There are many factors that can affect how your golf ball reacts when you strike it. Temperature, humidity, wind and even elevation all play a role in how far your ball flies.
Among these factors, elevation is probably the one that most recreational golfers have the least experience dealing with. Everyone has played golf with variable weather conditions, but not everyone has traveled to different locales with varying elevations.
As a general rule of thumb, the higher the elevation, the longer your ball flies. Several years back, Titleist conducted a study that found that for every 1,000 feet of elevation gain, the ball flies 1.2% farther. That means at 5,000 feet (like in, say, Denver) your ball will carry roughly 6 percent farther (a 200-yard shot will fly 212 yards). These numbers will vary based on other factors, but that’s a good place to start.
This week, the golfers on the LIV circuit are teeing it up at Golf Club de Chapultepec — the former home of the WGC-Mexico Championship — which sits at 7,835 feet above sea level. The golf balls will be flying this week.
Ahead of LIV Mexico City, a couple of players were asked about the keys for playing golf at high altitude. Check out their answers below.
1. Dial in your numbers
If you walk to the 1st tee without getting a feel for your carry distances on the range beforehand, you’re setting yourself up for failure. As we noted above, your stock carry numbers are likely to differ from what you’re used to.
“You’re going to see a lot of launch monitors on the range and on the golf course,” Abraham Ancer said. “Everybody trying to figure out their formula of how to attack the altitude, because definitely for some people it can be 10 percent, maybe for huge hitters that hit it really, really far and high, could be 15, 17 percent.”
You may not have access to a launch monitor before you tee off, but at the very least you should head to the range and get a feel for how far the ball is flying. It could be the difference between a fun round and a day of frustrations.
2. Commit to your shots
With the ball flying longer than you’re used to, it can be mentally challenging to pull the trigger once you’re over the ball. With a shorter club in your hand than you’re used to, it can be easy to doubt yourself and make an uncommitted swing.
“The most important part for me is to commit before I hit every shot because sometimes it’s hard to believe that you can hit a 50-degree 190 yards,” David Puig says. “I’m not used to that. So committing is going to be a super-important factor.”
Overcoming the mental hurdle of being a “long hitter” for the day can be difficult, but it’s crucial to trust yourself and make committed swings.
