The definition of cold varies locally. Furthermore, what cold actually means is up to the player, and for my purposes, cold is when my hands need mittens to stay warm between shots. That temperature varies from day to day. The shot in my game most affected by cold weather is chipping around the green, as my touch is drastically reduced due to cold hands. Additionally, my equipment does not perform the same and all recordings must take this change into account. In general, playing in cold weather is a challenge for all players. Fortunately, there are steps we can take to combat the cold weather so we can get our best score that day.
In my case, walking the trail is a great counterbalance to cold weather. It allows my body to warm up, I can put on the right number of layers to stay warm, and I have hand warmers that attach to my push cart that help keep my hands warm after each shot. If it’s cooler than expected, I add a pair of loose gloves that fit into my ‘clicgear’ hand warmers. This is a great accessory for golfers who enjoy playing in cold weather.
The next thing I wear is a toque. When my head is warm, the rest of my body is usually warm too. A toque is nothing unique and I think all golfers wear days where it needs to be a little warmer than normal. If you don’t have one and want to play in cold, damp conditions.
I think you get the idea that staying warm is a must in many different ways. If you want more ideas on how to play in colder weather, read my article titled Golfing in Layers to Stay Warm. It will cover all the bases.
The actual golf shot is also slightly different. We all know that when it’s cold enough, hitting our ball is like hitting a rock with our golf club. There are many different variations of successful contact, but there is one universal aspect of playing in the cold that I have noticed. I have little chance to spin the ball. The ball jumps off the club in a way where lifting the ball during a chip is too challenging for my game. That’s why I play bump and run whenever I can. It’s the one shot that I find is more successful at getting the ball close to the hole.
Additionally, I use a club with the lowest possible loft to get the ball rolling as quickly as possible. This club selection will change depending on the distance to the green and the location of the pin. Regardless of which club you use, remember that it will coast due to the lack of spin on the ball.
Finally, your choice of ball is very important. In cold weather I use a Wilson 50 or Duo. I find this works best for my game and challenging conditions. They are easy to compress and have some forgiveness on a miss. Overall, this is currently my favorite ball for spring and fall golf. (On a side note, for those who actually read my review of the Wilson golf balls, I was not thrilled with the Duo. However, that opinion has changed and I will update my review in the future.)
Playing golf in cold weather is a challenge. All factors can be mitigated if you really want to repeat a course. I know players in northern regions understand this concept as they try to extend their golf season annually. Personally, I often played in the cold, but nowadays I don’t feel like it as much. Either way, understanding how to play in cold weather will increase your overall enjoyment of golf.
I am a grateful golfer! See you on the links!
#Chipping #cold #weather