Last Updated on January 14, 2024 by Matt Greene
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Playing in the cold is for die hard golfers.
I’m a fair weather golfer now, but there was a time I would play in near freezing temperatures in the dry Johannesburg sun.
Wearing warm clothing and the right shoes is essential, but considered your golf ball. Which one is going to help you the most in cold conditions?
Playing the best cold weather golf balls can stop that painful sting of a mis-hit and get you a few more yards.
What to look for in a cold weather golf ball
Cold weather means that the golf course will be playing differently. The turf is likely to be soggy and the air heavy with moisture.
There can be leaves on the ground, obscuring your golf ball in the rough.
There are a lot of things to consider when looking for the best golf balls for cold weather.
Here is what we suggest that you should be looking for:
Durability
Cold, wintery conditions are tough on balls and they are more likely to scuff. We need to choose a golf ball which can withstand the cold weather elements and perform round after round.
Speed (best distance golf ball)
Cold air is denser than warm air and creates additional drag on the golf ball. For every 10 degrees drop in temperature, the ball loses two yards of distance. We must choose a winter golf ball which maximises every MPH of club head speed in cold temperatures.
Visibility (best colour golf balls for winter)
Light can be low in cold, wintry conditions and balls can get plugged or obscured by leaves in the rough. Choosing a brightly coloured winter golf ball can be the difference between losing a ball in the semi rough or finding it.
Price
A premium ball with a soft cover isn’t going to add much to your game in the winter. Save your money for the summer season and choose a more economical golf ball for your low temperature rounds.
Best Golf Balls For Cold Weather
- Titleist TruFeel (Best for all round winter performance)
- Taylormade Tour Response (Premium urethane option)
- Bridgestone e6 Speed (Excellent option for higher ball flight)
- Nitro Pulsar (Best budget option)
- Volvik Vimax Soft (Low compression ball for high flight)
Titleist TruFeel
Consistent performer from the #1 ball OEM in golf
What makes this such an attractive winter option is the use of the fastest material Titleist can create in the ball’s construction. This golf ball flies really high in the colder air and I found that it wasn’t overly affected by the windy conditions.
As you would expect from a Titleist ball, there were no issues with durability, even when playing out of wet bunkers and soggy lies. Around the greens this ball performed really despite being harder than other balls in the range. It doesn't feel like a two piece ball, and has the softer feeling you'd associate with a more expensive golf ball.
The yellow ball is my preferred color option and I was able to pick it up really well on a misty February morning. The side stamp decal was really useful for lining up putts. It's not a Pro V1, but would you notice the difference in cold damp conditions?
Reasons to buy
Taylormade Tour Response
Premium urethane option which ticks all of the boxes
If you crave the soft feel of urethane but don’t want to risk scuffing or losing a super premium golf ball, this might just be the golf ball for you. I found this ball to feel very similar to the TP5 and performed really well even though my swing speed was slower than normal due to the amount of winter clothing I was wearing.
The ball was stopping dead on the softer greens and gave me the confidence I needed to fire at the pin. On short wedge shots the ball skidded in the dew once before checking up near to the hole. Off the putter, the ball has a good feel, soft but with enough resistance to give good levels of feedback.
Available in yellow or white, this would’ve taken the top spot if it were slightly cheaper.
Reasons to buy
Bridgestone e6 Speed
Point and shoot option for higher handicappers
I’ve used and reviewed the Bridgestone e6 before so I was interested to see how they would perform in cold conditions. I have come to expect a golf ball that goes long and straight but isn’t super soft.
It turns out this combination is PERFECT for cold weather and wintery conditions. The two piece construction and low compression allows this ball to fly in the dense air and the unique Dual Dimple pattern reduces sidespin making the ball super stable in the wind.
The 2021 e6 Speed is an improvement on older models and the yellow version is particularly striking and easy to follow.
Check these out. You won’t be disappointed.
Reasons to buy
Nitro Pulsar
Surprising results from a super budget option
Ok I’ll level with you. When I pulled these out of the sleeve, I wasn’t expecting much. The matte finish reminded me of my go-to Volvik Vivid, but something wasn’t sitting right. Was it the colour? Anyway, long story short is that these are EPIC. Ignore the fantastical claims on the box and let the golf ball do the talking because these things produce BOMBS!
