Cold Weather distance

[Bradley Walker]

Now that the temp has dropped thirty degrees I have proably lost 40-50 feet of max distance.

The discs simply do not glide out as well.

The air is definately thicker, and I know this reduced the yardages of golf balls about 10% here in Texas from the hot summer months to the fall.

Anyone else get this or I am I just getting old...

[Amateur]

I've played in around 40 degrees here recently and I couldn't agree more. My max distance with overstable stuff is down but my understable max D is up. I rely on glide to get me there now and not power.

I didn't think my Star Sidewinder would be longer than my Star Starfire, but I just can't throw the Starfire as long as I did 4 weeks ago.

[roadkill]

No doubt you lose distance in colder temps. When the ground freezes I throw more rollers for distance because rollers can go a long ways when the ground is like concrete.

[Bradley Walker]

Seee????

My discs are all more low speed overstable and shorter. It is because the density is up. Yet, at elevation the discs are more overstable?

I am confused.

All I know is this. More air density means more "air" in the "air". Discs go shorter due to drag. Everything else, I am not so sure there are hard and fast rules. Each wing would behave differently.

[deaddisc]

I think that the drop in distance is not just due to the disc flight in the air, but also the effect that cold has on a person. Off the top of my head; effects grip, fluidity of throw, and footing. Also it is harder to stay loose in the cold, thus to me it seems like I am not at peak performance level as compared to summer golf.

[superq]

I dont see a big difference in the air as much as I have a hard time getting my body to do what it needs to.

Layers provide great warmth but they hinder movement...

[roadkill]

Seee????

I am confused.

Obviously!

To maximize distance you do want to maximize glide. So therefore you would choose less stable discs in colder temps and/or high elevations.

Just because discs are more stable at altitude doesn't mean all your discs will be shorter. At 15,000 ft your predator, firebird, wraith and z avenger will likely be shorter than at sea level. However discs that would normally be too understable at sea level may go much farther at 15,000 ft.

So when you go to Aspen for Kiss the Sky next year pack your beat to heck pro starfire, sidewinder and roadrunner and leave the banshee and z pred at home.

[Bradley Walker]

Seee????

I am confused.

Obviously!

To maximize distance you do want to maximize glide. So therefore you would choose less stable discs in colder temps and/or high elevations.

Just because discs are more stable at altitude doesn't mean all your discs will be shorter. At 15,000 ft your predator, firebird, wraith and z avenger will likely be shorter than at sea level. However discs that would normally be too understable at sea level may go much farther at 15,000 ft..

Ha Ha!!!

At elevation your discs will likely be longer due to the lower density, period... All of the new distance records pretty much prove that...

[garublador]

At elevation your discs will likely be longer due to the lower density, period... All of the new distance records pretty much prove that...

Acutally, all the new distance records suggest is that you can throw farther at elevation with a tailwind. It doesn't really prove anything about density at all, but I'd agree that it probably has something to do with it.

[trogdor]

Seee????

I am confused.

Obviously!

To maximize distance you do want to maximize glide. So therefore you would choose less stable discs in colder temps and/or high elevations.

Just because discs are more stable at altitude doesn't mean all your discs will be shorter. At 15,000 ft your predator, firebird, wraith and z avenger will likely be shorter than at sea level. However discs that would normally be too understable at sea level may go much farther at 15,000 ft..

Ha Ha!!!

At elevation your discs will likely be longer due to the lower density, period... All of the new distance records pretty much prove that...

Are the distance records on the World Flying Disc Federation site not up to date? If this information is dated, please direct me to the current records.

Distance
Outdoor Distance:
Open: 250.00 m Christian Sandstrom (SWE) 4/26/02 El Mirage, CA
Women: 139.00 m Jennifer Griffin (USA) 6/28/05 San Diego, CA

Elevations (quick google search): 2884 for El Mirage and <300 feet for San Diego.

[Bradley Walker]

I do not understand.

2884 ft seems pretty high to me. Dallas is at 500 feet.

I was just commenting on the fact that many of the new records have been set at elevation. Stokely complained in his book that many of the old records were more impressive becasue they were thrown at more typical elevations (including his own).

[trogdor]

Aha!

Elevation is a relative term.

http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0001792.html (It's on the internet, so it must be true...) has a listing of Highest, Lowest and Mean elevations in the US and shows the mean for the US at 2500 feet.

For you flatlanders, 2900 is high. For us mountain folk, 2900 is low.

I think Stokely lived in Ft. Collins, CO at the time. Did he travel down to a lower elevation or were his records set in CO?

[twmccoy]

I think that the drop in distance is not just due to the disc flight in the air, but also the effect that cold has on a person. Off the top of my head; effects grip, fluidity of throw, and footing. Also it is harder to stay loose in the cold, thus to me it seems like I am not at peak performance level as compared to summer golf.

I agree with this. When its cold I don't throw as far either. I feel it is more related to not being able to grip the disc as well as in warm conditions. Also my arm just doesn't seem to have as much zip in the cold either. I play most of my disc golf in the winter and do actually throw pretty well, but on the really cold days my distance will go down.

[Bradley Walker]

I think that the drop in distance is not just due to the disc flight in the air, but also the effect that cold has on a person. Off the top of my head; effects grip, fluidity of throw, and footing. Also it is harder to stay loose in the cold, thus to me it seems like I am not at peak performance level as compared to summer golf.

I agree with this.

Well...me too...in every respect, not just disc golf.

I am impared in the winter compared to the summer most of the time.

[Texas Made]

All I know is that since it has got cold, I seem to have more luck with the Leopard, because of its high glide....I sould see where the air density would change durring colder temps becase cold air sinks.
It makes sense to me.