ShotTally / Launch monitor & sim
Temperature distance adjustment
Air density changes with temperature, and carry changes with it. Enter a known carry and the temperature you're playing in.
How it works
Cold air is denser air: more drag on the ball, less carry. The widely used approximation — about 1% of carry per 10°F away from a 70°F baseline — matches launch monitor testing well across normal playing temperatures.
The parts the physics misses
Air density is only the polite half of cold-weather golf. A cold golf ball loses compression and ball speed (keep the ball in your pocket between holes; swapping two balls helps). Layers restrict the swing. Cold turf kills roll. Stacked together, playing at 40°F commonly costs a full club on approach shots even though the air alone only explains half of it. In heat the effects stack the other way — thin air, livelier ball, firm fairways — which is why 95°F golf plays a club shorter almost everywhere.
FAQ
How much shorter does a golf ball fly in cold weather?
About 1% of carry per 10°F below 70°F from air density alone — roughly 2 yards per 10 degrees on a 7-iron. Including ball compression and swing effects, plan for 5–10 total yards at temperatures near 40°F.
Does humidity affect golf ball distance?
Barely, and opposite to intuition: humid air is slightly less dense than dry air, so the ball flies marginally farther. The effect is under half a percent — ignore it.
Should I use different balls in winter?
A lower-compression ball retains more speed in the cold and feels better. It's a real but small gain — one club of the winter loss is temperature, not equipment.
Does cold weather affect roll too?
Yes — soft, wet, or dormant winter turf can cut rollout dramatically, so total distance shrinks even more than carry. Plan winter course management around carry numbers.