Let’s talk about some common (and some not so common) sense ideas for the cooler fall golf weather …

Of course it’s a good idea to pack the toque and cart mitts and begin to layer on the sweaters and vests, but here are a few other interesting notions when playing in the cooler weather…
*If you don’t already play a softer compression golf ball, it’s time to start.  Just like anything else when it freezes, a golf ball gets harder when it gets colder and it becomes harder to compress (you would have to generate more club head speed to create the same ‘potential energy’).  If you don’t want to switch balls, do everything you can to keep your golf ball warm in between holes (keeping your ball in a cart mitt along with a disposable hand warmer works very well, or leave an extra ball in there and switch to the ‘warm’ ball on every other hole).
*Just as a cold golf ball is harder to compress, a cold golf club shaft is harder to bend or ‘load’.  The condition is more noticeable with steel shafts, but as the temperature drops, you’re ‘regular flex’ shafts will feel more like ‘stiff’.  Next time you are out playing in single digit temperatures, put the shaft of one of your irons against your cheek and feel how cold your clubs can really get.  Now pull out your handy dandy golf towel (preferably a dry one) and with the shaft wrapped in the towel give the shaft a ‘brisk polish’ to warm it up and allow it to properly load during your swing.  That same towel also doubles nicely as an extra hand warmer if you have forgotten your cart mitts.
*Remember that the extra layers of tops, vests and/or sweaters that you are wearing to stay warm may also be limiting (or making you ‘feel’ limited in) your range of motion and ability to properly swing your arms.  I know that playing in long sleeves or a jacket is not one of my favorite things to do.  It is important to make sure to complete your shoulder turn in the back swing to give you more time and room to swing your arms.  If you forgot to stretch in a rotary fashion to allow for a full and complete turn of the shoulders against the hips, now would be the time to do that too.  Take advantage of frost delays by taking the time to get a full stretch and warm up.

See you in the short grass…

Dave Lengyl