How temperature, humidity and rain affect golf distance
Golfers often say the ball "isn't going anywhere" on a cold morning. They're right, but the effect is smaller than it feels. Here is how much temperature, humidity and rain change your distances.
Temperature
Testing on TrackMan by golf instructor Andrew Rice found that a driver hit at about 150 mph ball speed gains or loses about 2 yards per 10°F of temperature. Shorter clubs change less. A pitching wedge changed by about 1.3 yards per 10°F.
Two things cause this:
- Air density. Cold air is denser, so it pushes back harder on the ball and reduces carry. Warm air is thinner.
- The ball and your body. A cold golf ball is less lively off the face. Cold muscles, extra layers and stiff hands also cut swing speed, and that often costs more than the physics does.
In Dallas–Fort Worth, an average January morning in the 30s and an average August afternoon in the mid-90s are about 60°F apart. That is roughly 12 yards on a good drive, from temperature alone.
Cold-weather tips
- Keep spare balls in a pocket or a warm spot in the cart between holes. A warm ball performs better than one that sat in a cold bag all night.
- Take one extra club on approach shots on cold mornings.
- Wear thin layers you can swing in rather than one bulky coat.
Humidity
Most golfers assume humid air is "heavy" and kills distance. It's the opposite. Water vapor molecules are lighter than the nitrogen and oxygen they replace, so humid air is slightly less dense than dry air at the same temperature. The ball flies a tiny bit farther, but the difference is so small that most golfers will never notice it.
Humidity matters much more for comfort. High humidity slows sweat evaporation, which is why a humid 92°F day can feel worse than a dry 98°F day. See our summer heat guide.
Rain and wet conditions
Rain is where distance really disappears:
- Water on the ball and clubface reduces spin control and can cause "fliers" that come off with less spin and run unexpectedly.
- Wet grips and gloves make you swing tentatively.
- Soft fairways kill roll. A drive that usually runs 20 yards may stop where it lands.
- Heavier rain slows the ball in flight as well.
The flip side: soft greens hold approach shots, so you can be more aggressive at the flag. More in our guide to playing after rain.
Altitude, for comparison
Elevation has a much bigger effect than any of the above. Thinner air at altitude lets the ball carry noticeably farther. For DFW, Houston, Austin, Seattle and Boston it hardly matters, because all of them sit fairly close to sea level compared with a mountain course.
Putting it together
On most days, wind changes your yardages far more than temperature or humidity. Our article on how wind affects your golf ball covers that. Temperature is the steady background factor: a few yards per club between summer and winter. Golf Weather Intelligence includes temperature and comfort in every tee-time score, alongside wind and rain.
Sources
- GOLF.com — A simple formula for how far you'll hit it in cold weather (Andrew Rice / TrackMan)
- GOLF.com — How heat and humidity affect your distance
- NWS Fort Worth — DFW 1991–2020 climate normals
More golf weather articles