The grooves on the clubface grab the golf ball more and impart more backspin. When the clubface is more wet, there’s less friction, so the ball slides up the clubface. GOLF Top 100 Teacher Andrew Rice has done some interesting studies on exactly this, and shared the results on his website.
Full Answer
How soft is a golf ball?
If you believe everything you read, then damned near every golf ball is soft. In reality, the soft balls I’ve mentioned by name span a more than 50-point compression range from 40 (the softest we’ve tested) to a bit over 90. That’s less than half the deformation. Check my math on this one but half of soft most definitely isn’t also soft.
How does the wet affect the spin of a golf ball?
While spin went up a bit it was still at a level where the ball carried even more than the the dry ball and club but it did not roll as much. Results were very even with the distance ball while the spin control ball, the urethane TR Spin was hurt a lot more by the wet.
How can I improve my golf swing in wet weather?
Firstly, you need to develop a fundamental solid golf swing which is why I use the Perfect Golf Swing system. It's simple to understand and use and is ideal for golfers of all levels including high and low handicaps. Read below for 3 valuable tips I’ve learned over the years that work effectively when playing wet weather golf.
How do you wet test a golf ball?
For wet testing, a spray bottle was used before the swing to wet both the club and ball with water. This simulated the wet conditions of light rain on the ball at impact. Make sure you click here to see the results!
What happens when a golf ball is wet?
Put simply: When both the club and ball are dry, there's more friction on the clubface. The grooves on the clubface grab the golf ball more and impart more backspin. When the clubface is more wet, there's less friction, so the ball slides up the clubface.
Should you play a softer golf ball in cold weather?
Low compression: When it's cold, a softer ball with low compression will provide a better feel at impact. They are good golf balls for cold weather. Softer compression balls compress more in the cold and have a good chance of flying slightly longer than harder golf balls.
Why does my golf ball feel soft?
Softer balls normally have a lower compression rating which means it will take less club speed to properly compress the ball. This will result in straighter shots and a better feeling golf ball.
Is golf harder when wet?
In wet conditions golfers find it harder to grip both the club and the ground with their golf shoes as they swing. Golf balls travel less distance in the rain and mud picked up on the ball on wet courses also affects the trajectory. Keeping concentration in wet conditions is also more difficult.
Does warming golf balls Help?
Warming up golf balls is not prohibited, but there is a reason for that—it doesn't work. Several years ago, Golf Laboratories performed a test that showed you could not get a ball warm enough to have any impact because the ball almost instantly adopts to the outside temperatures.
Do warm golf balls go further?
Generally, a warmer golf ball travels farther. The rubber materials used to make golf balls respond better if they are more resilient. Warmth enhances resiliency. A warmer ball will come off the clubface with more velocity and spin than a colder ball, encouraging loft.
Do Soft Feel golf balls go further?
Although softer golf balls go further from the tee for lower swing speed players, the gap across the whole range of ball types is only around 5 yards, so it is more important to fit the ball to your irons and then fit your driver to your preferred ball to maximise distance.
Is a Pro V1 hard or soft?
A Soft Cover One key area in the success of the Titleist Pro V1 was its soft feel. Titleist says that the current generation of Pro V1's has the softest cover they have ever used.
Do soft golf balls make a difference?
Lower compression balls tend to be softer and compress more to create more distance. Higher compression balls offer more control and are used by better players who can produce faster swing speeds to compress the ball. For more on softness and compression, please read our Guide To Soft Golf Balls.
How do you hit a golf ball in wet conditions?
1:223:45Like this right like this yeah well you want to lean it like this we see like this they're trying toMoreLike this right like this yeah well you want to lean it like this we see like this they're trying to help it up in the air right any wet conditions twice as bad because it won't bounce.
Does water affect golf ball performance?
Does Water Affect Golf Ball Performance? Theoretically, and anecdotally, yes. A layer of water inside the ball does it no favors. Since the ball isn't able to compress as much, it will surely not be able to fly as far – especially if it's been lying in water for months, or even years.
Is it worth playing golf in the rain?
Rain cools the air down, meaning you won't sweat as much, and you'll be able to grip your clubs better. Particularly in summer, cooler conditions should always be welcome.
What is soft feel?
Feel and Compression. Just to bring everyone up to speed here; soft feel is primarily the result of low compression. Compression is a measure of how much a ball deforms under load. The harder the ball, the less it deforms. Most of you won’t care about that but somebody was going to ask.
Is the XS softer than the V1?
The XS is fewer than five com pression points softer than the Pro V1 and not much softer than a Srixon Z Star. It still qualifies as the softest tour ball but the average golfer isn’t likely to discern any appreciable feel difference between the three and you’re sure as hell not going to mistake any of them for a DUO.
Can you credit a soft ball?
Depending on your affinity for soft golf balls, you can credit or blame preference-driven golfers whose penchant for whacking marshmallows inadvertently created the fresh hell that is the nebulous world of soft balls. (Middle-finger emoji.)
Do golf balls feel soft?
