Cold Weather Golf Distance Loss and How to Re-Map Your Bag for Winter

If you’ve ever pured an approach shot in 40 degree weather and watched it fall 5 yards short, you know that winter golf is a different game.

When it’s cold, the ball doesn’t fly as far.

But how much do colder temperatures affect your golf shots? And what are the reasons behind the distance reductions? Most importantly, how can you adjust so that your scores don’t suffer?

That’s what we’re covering here. If you’re a golf junky, you’re not afraid of a little cold weather. If the course is open and you’ve got the time available, you’re out there. But playing your best when the temperatures drop may require re-mapping your golf bag and making a few other tweaks.

Here’s everything you need to know to play your best golf in the winter.

How Much Distance Do You Lose in Cold Weather?

According to Titleist’s research, you’ll experience approximately 1.5 percent distance loss for every 20-degree drop in temperature.

Just remember, that’s not factoring in a cold golf ball, stiff muscles, bulky clothing or other weather conditions like wind. This is talking about air temperature alone.

So let’s say on average you carry your driver 225 yards on a 75-degree day. If you play on a 55-degree day, you can expect to lose around 3 yards. If it gets all the way down to 35 degrees, which is typically about as cold as you’re likely to face on a golf course, your drives should land about 7 yards shorter.

Now it’s not driver distance differences that typically cause the most issues playing in colder weather. Sure, we all want to hit it further and it is an advantage to get the ball closer to the hole off the tee. But we can manage driver distance reductions of just a handful of yards. We can still score our best.

It’s approach shots in cold weather where scores can really suffer.

If you’re used to carrying your 7-iron 140 yards in the summer when it’s 80 degrees, and you play in the winter when it’s 40 degrees, your well-struck 7-iron may fly closer to 135 yards. That may not sound like a big difference, but any golfer knows that can be the difference between missing the green short or pulling out your putter for your next shot.

Why Cold Weather Costs You Distance

Temperature affects golf ball distance through two primary mechanisms, and both work against you when it’s cold.

The first is increased air density. Cold air is denser than warm air. The molecules in the air are packed together tighter which creates more resistance for your golf ball to push through.

This is the primary factor behind distance loss. And it’s also the reason that we can calculate expected loss of yardage with some reasonable accuracy.

The next factor is reduced ball compression. In other words, the ball itself. When it’s colder the core of the golf ball that stores and releases the energy that turns into ball speed stiffens.

If you’ve ever hit a super cold golf ball, you know what I’m talking about. It feels like a rock. And that’s because it literally won’t compress the same way it does at room temperature.

You’ve also got to factor in the temperature of your golf clubs. Your clubs contract slightly in cold weather. Materials like graphite and steel become stiffer and more brittle. And you can expect your grips to harden and become a bit more slick.

Cold-Weather Distance Loss and Winter Bag Mapping

Once again, this is where a golf launch monitor can be an outstanding tool for game improvement. The most accurate way to remap your bag is with actual data.

With most golf simulator software, you have the opportunity to adjust the environmental temperature to simulate different conditions. Use that feature.

Hit eight to 10 shots with each club at the temperature you’re anticipating, and record the carry distance results. Learn more about how to map your golf bag here.

Now, listen, you can take this as far as you want to. And if you don’t want to go through this exercise, that’s fine too. But don’t fail to make some kind of adjustment. If you’re not going to re-map your bag, at least apply the basic rule of thumb discussed earlier to get some understanding of how the colder temps are going to limit your shots.

Other Winter Golf Factors to Consider

Even the best bag mapping preparation still won’t fully prepare you for what you’ll face out on the golf course when it’s cold.

For one thing, your body just isn’t going to be as loose and limber playing in the cold as it is in the heat of summer. And, I’m afraid, that doesn’t get any better the older you get.

So there’s that.

You’ve also got to think about what you’re wearing. If you’ve got a bunch of bulky layers on, your swing is going to be more restricted than if you’re just playing in a golf shirt. A slower swing speed has a direct effect on ball speed and carry distance.

Also, the colder the golf ball, the less it’s going to fly. So if you’re hitting a ball that you just pulled out of a warm pocket, that’s going to be different than hitting the ball that’s been laying there on the cold ground.

The point is that playing golf in the winter introduces more challenges. But the more we understand what those challenges are, the more we can adjust for success.

Should You Switch Golf Balls for Winter?

It’s true that low-compression cores are designed to compress more easily and can partially offset the stiffening effect of cold temperatures.

And it’s also true that premium urethane covers feel awesome when it’s warm, but harden when it gets cold.

So, yes, you can make some golf ball selection adjustments to help combat the winter weather.

But it’s likely just as practical to stick with the golf ball you’re accustomed to hitting and that maybe you’ve even been fit for.

What you should plan to do is to rotate those golf balls after each hole. That will keep each ball warmer and a bit closer to peak performance conditions.

Also, bring your golf clubs and golf balls inside when you’re not playing. Leaving them out in the car exacerbates all the effects we’re talking about.

Ball Flight Changes in Cold Weather

Reduced ball speed and denser air flatten your trajectory. You’ll need to account for this when playing over trees and hazards or when thinking about from what angle a shot will drop onto a green.

Cold golf balls also don’t grip clubface grooves quite as effectively. That means less spin on approach shots, which is going to mean less stopping power on the greens. Plan for more rollout.

And speaking of more roll, cold or frozen ground is of course going to make the ball bounce and roll further. Plus, it changes how your club interacts with the turf. That flop shot you can pull off in the summer may skull across the green in the winter.

The other thing to be aware of is that when it gets cold, you lose some feel and touch. It’s a little tougher to judge strike quality and compression in chilly weather. Some things like distance control on partial wedge shots can become more difficult.

You’re a Winter Warrior, Now Play Your Best Golf

Cold-weather golf is tough.

But guess what? Golf was already tough.

As the kind of golfer who loves the game enough to play even when the temperatures drop, I’m guessing you’re not one for excuses.

So rather than bemoan the additional challenges that come with winter golf, let’s prepare for them.

If you’re smart about bag mapping and being realistic about your winter carry distances, you layer appropriately so that you don’t restrict your clubhead speed too much, you try to keep your golf ball and equipment as warm as you can, and you plan for the different ball flights and club-turf interactions you know you’re going to face, not only can you play well, but you can gain a significant advantage over your playing partners who may not be quite as well prepared.

About PlayBetter Golf Reviewer Marc Sheforgen

Marc Sheforgen is a golf writer whose passion for the game far exceeds his ability to play it well. Marc covers all things golf, from product reviews and equipment recommendations to event coverage and tournament analysis. When he’s not playing, watching, or writing about golf, he enjoys traveling (often golf-related), youth sports coaching, volunteering, and record collecting.