The Best Golf Ball to Use in Cold Weather - Winter Golf

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By Zack R., Team Titleist Staff

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  • 19 Replies
  1. Team Titleist Staff

    It’s winter, and well, obviously, that means cold weather — unless, of course, you’re living in a more tropical climate somewhere. But perhaps less obvious, however, is what golf ball is the best to play in the cold. This time of year, we often hear the question of “will my golf ball still perform when it's cold outside?" so we went back to an earlier blog post to get some expert advice and insight from our golf ball R&D team. 

    As for the question around what ball to play, the advice is pretty straightforward. Your best course of action is to play the same golf ball you typically play.

    It's a common misconception that you should switch to a lower compression golf ball in colder conditions. This practice is meant to compensate for the increase in compression that occurs when a ball gets colder. If you play with balls that are at near room temperature as we suggest, this becomes a moot point. Furthermore, modern golf ball models are not sold in a choice of compressions like they were in the wound ball days, so changing compression would necessitate changing to a different model, which may have playing characteristics that are different from what you are used to.

    Now, when it comes to the impact cold weather might have, it's really two separate issues to consider with regards to temperature and golf ball performance: the temperature of the air and the temperature of the golf ball.

    Factor One: Cold Air

    When a golf ball flies through colder air, it loses distance because cold air is denser than warm air. Colder air increases both the lift and drag forces acting on the ball, which results in a slightly higher and shorter trajectory. There is nothing a golfer can do about the effect of air temperature, besides taking it into account when planning the next shot.

    Factor Two: Cold Golf Balls

    Distance loss can also result from playing with cold golf balls. If a ball gets too cold, its materials can lose some resiliency, resulting in a reduction of initial velocity off the club face. Keep in mind, excessive heat can also have an effect.

    To negate this effect, we recommend playing with room temperature golf balls, and storing your golf balls indoors at room temperature throughout the year. Avoid leaving your golf balls in extremely cold or hot conditions, i.e., in the trunk of your car during the winter or summer. If your golf balls are exposed to these conditions, as long as you let them return to a normal temperature gradually, they will perform the same.

    If you’re playing in extremely cold conditions, it’s also a good idea to rotate a couple of golf balls hole-by-hole, keeping the idle one in a warm pocket in your jacket or pants.

    Other Factors:

    The exact amount of distance loss due to cold temperatures is difficult to state due to a large number of variables. However, the other factors that typically accompany cold-weather golf (i.e. cold muscles, wearing more layers, frozen ground, wind, etc.) might have a bigger impact on a golfer’s overall performance. For the air temperature effect alone, figure on a distance loss of about 1.5% per 20°F reduction in temperature. For example, for a 50°day versus a 70°day, on a 200 yard shot you would lose about 3 yards.

    As always, we hope you all find this insight helpful and here's to an early Spring!

    #TeamTitleist

  2. Alex N

    Alex N
    Florida

    Military
    Thanks for sharing this information, Zack!
  3. Fred L

    Fred L
    Centerport,NY

    Great info. I have experienced this being here in the Northeast, Long Island. One day it could be 60 and the next back to 30!!
  4. Todd T

    Todd T
    San Diego, CA

    Military
    Ive always been of the mindset to play the same ball year round. Its not like I'm going to be playing in 85 degree temps today and tomorrow play in 50 degrees... Just simply make club adjustments!
  5. Play18

    Play18
    Aurora, IL

    Thanks. I rotate balls every hole and keep the non-playing ball in my pocket to warm it up until the next hole.
  6. Manny A

    Manny A
    Staten Island, NY

    Military
    Thanks for sharing! I use the ProV1x in all weather
  7. This article was very helpful. As a resident of West Virginia, we face all of the elements and full range of conditions.
  8. Chuck Z

    Chuck Z
    Mt Pleasant, SC

    Military
    Thanks Zack for reposting this great info. Prov1 in all conditions for me.. Only makes sense. =)
  9. larry m

    larry m
    columbiana, OH

    Great info Zack
  10. Thanks for sharing. I live in Missouri so cold golf weather is a habit from November to April.
  11. Don’t play when gets cold
  12. michael b

    michael b
    penn valley, CA

    Great info. Playing in North Calif. is exactly what this conversation is about. Thanks
  13. I had this conversation with a couple of players recently and compared the golf ball to the wing of an airplane. A wing also generates more lift in colder air but with increased resistance. Less lift in warmer air but decreased resistance for faster flight.
  14. larry m

    larry m
    columbiana, OH

    Great info
  15. Anthony C

    Anthony C
    Tinton Falls NJ

    #science
  16. ToddL

    ToddL
    Attleboro, MA

    I really like to advice to rotate golf balls during the cold weather round. Keep the others in the rotation in a bag to keep warm.
  17. Jim A

    Jim A
    Winona, MN

    As a I golfer that lives in Minnesota and plays over 100 rounds a year in all kinds of weather, playing cold golf balls is the biggest issue. I do my best to keep them as warm as possible. Using a hand warmer or two in a pouch helps, but the golf balls with never get back to room temperature with that little of applied heat.

    Now if Titleist could develop a heated pouch, either in the golf bag itself or a portable one, this might help the cold weather golf enthusiast best.
  18. larry m

    larry m
    columbiana, OH

    Great info
  19. Jerome C

    Jerome C
    London Ontario Canada

    Great information thanks
  20. Don O

    Don O
    Madison, WI

    I’ve never tried to find a softer ball for cold weather. It was low 40’s this past weekend and I had some Tour Soft balls, so I thought I’d use them to see if that made a difference. Well, yes it did.

    I struggled most of the round with balls running through the greens. Went back to an X for the last 4 holes. First thing I noticed was the “crack” of the firmer ball off the driver on well hit shots. On short shots, I was holding the greens better. Even to the point I could have landed a couple further on the green to reach pins on the back half of the greens. I don’t generate a great deal of spin and never worry about sucking the ball off the green but even so the difference was evident.

    First Tee will be getting 3 sleeves of Tour Soft. That’s just my game. For those of you that prefer the non- urethane balls, keep using whatever works best for you

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