The Weather Is Messing With Your Golf Game (More Than You Think)
Settle in. Let’s talk golf.
As we at BTS strive for Small Changes – Better Golf, I’m always looking for those small tweaks that can improve performance and consistency.
This is one of those.
Not a swing change.
Not a new club.
Just awareness.
And honestly, it can have a bigger impact than you realize.
I also like to understand the “why” and the “how” behind things – partly because I’m wired that way, but also because if you understand it, you can actually use it to your advantage.
And in this case?
There’s some real science behind it – and I’ve seen it impact my own game.
Recently, I’ve played in just about everything – early morning dew, late afternoon heat… all the way from 112° down to 34° (yes, 34°… and yes, I still teed it up – because that’s what golf addicts do).
What threw me off was this:
My swing felt the same.
Mechanics felt solid.
But the ball?
Didn’t go as far.
Didn’t react the way I expected.
That didn’t sit right with me.
So I did what I always do – I went looking for answers.
Then tested it myself.
Then tested it again… probably more than necessary.
And what I found?
Changed the way I think about playing in different conditions.
So yeah… you’re welcome for the “extreme field testing.”
Now grab your Monster…
Let’s talk golf.
Moisture Changes More Than You Think
Let’s start with something simple: moisture.
Morning dew.
Light rain.
Wet conditions.
It doesn’t seem like a big deal, but it absolutely affects your shots.
• Iron shots can come up a few yards short
• Drives can lose 10–15 yards
• Spin can change depending on contact
And here’s the tricky part…
You can’t always control it.
You can wipe your clubface, sure – but you can’t exactly dry off the ball sitting in the fairway.
So what does that mean?
You need to account for it mentally.
Instead of thinking:
“Why did that come up short?”
Think:
“Alright, conditions probably took a little off that.”
And keeps you from fixing something that isn’t broken.
Temperature Controls Distance (Whether You Like It or Not)
This one surprised me.
Temperature has a bigger impact on distance than most golfers realize.
It’s one of the easiest things to overlook – and one of the easiest to adjust for.
When It’s Warmer:
• Air is less dense
• The ball travels farther
• Your muscles are looser
• Swing speed increases
Everything works in your favor.
When It’s Colder:
• Air is denser
• The ball doesn’t travel as far
• You’re wearing more layers
• Your body is tighter
You lose distance. Period.
And it’s not small.
In bigger temperature swings (30–40 degrees), you could lose:
½ to a full club of distance
That’s real – and it shows up on your scorecard.
The Part Most Golfers Miss
This isn’t just about physics.
It’s about awareness.
When you don’t account for this, you start doing things like:
• Swinging harder
• Forcing distance
• Changing your mechanics mid-round
Sound familiar?
That’s how one small miss turns into three bad holes.
Simple Adjustments That Make a Big Difference
Next time you’re playing:
• Cool morning? → Take one more club
• Wet conditions? → Expect less carry and rollout
• Early spring vs summer? → Adjust expectations
You don’t need to overhaul your swing.
You just need to play the conditions.
Real Talk
Not every “bad shot” is a bad swing.
Sometimes… it’s just the conditions.
And the faster you understand that,
the faster you stop fighting your swing for no reason.
Quick Rule of Thumb:
Cold → Take more club
Warm → Trust your distance
Wet → Expect shorter shots
The Next Shot
Next time a shot comes up short…
Pause.
Don’t immediately blame your swing.
Check the conditions.
Adjust.
Commit.
Swing with confidence.
Real Talk. Play Better.
Effort builds results.
