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 Wilson on our shelves that will keep you feeling up to the challenge when you’re on the golf course over the months ahead.
Our Wilson winter golf balls
Wilson 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:
If you’re a high-handicap player, you’ll feel at home playing with the Duo Soft golf balls. As the name implies, Wilson has given this ball a two-layer construction that not only gives it a phenomenally soft feel when you strike it, but also reduces spin on longer shots to give you predictable, penetrating ball flights. The Duo Soft also features a high-energy core that provides faster ball speeds off the tee for exceptional distance down the fairway.
The Duo Soft is also available in a separate model that comes with a dynamic alignment aid. The Duo Soft TRK360 model features a bold two-colour circular visual aid that encompasses the center of the ball. This distinctive design makes it very straightforward to line up your putts when you’re honing in on the hole. Why not give this ball a go? You might just find your new favourite piece of kit.
If you’re a skilled player, you’ll get on well with Wilson’s Staff Model series of golf balls. Both the standard and X variations have a 4-piece urethane construction that brings excellent stability and speed on your strikes, giving you penetrating ball flights with long distance off the tee.
The standard Staff Model ball provides an ideal all-round performance; a medium compression core helps contribute towards giving you more distance while the thin urethane cover provides a great sense of feel on your wedge shots.
Another excellent golf ball offering from Wilson is the Staff Model X. This ball features a lot of same great tech as is found in the standard model but has a firmer core unless greater distance and spin.
This ball is ideal for players seeking a workable golf ball that sill help them shape shots and get the spin they’re after when approaching the greens. A flawless pain finish also makes this ball fantastic to look at from all angles.
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.
