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.
Do golf balls fly farther at higher altitudes?
It is commonly believed that golf balls fly farther at higher elevations, and there is a good reason for that: it's generally true. Various explanations for this have been asserted over the years, usually related to thin air or reduced gravity.
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.
Why do golf shots travel farther when they hit the ball?
Thus, it doesn't slow down as quickly as it flies, resulting in greater distance. Since golf shots vary widely in their launch conditions (the initial speed, spin rate, and launch angle of the ball), the effect will vary greatly depending on the golfer and what club is being used.
How much farther does a golf ball fly at 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 further does a golf ball travel in warm weather?
Yes a golf ball will travel farther in hot and humid weather. You can expect your golf ball to fly through the air an extra 1-2 yards (per 100 yards) in a warmer environment.
Where do golf balls fly the farthest?
Analyzing the individual ball statistics we can see that the Titleist Pro V1x averaged the farthest distance as well at 266.7 yards. Meanwhile, the Callaway Chrome Soft X averaged the shortest distance at only 259.3 yards. This results in a difference between the average maximum and minimum of only 7.4 yards.
How far do golf balls fly?
So, basically, the maximum distance a golf ball can go is 320 yards. There are also standards about initial velocity at impact. A ball is kept in an incubator at 75 degrees Fahrenheit for 3 hours.
Does a warm golf ball go further than a cold one?
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.
How much distance do you lose in winter golf?
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. So theoretically, you're looking at a loss of four yards if you're playing in 40 degrees as opposed to 80 degrees.
What is the longest flying golf ball?
The Titleist Pro V1 is probably the most well known golf ball in the game. Low handicap players will tell you this is the longest hitting golf ball on the market. The Pro V1 is three piece ball with a higher compression core of around ninety.
What is the longest distance a golf ball has ever been hit?
515 yardsThe world record recognized by Guinness World Records as the longest drive in a competition is 515 yards (471 m) by 64-year-old Mike Austin in 1974 at the US Senior National Open Qualifier with a 43.5" steel shafted persimmon wood driver.
Does the golf ball fly shorter 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.
Do range balls fly as far as regular golf balls?
Range Ball Distance vs. Generally, range balls do not fly as far as regular golf balls. But the biggest difference isn't necessarily that range balls typically fly shorter distances, but that they vary so widely in distance performance.
How much further do golf balls go than range balls?
What is the distance difference between range balls and regular golf balls? Range balls, as a general rule, will travel up to 10 yards less in distance when struck with wedges or short irons.
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.
Do golf balls go farther in hot 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.
Does a ball travel further in humid air?
Since the addition of humidity actually makes the air less dense, a ball will go farther on a humid day than it will on a dry day." The changes in air density related to humidity are not large: Compared to dry air at the same temperature and pressure, there's only about a 1 percent reduction in density for a humidity ...
How does weather affect golf ball flight?
The Science behind Temperature Differences Cold weather will make the ball fly shorter for a couple reasons. Cold air is denser than warm air and creates additional drag on the ball. More lift and drag makes the ball go higher and shorter. Tests show a loss of two yards of carry for every ten degrees below 75°.
How much less does a golf ball travel at 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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
Does golf slow down as fast as it flies?
Thus, it doesn't slow down as quickly as it flies, resulting in greater distance. Since golf shots vary widely in their launch conditions (the initial speed, spin rate, and launch angle of the ball), the effect will vary greatly depending on the golfer and what club is being used.
Is it easier to hit the ball straight or curve?
It's easier to hit the ball straight, but it's harder to intentionally curve it. Short Shots at High Altitude. Everything stated above becomes less important as shots get shorter. The shorter the shot, the slower it's moving through the air, and the less effect is felt from anything aerodynamic.
Does elevation affect golf ball aerodynamics?
This means, on short approaches and greenside shots, you don't have to adjust for elevation.
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 ...
aloharb
I am going to Ft. Myers,FL next week from my home in Sun Lakes,AZ. What I would like to know is, will my ball travel farther in Ft. Myers than it does at my home course in Sun Lakes,AZ? Thanks for any help answering this question.
grochol17
According to the internet, your elevation is 1243 ft. In Ft. Myers? 15 ft. So it is a decent elevation change and for most people will ball will travel farther in AZ than in FL, but whether or not you will notice it depends on how far you hit the ball.
domer
The change in elevation should more than compensate for the ball flying further in humid air. So you will lose some (small) amount of carry distance.
golfwb
I'm from East Texas and took a guys trip to Miami to play. My east Texas buddies and myself were stunned that the ball was travelling at least a club further in Florida when compared to home. I do not know why and I even think we are at a higher elevation here in Texas.
hkphooey00
I hit my 8-iron 10-12 yards farther in Scottsdale than in Seattle. But I've never noticed any difference in distance playing in Florida.
BeTheBall
Live in Gilbert but raised in Tampa, add 1 full club and bring your high bounce wedges and don't piss off the gators!!
backtees
Wouldnt it actually be the opposite and travel further in dry air, rather than humid air. I use to live in a high elevation, dry climate and my ball would usually go about 10 yards further. It seems like the humidity would slow the ball down.
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. Mexico - Low Launch Denver - High Launch 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. Draws and Fades are exaggerated if you intend to hit those shots.
oldcarl
I split my time between Missouri (700 ft.), and Gunnison, CO (7700 ft), and have for years. I have found that the difference is about
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.
