Course Management · Lesson
Five Things That Change Your Yardage
Part of our course management programs for picking targets, wind and weather. Build a program with it
The rangefinder number is just a start. Temperature matters. Cold air and a cold ball mean shorter shots. Altitude matters too. Thinner air adds distance. Check your lie. A flyer or wet ball spins less and can jump. Adjust for elevation, roughly a yard for each yard up or down. And wind. A headwind hurts more than a tailwind helps. Most amateurs miss greens short, so lean longer when unsure.
Step by step
- Start with the number.
- Adjust for temperature and altitude.
- Look for a flyer or wet ball.
- About one yard per yard of elevation.
- Add more for headwind than you take off for tailwind.
Why it works
A rangefinder gives the straight distance to the target. It does not tell you how far the ball will fly in today's conditions. Air density, lie, slope and wind each change carry or roll, so you correct the number before you choose a club. A headwind raises drag and lift on the ball for longer than a tailwind reduces them, so it costs more than a tailwind gives back.
Common mistakes
- You treat the rangefinder number as the club distance.Use it only as the starting number, then work through temperature, altitude, lie, elevation and wind.
- You take off as many yards for a tailwind as you add for a headwind.Add more for a headwind than you subtract for a tailwind, because the headwind effect is larger.
- You ignore a wet ball or a grassy lie and hit your normal club.Expect less spin and a ball that may jump and run farther, so allow for it or choose a club that keeps it safe.
How you'll know it's working
- Your misses stop clustering short of the green.
- Your ball finishes pin high more often, or just past it, on approach shots.
- You can name your adjustments for temperature, lie, elevation and wind before you pull a club.
Make it easier or harder
Easier: Practice on a calm, mild day with a clean lie and change only one factor at a time, such as elevation.
Harder: Combine several factors on the same shot, such as cold air, an uphill target and a headwind, and commit to one adjusted number before you hit.
Common questions
Does cold weather really make the golf ball go shorter?
Yes. Cold air is denser and a cold ball compresses less, so you lose carry distance. Plan to take more club on cold days.
How much should I adjust for elevation change on a golf shot?
A rough guide is about one yard for each yard of elevation. Add yards for an uphill target and subtract yards for a downhill one.
