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.
Why does the golf ball fly farther at high altitudes?
Feb 20, 2020 · The golf ball simply goes farther as elevation increases. How much farther does the golf ball fly at this course? Some estimates suggest …
How far does a golf ball travel at sea level?
Feb 21, 2020 · 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 -- …
How much does temperature affect the distance of a golf ball?
Apr 30, 2021 · Altitude, otherwise known as elevation, can have a drastic and observable effect on the distance a golf ball will travel through the air. For every 1000 feet (about 300 metres) you travel above sea level, you can expect roughly two yards more carry distance.
Do golf balls go farther in high altitude?
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.Feb 19, 2019
How do you adjust yardage for altitude?
Subtract 10 percent to account for high altitude, says "Golf Digest." 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 much further 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.Aug 1, 2014
How much further does golf ball fly at 8000 feet?
At nearly 8,000 feet above sea level, players estimate they fly the golf ball about 15 percent farther in Mexico.Feb 19, 2019
Does Denver have high altitude?
Denver is situated at a high altitude of 5,280 feet (one mile high) above sea level. Visitors from lower elevations often underestimate the effects of altitude on their health and physical abilities.
Does slope affect golf ball distance?
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. For example- let's say you are 150 yards to the pin and you would use your 7-iron.Aug 8, 2018
Why does the ball fly in Colorado?
The precise reasons for this increase are surprisingly complicated. Atmospheric pressure and density at Coors Field are, on average, about 20% less than a park at sea level. This reduces the resulting "form drag," often called air resistance, on a hit baseball, allowing it to travel farther.Jul 7, 2021
How much less does a golf ball travel at sea level?
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
How far will my golf ball go in Colorado?
If you normally drive the ball 250 yards at sea level — say Los Angeles — you will likely drive it 265 yards in Denver. In Summit County where the elevation is around 9,500 feet the equation would be: 9,600 x . 00116 = 11.136. That means your ball would fly 11 percent further than it would at sea level.May 7, 2019
Do matte golf balls go further?
Some golfers believe that matte finish golf balls spin fast in dry conditions but decrease their spinning capacity in wet conditions. However, the correct answer to whether matte golf balls spin more is that they do not.May 22, 2021
Do golf balls fly farther in hot 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. Golf ball selection also plays a part.Sep 3, 2020
Do golf balls travel less in cold weather?
Most every golfer believes that their golf ball flies much farther in the heat of the summer than in the colder months of winter (or even fall or spring), and, well, it does. According to Titleist research, a golfer will experience an approximately 1.5 percent drop in distance for every 20 degree drop in temperature.Dec 1, 2021
Who is Jim Thomas?
Probable Golf Instruction. Writer Bio. Jim Thomas has been a freelance writer since 1978. He wrote a book about professional golfers and has written magazine articles about sports, politics, legal issues, travel and business for national and Northwest publications.
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.
What weather factors impact ball flight?
The overarching weather factor that affects ball flight is air density.
How does altitude affect golf ball flight?
Altitude, otherwise known as elevation, can have a drastic and observable effect on the distance a golf ball will travel through the air. For every 1000 feet (about 300 metres) you travel above sea level, you can expect roughly two yards more carry distance.
Why does altitude affect golf ball flight?
The reason altitude affects ball flight so greatly is due to a reduction in air density. The thinner air at higher elevation reduces drag force, allowing the ball to fly farther without the resistive influence.
Do higher altitudes impact golf ball spin and launch angle?
Higher altitudes do not have an impact on spin, but they do influence lift, so your ball will have greater difficulty reaching the heights it may at sea level. Expect shots to have a flatter trajectory, less grip and more roll out on greens and fairways. The lower density also means less force will be imparted on the ball, reducing slice and hook.
How much yardage should you subtract for a downhill shot?
Downhill shots, whether off the tee or on approach to the green, will fly farther than normal, therefore requiring less club. As a rough guide, for every 15 feet (5 metres) your target is situated below you, it’s best to take one less club.
How much yardage should you add for an uphill shot?
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.
Final message
There are many factors that affect the trajectory of the golf ball, some more drastically than others.
fufu
I played there in Jan/Feb. I hadn't hit a ball since Sept. My 6i goes 170 when I'm striking it well at 2200 ft. At 6000 ft, the 6i was going 190 in the air. Driving the ball 300 yards was easily within my capabilities.
philfan316
The one thing I have noticed is launch.#N#Mexico - Low Launch#N#Denver - High Launch#N#I hit my 8.5 SuperQuad sky high in Colorado. I literally can hit a 4 degree driver to a mid launch flight. It is just so easy to get the ball in the air.#N#Draws and Fades are exaggerated if you intend to hit those shots.
nightwalker
I grew up playing in Denver and have since played and worked all over the country, I use the +10% basis when I go on vacation there. The only exception is the driver. In Texas, the ground gets so firm and the ball rolls so much, I find that I hit my tee shots about the same distance, if not a little longer here in Austin.
honketyhank
Okay .... this is a terribly rough estimate, but I have played golf all over the world ... and I think it is a perfect rule of thumb: One club length per mile above sea level.
