing carry distance, while high pressure systems do the opposite.

How does humidity affect 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.

What causes a golf ball to be knocked out of the sky?

Temperature. Lower temperatures lead to very dense air, taking the greatest amount of distance off your shots. Your ball flight may look high and towering, but you’ll find the ball being knocked out of the sky during that early winter tee off (even more so if it’s raining).

How high is the WGC?

Currently, the WGC Mexico lays claim to one of the highest altitude golf tournaments in the world, played at the Club de Golf Chapultepec – situated a whopping 7500 feet (almost 2300 metres) above sea level .

When playing an uphill shot, do you need to take more club?

When playing an uphill shot, you need to take more club as the ball will find the earth quicker than if you were playing to a target level with you. As a rough guide, for every 15 feet (5 metres) your target is situated above you, it’s best to take one extra club.

Does air density affect ball flight?

Any phenomenon that increases or decreases air density will have an impact on ball flight, but this might not be as much as you think. As a general rule, increased air density will lead to shots that fly higher, land steeper and carry shorter distances.