The effect of weather on shot distances

Su Campu

Loire wrote: »

Would it be an idea to "warm up" 18 golf balls the night before and wrap each in insulated foil and then change a ball on every hole?

Yes, though I think there are rules against using things like handwarmers, etc.

dnjoyce

So the consensus on here seems to be that anyone who isn't a Cat 1 golfer has no need of a GPS/Laser as they don't consistently hit the ball a certain distance anyway, yet they should be heating their balls to a consistent temp the night before, allowing for the added rain weight on the club if wet and thinking about the density of the air to figure out their distances? Not doubting the science for a second, but it seems a bit OTT to me. There's enough swing thoughts to be thinking about already...

The_Architect

dnjoyce wrote: »

So the consensus on here seems to be that anyone who isn't a Cat 1 golfer has no need of a GPS/Laser as they don't consistently hit the ball a certain distance anyway, yet they should be heating their balls to a consistent temp the night before, allowing for the added rain weight on the club if wet and thinking about the density of the air to figure out their distances? Not doubting the science for a second, but it seems a bit OTT to me. There's enough swing thoughts to be thinking about already...

I think this is the heart of the matter.

Free your mind and hit the shot that feels right. Science and numbers (including exact distances) only serve to clutter it up and take away from the fun aspect of playing golf.

My opinion of course. I expect others to disagree.

L.O.F.T

The_Architect wrote: »

Free your mind and hit the shot that feels right. Science and numbers (including exact distances) only serve to clutter it up and take away from the fun aspect of playing golf

I totally agree with you. Just hit the shot you see. All too many times I play with lads that whip out the laser from 80 yards out and chunk it in front of them with a lob wedge or a lad who will laser a bunker 210 yards out from a tee box on a par four take a 3 wood to land shot of the trap and then proceed to slice the bejasus out of it 40 yards to the right and still 40 yards from the bunker. Just hit the ball, find it and hit it again. There are too many club golfers farting around imitating what they see on TV with neither the skill or sense to know better.

GreeBo

onedmc wrote: »

I think the science is a little sketchy.

Perhaps the drag due to air may increase by 10% but the significant force causing it to stop is gravity. Air making up say 10% so we have 10%of10%which in the example would be 1 meter.

Also not sure about an rh of 80% after a frosty night.

Friction is causing the ball to stop, not gravity. Gravity causes the ball to fall back to the ground, and it does this in the same way in winter and summer.

foxyboxer

IIRC Ben Hogan had 'hand' warmers in his pockets during the 1953 Open.

He also happened to use the hand warmers as a (pardon the pun) handy means of keeping his ball warm.

Not illegal back then but certainly is so nowadays.