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how much further does a golf ball travel at altitude

by Evert Bayer Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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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 does altitude affect golf ball distance?

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 golf ball travel at sea level?

 · It happened to me (again) earlier this year. We were two holes into our round at East Lake Golf Club, a course that varies from 954 and 1,035 feet above sea level. That’s when I realized I was calculating distances as if I were back home in Albuquerque, 5,280 feet above sea level, where the ball flies much farther than anywhere Back East. I ...

How much altitude do you need to hit a golf shot?

 · There are a few things to consider. The first, is a basic rule of thumb– for every 5,000 feet of elevation, subtract 10% of your normal yardage. If you hit a 7-iron 150 yards on average, know that when you play in altitude in a place like Denver, this will play closer a 165-yard shot. Now, this is NOT an exact science. It’s a guessing game.

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

 · How much further does a golf ball go at altitude? 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.

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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.

How much further does golf ball fly in Denver?

about 10 percentMost 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.

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 golf ball fly 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.

Do golf balls travel farther in Texas?

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 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.

Do golf balls go farther in 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.

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 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.

Do you need slope on a rangefinder for golf?

Slope. The slope function on a rangefinder helps determine the exact yardage needed for a shot when accounting for the elevation difference from the fairway to the hole. Advanced golfers love having the slope function for shots inside 150 yards due to the precision of the readout.

Do rangefinders help in golf?

Golf rangefinders are designed to help the golfer estimate distance and accuracy of their shot. The estimation will help improve their game by letting the golfer know how hard they should hit the ball. There are two types of rangefinders GPS and laser; both have their benefits.

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 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.

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.".

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 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.

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.

Where is the best place to play golf in the United States?

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.

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.

How many feet of flight does a golf ball need to fly in the Amazon?

Rule of thumb regarding temperatures and ball flight– subtract 1 foot of flight for every degree below 70 degrees.

What factors affect the flight of a ball?

But it’s experimental and finding what’s best for you. 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.

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.

What happens when the golf ball is warm?

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 far can you hit a 7 iron in Denver?

The first, is a basic rule of thumb– for every 5,000 feet of elevation, subtract 10% of your normal yardage. If you hit a 7-iron 150 yards on average, know that when you play in altitude in a place like Denver, this will play closer a 165-yard shot. Now, this is NOT an exact science.

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 ...

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 ...

Does humidity affect golf ball distance?

Humidity has a significant effect on golf ball distance, too. The higher the humidity, the longer the ball flies. You can feel humid air more, but water weighs less than the nitrogen and oxygen molecules that make up dry air.

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.

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