This could be the stealth contender for one of the best golf balls for cold weather. They come in a silly low price, they are available in lots of colours and they are consistent in the cold, dense air. This is everything we’re looking for from a cold weather ball.
This is a 3 piece ball so they did spin well around the green and felt very soft which was a surprise considering how far they flew. The ionomer cover meant they were super durable. I will definitely be keeping some of these in my bag.
Reasons to buy
Volvik ViMax Soft
Great ball for slower swing speeds
I love Volvik balls. I regularly game the Volvik Vivid so I wanted to try out the ViMax as I’d heard they offered similar performance at a slightly lower price point.
Volvik ViMAX Soft balls have a 2 piece construction, 75 compression and high launch with soft greenside spin. This ball felt slightly harder than the Vivid, but the matte finish and high visibility color made it feel very familiar.
This ball felt hot and long off the driver with a medium ball flight. With my long irons this ball went so high, I was glad that I had selected the red finish as I might’ve lost it! Spin on and around the greens wasn’t the most I’ve experienced, but I was playing on pretty moist surfaces. In the summer these would probably suit a player who prefers to roll up their chips and pitches.
Reasons to buy
Should you switch golf balls in winter conditions?
Does Cold Weather Affect Golf Balls?
Yes, it does. The temperature of the weather affects your golf balls a lot. The material of a ball has a thermal reaction. It can expand and shrink due to the high and low of the weather. The ability of the ball to compress and rebound is hindered in cold weather and enhanced in warm weather.
Golf balls go further on a dry 100 degree day compared to a 0 degree day.
Do Golf Balls Go Shorter in Cold Weather?
Yes, they do. Cold weather makes the golf balls go less distance. The best way to prevent totally cold balls is to keep one in your pocket and change balls every hole, swapping between the one in your pocket and the one in play.
Why Do Golf Balls Go Farther in Warm Weather?
The warm air is less dense than the cool air. The “temperature” we talk about is a measure of how fast the air molecules are moving. When the temperature is cold, air molecules pack closely together and move slower which results in a high density. When the temperature is hot, the air molecules are wider spaced and move much faster. This results in a lower air density so there is less resistance on the golf ball.
How Much Distance Do You Lose in Cold Weather Golf?
According to Trackman Golf, you could lose 2 yards for every 10-degree Fahrenheit lowering in temperature with your driver.
As the loft increases, you will notice smaller increments in distance change, with a pitching wedge having around 1 yard loss per 10 degrees in cooling.
If you play on a 100 degree day compared to your normal 60 degree day, you will gain 8 yards of carry with your driver.
Golf ball distance temperature chart
Here's a simple chart to break down how weather conditions and temperature will affect the distance of a golf ball.
| Temperature (Fahrenheit) | Driver (yards) | 4-iron (yards) | 7-iron (yards) | PW (yards) |
| 30° | 242 | 183 | 153 | 123 |
| 40° | 244 | 185 | 155 | 125 |
| 50° | 246 | 186 | 156 | 126 |
| 60° | 248 | 188 | 158 | 128 |
| 70° | 250 | 190 | 160 | 130 |
| 80° | 252 | 192 | 162 | 131 |
| 90° | 254 | 194 | 163 | 133 |
| 100° | 256 | 195 | 165 | 134 |
| 110° | 258 | 197 | 167 | 135 |
Is It Legal To Warm Golf Balls?
No, it isn’t. According to USGA rules, warming a golf ball artificially is illegal (rule 14-3 or 13.5). However, you can put a ball in your pants or vest pocket which will keep it warm anyway.
What is the longest golf ball in cold weather?
The longest golf ball for cold weather is the Bridgestone E6. BUT this ball is better suited to average to below average swing speeds.
Higher swing speeds will get more distance from the Titleist TruFeel or TaylorMade Tour response.
Final thoughts
You want to have durable and high visibility golf balls for cold weather golf, that will still go a decent distance.
The threat of losing balls, not finding them for no apparent reason and also the lack of distance will render most golf balls the same.
Go cheaper, go colorful, and good luck!