The first is that lower-compression balls feel softer. That should be obvious. If you want soft feel, you want a low-compression golf ball. The other one is perhaps a little weird. It turns out there’s a strong correlation between legitimately soft feel and price.
Is "s oft" a word?
At worst, it’s a horseshit word that golf brands will attach to just about anything because, if they can’t sell you on performance, there’s a reasonable chance they can sell you on feel.
How does water impair the golf ball?
How does water impair the golf ball’s performance? Penetrated water needs space, so it forms an additional water layer within the ball. It, consequently, increases the mass of the ball, which changes its original mechanical and aerodynamic characteristics.
Does water adsorption affect golf ball tensile strength?
The study tests also proved that water adsorption causes reduced tensile strength of the golf ball’s composite materials. At the same time, stretch properties increase significantly. Researchers also found a loss of resilience of the elastic modulus of the core.
Meet our Wet vs Dry Golf Balls tester
TG Test Pro Neil Wain (below) is a highly-experience PGA Professional based at Keele Golf Centre in Staffordshire. For added consistency we work with Neil on all of our golf club and ball tests.
How we performed our Wet vs Dry Golf Balls test
We asked Neil to hit shots with his driver, 7-iron and pitching wedge, all with the same make and model of golf ball on the Foresight GC Quad launch monitor.
What our Wet vs Dry Golf Balls test revealed
Not many golfers tee up with a wet ball, as it’s usually been in your hand or pocket. But if you’re chipping on the tee as you wait, or happen to drop the ball before you tee it up, you’re likely to see a drop in backspin (or certainly backspin predictability between shots) by up to 6%.
Wet vs Dry Golf Balls test: The statistics
READ NEXT: TESTED: How does cold weather impact your golf balls' performance?
What is the most talked about golf ball?
Although I think there are similar performing golf balls on the market, it’s hard to go against the entire golf industry’s beliefs. The Titleist Pro V1 golf ball is famously the most talked about, spin inducing golf ball that you can buy.
Is it like you are hitting a golf ball?
It’s like you are hardly hitting the golf ball at all. The golf ball is just getting in the way of your swing. There are many soft golf balls with varying spin rates that would be fine for any golfer. However, if you are looking to maximize the benefit of your golf ball, I think we can find the best golf ball for you and your wallet.
What type of polyurethane is used for golf balls?
There are two types if polyurethane that can be used as covers for golf balls: cast polyurethane and thermoplastic polyurethane .Either type of urethane can be used, but cast urethane is preferred as it provides better abrasion/scuff resistance and better cut resistance than thermoplastic polyurethane.
What is the inner layer of a golf ball?
Golf ball mantle layer: The inner layer of the 3-piece ball is designed to contribute both to the velocity of the golf ball and the spin of the golf ball. The material used for this inner layer needs to provide as much velocity as possible while also contributing to the low compression of the overall ball.
What is the limiting factor of a golf ball cover?
The limiting factor is that if the cover material is too stiff, the impact of the club will result in excess flex of the cover and result in brittle failure of the cover.
What percentage of the ball volume should be in a golf ball core?
The core is the primary contributing factor to producing a low compression ball and the volume of the core should ideally be at least 80-82% of the total ball volume. Maximizing the level of reactive materials in the golf ball core is necessary to maximize the velocity of the core.
What percentage of golfers prefer a softer ball?
70+ % of golfers prefer a softer feeling ball compared to a harder feeling ball. This percentage is constant regardless of the handicap of the golfer. There are multiple contributing factors that contribute to the feel of a golf ball, but the largest factor contributing to ball feel is ball compression.
Is a smaller center needed for a golf ball?
To achieve this, a smaller center with a very low compression (significantly softer than the 2-piece core) is required. As the center is not a significant contributor to the velocity of the golf ball it is not necessary to maximize the density of the core.
Is high greenside spin bad?
For most high handicap golfers, high greenside spin is not discernible, and the benefits of straighter ball flight is a more beneficial performance attribute. Dimple pattern differentiation: Golfers generally ...
How to hit the ball first in golf?
To ensure that you hit the ball first and minimize the wet turf’s effect , aim for a spot on the ground an inch in front of the ball. Make sure the clubhead and your right knee reach the ball simultaneously. Time it right and you’ll hit all ball—and be putting for birdie.
How to get a fat shot on a golf ball?
If you don’t adjust, you’ll catch the shot fat. Simply choke down an inch and position the ball in the center of your stance.
Soft vs Hard Golf Balls Comparison
The terms “soft” and “hard” indicate how the golf ball feels when it hits the ground.
How To Find the Right Golf Ball?
Beginners may ask why they should invest in greater softballs when all they want to do is learn how to play. Nevertheless, even for novices, the case for utilizing high-quality equipment appears to be true.
When to Use Each Type of Golf Ball?
Different situations require a certain type of golf ball. Here are some recommendations:
Conclusion
Soft and hard balls share some factors in common. However, thanks to flexibility, a soft choice is more common among golfers.
