Changes in elevation - club selection

[Tiger]

I've never travelled much as a golfer tending to play my home track a lot. My old course was flat but the course I play now has more frequent changes of elevation. Would appreciate any guidance or tips on how to adjust club selection based on elevation change. Ta muchly :thup:

 

[PhilTheFragger]

uphill, go up a club, so take a 6 rather than a 7

Downhill go down a club, so take a 7 rather than a 6

If the elevation is less that say 6 feet, either way, it wont make that much difference, but most amatuer players underclub anyway.

dont forget the wind, into the wind going uphill might want to make that 6 a 5 instead

but its practice, if its a big up or down it might be a 2 club difference

 

[Tiger]

Thanks Fragger. Believe it or not I had rationalised that up hill might require more club and vice versa I guess I was wondering if anyone had used one of those slope lasers and found that say a 15 ft change in elevation = 10 yards more distance...

 

[ruff-driver]

I remember reading the equation is roughly 1yd per yd, so a green 10 yds above you = 10 yds more in total distance
usually 1 more club.

 

[delc]

Thanks Fragger. Believe it or not I had rationalised that up hill might require more club and vice versa I guess I was wondering if anyone had used one of those slope lasers and found that say a 15 ft change in elevation = 10 yards more distance...

Slope lasers are illegal under the rules of golf. DMD's can only measure distance! Generally if a hole is significantly uphill take one club more, if downhill one club less.

 

[pokerjoke]

I would say most of the time it would be an extra club uphill but I would argue that its 2 extra clubs downhill purely because uphill you will get very little roll but downhill you would get more.

I was only talking about this with someone the other day as we were playing a 2 club wind against so uphill 2 extra clubs but downhill could be 3 less or even 4.

Mark crossfield did a video on a 300 drivable par 4 with about a 25 foot overall drop and it actually was playing 35 yards less.

 

[Region3]

I would say the opposite to PJ for roll. The longer the ball is in the air, the steeper it lands. The steeper it lands, the less it will roll. Just my guess.

Rubbish drawing below.

Generally 'they' say 10yds uphill means add 10yds to the shot, but it will also vary IMO according to the club you're hitting.
If you imagine my masterpiece with different ball trajectories, the flatter the trajectory the more the slope will affect effective distance.

 

[ruff-driver]

I would say the opposite to PJ for roll. The longer the ball is in the air, the steeper it lands. The steeper it lands, the less it will roll. Just my guess.

Rubbish drawing below.

Generally 'they' say 10yds uphill means add 10yds to the shot, but it will also vary IMO according to the club you're hitting.
If you imagine my masterpiece with different ball trajectories, the flatter the trajectory the more the slope will affect effective distance.

View attachment 19097

like this

 

[pokerjoke]

I would say the opposite to PJ for roll. The longer the ball is in the air, the steeper it lands. The steeper it lands, the less it will roll. Just my guess.

Rubbish drawing below.

Generally 'they' say 10yds uphill means add 10yds to the shot, but it will also vary IMO according to the club you're hitting.
If you imagine my masterpiece with different ball trajectories, the flatter the trajectory the more the slope will affect effective distance.

View attachment 19097

Yes see what your saying Gaz but other factors could come into the equation like green and fairway firmness or even the difference between parkland and Links.

Our 16th on Sunday was un-holdable and our group and the one before couldn't do it,the fairways were like lightning and the greens were firm so you had to take 3 or 4 clubs less and run it on.

 

[sandmagnet]

See where your coming from pj as to I hit 8 iron on a 125 uphill par 3 which bounced to the back but on a 145 downhill one it plugged in the green. Uphill hole bone dry downhill still soggy.

 

[Ethan]

like this

The modern theory of clubbing is that all irons should reach roughly the same apex height, just at different distances down the shot.

Jack Nicklaus used to say that 10 feet of elevation difference equalled one club.

 

[Region3]

like this

Yeah, but my picture had a golfer in it :ears:

 

[ruff-driver]

Yeah, but my picture had a golfer in it :ears:

I saw this :rofl:

 

[Region3]

It's how I see my swing.

 

[delc]

If you are playing to a downhill green, your ball will be in the air longer and all things being equal will travel further. I have played at the very hilly Church Stretton Golf Club and can assure that this is the case.

 

[Tiger]

Hmmm interesting. I know when I chip around the green my coach has told me to use a stronger loft if the ball will land below my feet because it will roll less...

I was guessing maybe a yard per yard so will try and use that next time I play. Delc on the laser thing though they are illegal in comps they aren't for general play so wondered if anyone had one/used one in friendly knocks.

Cheers one and all

 

[ruff-driver]

[video=youtube;Rcy3dTzN5gM]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rcy3dTzN5gM[/video]

 

[Deleted member 15717]

Slope lasers are illegal under the rules of golf. DMD's can only measure distance! Generally if a hole is significantly uphill take one club more, if downhill one club less.

Well, that's a lie. The slope lasers can't be used in competition. Nothing stopping you using them in friendly games.

 

[delc]

Well, that's a lie. The slope lasers can't be used in competition. Nothing stopping you using them in friendly games.

Q.
May a Committee, by Local Rule, permit the use of distance-measuring devices?

A.
Yes. A Committee may establish a Local Rule allowing players to use a device to measure or gauge distance only (see the Note to Rule 14-3). However, if a distance measuring device has additional functionality that can gauge or measure other conditions that might affect a player’s play (e.g. elevation change, wind speed, etc.), the use of any such additional function would be a breach of Rule 14-3.

In the absence of such a Local Rule, the use of a distance-measuring device would be contrary to Rule 14-3. (Revised)

 

[Region3]

Q.
May a Committee, by Local Rule, permit the use of distance-measuring devices?

A.
Yes. A Committee may establish a Local Rule allowing players to use a device to measure or gauge distance only (see the Note to Rule 14-3). However, if a distance measuring device has additional functionality that can gauge or measure other conditions that might affect a player’s play (e.g. elevation change, wind speed, etc.), the use of any such additional function would be a breach of Rule 14-3.

In the absence of such a Local Rule, the use of a distance-measuring device would be contrary to Rule 14-3. (Revised)

If I go to the club for 9 holes after work who cares if I use a laser with a slope function?

I think that's what he was saying, not that they were legal for comps.