How Weather Conditions Affect Your Golf Ball Performance

Temperature and Golf Ball Performance

We’re all interested in boosting our golf game, whether a better score comes from taking classes to improve our swing or investing in a better set of clubs or a different brand of balls. But not everyone realizes that our score can also be influenced by where and when we play.

Essentially, weather effects on golf balls can work in both directions: too hot of a day can create challenges to our ball performance, as well as too cold of a day. 

Golf ball performance in different temperatures boils down to how much the material inside golf balls tends to compress as it gets colder, which means they won’t travel as far when they’re hit. Likewise, warmer weather makes balls loosen up and travel a little further.

Performance can vary, but researchers from Golf magazine came up with a general formula: for a 250-yard drive, players lose about 2 yards for every 10 degree change in temperature. This works the other way too: for every 10 degree rise in temperature, they may increase their distance by about 2 yards.

Players interested in getting around the challenge of temperature effects on golf ball on colder days can try a variety of methods, from expecting a few more strokes per hole or using a harder driver than they would when it’s warmer. Some suggest switching to women’s balls, which have a different density; carrying their balls in their jacket pocket instead of their golf bag so they receive body heat; or even putting them in a hand warmer prior to the game. 

Wind: Navigating Your Shots in Breezy Conditions

When focusing on the weather effects on golf ball, wind is another significant factor. You’re probably (hopefully?) not going to be playing in a significant storm, but it’s always possible for a breeze to come up.  Golf in windy conditions may mean your drives may not travel as far or that sudden gusts may impact a critical putt. Playing golf in wind can even mean that your super drive might be blown off course. If you drive into the wind or your ball might face resistance, but it also might travel further if your ball has the wind behind it.

Golf Monthly created a helpful guide for windy golf tips and encourages golfers hitting into the wind to add 1 percent to every 1 mph of headwind (plan for 130 yards when hitting 100 yards into a 30 mph wind). When hitting downwind, consider .5 percent, so expect 85 yards when aiming for 100 yards with 30 mph wind. 

Experts suggest checking the wind direction before each shot, which can be a guide to use a stronger or lighter driver. Another approach is to take lower, more rolling swings vs. high drives, since staying at a lower altitude can mean less risk of a shot blowing off course. Trying to follow the wind also might provide some natural advantages for distance.

Humidity Levels: Moisture and Its Impact on Golf Ball Flight

Golf in humid conditions can also affect gameplay. One factor is the moisture impact on golf greens: the more damp the fairway is, the less distance your ball will roll.  Humidity effects on a golf ball can also be observed when teeing off: a particularly humid day means lighter air which has the potential for your ball to move a little further. How far depends on you – Golf magazine said a day of high humidity golf won’t add power boosts but you might may get a few extra yards out of it.

Your ball may be affected by humidity: balls with high urethane content can be affected by moisture, which causes compression and makes them a little harder to control.

Rain: Wet Weather Golf Challenges and Adjustments

It’s always a toss-up on rainy days whether to brave the weather or finding the lounge and hoping things clear up. Playing golf in the rain means less crowds on the one hand, but it also requires utilizing wet golf course strategies like wearing appropriate apparel and keeping dry.

Rain effects on golf balls may mean your ball may not roll as far, which might be good that there’s less chance of it skipping into the rough. Golf in rainy conditions may mean extra effort getting your ball out of sand traps. A wet ball is also more likely to pick up mud and grass, which both could slow it down or affect its flight. Wet weather golf tips also include being aware that the moisture and colder rain might cause more compression inside the ball, making it not travel as far as it could on a dry day.  Good rain and golf ball control also means being aware that putting greens are notorious for getting damp fast – your ball may need extra force than usual to be dislodged and get into the hole.

Altitude: How Elevation Changes Affect Your Golf Game

Weather effects on golf ball can take place anywhere, but another factor is at what altitude your course is. If you’re used to playing at or around sea level, you might notice changes if you play golf at a high altitude course, such as in the mountains – or vice versa. Some will be physical – the higher up you are, you might have to pause to catch your breath now and then.

Titleist shares that higher altitude effects on golf ball can mean that lighter air can cause your ball to travel further. It won’t affect spin, but you’ll have better lift and less drift. Hooking and slicing also could be less effective.

When gathering high altitude golf tips and wanting to calculate distance, a formula Titleist suggests is to multiply your elevation by .00116. This means if you usually drive 250 yards at sea level, you’re likely to drive 265 yards when you’re at somewhere at 5,280 feet, about a 6 percent increase. When figuring out elevation and golf performance, some suggest taking shorter, more precise shots for more control rather than smacking hard drives.

Seasonal Changes: Adapting Your Golf Game Throughout the Year

One of the things we like about golf is that it can be played all year long. Some courses in cooler areas shut down for winter, but this creates opportunities to visit courses in other parts of the country that remain open.

Golf in different seasons means there are lots of chances to play in all sorts of weather and temperatures. While the mechanics of the game don’t change, you may need to come up with ways to accommodate the seasonal effects on golf ball, golf clubs, and general golf apparel.

You might find that you enjoy being out walking on a cooler day, although you keep in mind that your balls may not travel as far. A day that’s uncomfortably hot may be balanced out with excellent drives that go a little further.

Properly adjusting your golf game seasonally means being aware of environmental factors, everything from how wet the grass is to how hard the wind is blowing, and if it’s blowing in a favorable or unfavorable direction. Year-round golf strategies might even require keeping a journal, or at least your score cards, indicating factors like temperature and wind speed. All of these can be great references when gathering or sharing seasonal golf tips.