ShotTally / Launch monitor & sim
Simulator vs outdoor distance converter
Your sim says 240. What should you expect off the first tee in April? This converter adjusts sim carry for ball type, outdoor temperature, and altitude — the three biggest reasons sim and course numbers disagree.
How it works
Quality simulators normalize every shot to standard atmospheric conditions — sea level, 70°F, no wind. Real golf is rarely played there. The converter applies three corrections: ball type (range balls fly 5–8% shorter than premium), temperature (about 1% of carry per 10°F away from 70°), and altitude (about 1.1% per 1,000 feet of elevation).
What this can't correct
Mat vs turf strike is the honest gap: mats forgive fat contact by letting the club skid into the ball, so bad strikes look better indoors. If your sim average uses your best-struck shots it will translate; if it's propped up by mat forgiveness, outdoor carry drops more than any formula predicts. Camera-based systems extrapolating flight from launch data can also drift a few percent from radar-tracked flight. Treat sim numbers as internally consistent — perfect for gapping and progress tracking — and use this converter when planning real-course club selections.
FAQ
Do golf simulators read longer or shorter than real life?
Well-calibrated sims are close on carry for well-struck shots. Perceived differences usually come from mat forgiveness, range balls outdoors, temperature, or comparing sim carry to on-course total distance.
How much distance do you lose in cold weather?
About 1% of carry per 10°F below 70°F, so a 240-yard carry becomes roughly 233 at 40°F. Add thicker clothing and a firmer ball and 10–12 yards total is a realistic winter penalty.
How much further does the ball go at altitude?
Roughly 1.1% per 1,000 feet. In Denver (5,280 ft) that's about 6% — a 240-yard sea-level carry plays close to 254.
Why are my mat numbers better than my grass numbers?
Mats let the clubhead skid into impact on heavy contact, rescuing shots that would be fat on turf. Ball speed survives; on grass it wouldn't. Compare only your well-struck shots across surfaces.