Equipment
Should you swap balls for winter?
There’s summer golf, and then there’s winter golf. Each pose their own unique challenges.
Perhaps the biggest difference between the two golf seasons that instantly comes to mind is how there’s comparatively less daylight in the winter season whereas throughout the summer we can play happily well into the evening.
There’s also the matter of clothing whereby you’ll need to start adding more layers as the outdoors gets colder over the months ahead, but how does the climate impact the actual game itself? We all know how best to prepare for the winter on the golf course, but how does it benefit us to change up our gear?
Air density
As the autumn gives way to winter, you can feel the warmth leaving the environment as chilly frosts and overcast days become the norm. The air also becomes denser, and you’ll want to be taking an umbrella with you every time you pop outdoors.
This dense air has a big impact on golf and should be factored into your course strategy. Thicker air adds resistance to ball flight and causes the ball to not fly as far as it would in the summer heat. Not only does this cut down the natural distance of your strikes, but combined with the moist grass underfoot, causes the ball to thud to a stop rather than bounce on.
If you’re used to hitting the ball far and relying on it to bounce on to the green, you might just find your strikes will fall short during the winter. It’s therefore imperative that you use a club that will guarantee you have enough carry in your strike when going for the green.
Ground conditions
As there’s more moisture in the air, it’ll rain more often and the grass will frequently be thick with moisture. The rough grows rapidly with all the rainfall and it can be much more difficult to get a club on the ball if you’re striking away from the fairway.
The water and footfall on the course also churns up the ground and makes much muddier. It’s important to mark your ball as per winter rules because mud has a big impact on how the ball flies. A clump of mud upsets the ball’s aerodynamics and causes the ball to fly to the opposite of where the mud’s attached. If it’s muddy on the left side of the ball, your shot will veer to the right. This is why it’s important to clean your ball to maintain accuracy on your approach shots.
Natural light
As we’ve mentioned, there’s less daylight throughout the winter, making there much more of a finite window within which it’s pleasant to be on the golf course in. How many times have you headed to the tee on a wintery morning only to need to wait for some mist to subside before teeing off?
In a purely practical sense, it will be beneficial for you to add a ball to your bag that will stand out more on days when the dark descends quickly. Here in the pro shop, we have plenty of fantastic winter golf balls from TaylorMade on our shelves that will keep you feeling up to the challenge when you’re on the golf course over the months ahead.
Our TaylorMade winter golf balls
TaylorMade is one of the best brands on the market, and their gear is trusted by the very best in the game. These balls will make playing through the winter months that much easier for you. Have a look at some of the top-quality balls you can expect to find when you visit our pro shop:
The TP5 is a tremendous golf ball that offers both a soft feel and exceptional distance when you’re striking off the tee. TaylorMade has packed this ball with a 5-layer progressive construction that gives you both ow spin in your longer clubs and high spin in your wedges, giving you the most out of each kind of shot you take on the course.
TaylorMade has also released an eye-catching version of the TP5 that includes their revolutionary ClearPath Alignment system. This optically-pleasing alignment aid consists of miniature-coloured symbols that look fantastic and help you line up your putts when you’re on the green. If you’re yet to putt with one of these winter golf balls, we urge you too, you’ll be amazed with how clearly you’ll be able to see the line of your putts from now on.
A colourful winter golf ball that will really stand out in your bag, the Tour Response Stripe builds on the Tour Response through adding a thick colourful alignment line that runs across the center of the ball’s surface. This ball is available in multiple colours, and you’ll have no problem with it standing out should you be hunting for your ball away from the fairway.
These are just a few examples of the amazing golf balls you can find on our shelves. If you’re curious about the latest golf balls or unsure about which would be best to use for the winter period, we’d be happy to consult you in-person in the pro shop.
