When the temperatures begin to drop this time of year you need to make a
few adjustments to your game. These chilly mornings with frost delays
and temps well under the optimum temperature for a golf ball of 80
degrees demands some thought.
I normally play the Bridgestone 330 or the Pro-V1 through out the spring
and summer golf seasons. We all know that the warmer it is the farther
that ball flies and but what about when the temperature dip into the 40’s and below?
The softer high compression golf ball is really not the best choice in the winter. Nobody enjoys the stinger of a miss hit in the cold! I have heard that a lot of mini tour players change to the the Precept Laddie X during the winter months and I gave them a try last year and was quite happy. The other benefit was that I saved a lot of money!
For those brave enough to get out there in the frigid winter months, consider changing to a lower compression ball. Choosing the nuggets that have been chilling in your trunk or basement since last October is a mistake. Lower air temperatures rob you of distance. Temperature of the ball itself, balls left in cold places, tend to harden making mis-hits harsh on the hands.
“There are two important points to keep in mind about playing golf in cold weather,” said Steve Ogg, vice president of golf ball research and
development for Callaway Golf. “The first is that golf balls are not as resilient, and the second is that the air is denser as compared to warmer temperatures. Both of these factors result in a loss of distance. You may even need to adjust your club selection, depending on how cold it is.”
Helpful Hints:
1) Store your balls at room temperature the night before you are
playing.
2) Place a “Hot Hands” pouch in your bag where you keep your balls
3) Switch out your ball each hole to a warm one
4) Switch to a winter ball with lower compression and also save some
money because these balls are in the $18-$25 price point
5) Realize that you will be loosing distance so don’t be afraid to take
an extra club or two.
6) DO NOT store your clubs in your trunk. This is true for any time of
year!
Ball Suggestions:
Bridgestone E Series
Maxfli Noodle Long & Soft
Precept Laddie X
Top Flight D2
Nike Juice
In conclusion, it’s smart to take into account temperature just as you would compensate for wind, rain, uphill/downhill approach shots and other outside factors.
Throw on a few layers, buy the cart cover and a propane heater and get out
there and enjoy the open fairways!
ROCKET
