Move to lower glide discs in winter?

[UhhNegative]

Originally Posted by F. Howl

Really? My understanding is that discs are more overstable in hot weather (hot air has less density, sinse heat causes molecules to move faster and further apart). So discs behave understable in cold weather.

I think Throw, has it right.

Regardless of the science, you should expect to lose distance in the winter. Whether the effect is from your body being cold or the disc being cold or the air being cold doesn't really matter in the end.

See this reddit post

https://www.reddit.com/r/discgolf/co...m_medium=web2x

[Tinkles]

Originally Posted by ThrowBot

If you REALLY care about the physics of it, going from hot to cold air (in terms of air density, and how that affects disc flight) is the same as going from high elevation to sea level. If you go from 100°F to -20°F, that's equivalent to moving from 2000' of elevation down to sea level.

In that perspective, temperature effects on air density are pretty negligible. 100°F to -20°F is a HUGE swing, whereas 2000' of elevation...heck, I've played disc golf holes that vary by hundreds of feet of elevation just going from tee to basket!

I agree with those who say that grip is more important in cold weather!

That's interesting to know. I was thinking more a long the lines of around a 40-50 degree difference which would be even smaller.

[rocthecourse]

I lose distance* as it gets colder so I will add some more understable discs to the bag, in grippy plastic. I would think more glide would get you more distance regardless of temperature.


*Wearing lots of layers, winter boots, cold hands, and not playing as much all add up to shorter drives, at least for me.

[Tinkles]

Originally Posted by UhhNegative

Regardless of the science, you should expect to lose distance in the winter. Whether the effect is from your body being cold or the disc being cold or the air being cold doesn't really matter in the end.

See this reddit post

https://www.reddit.com/r/discgolf/co...m_medium=web2x

Yeah, I think most of us in general lose performance as temps approach or drop below freezing. Especially as I get older...

From that post, the elevation component seems inconsistent with the temperature and humidity. My understanding is that +Temp & +Humidity & +Elevation all = less dense air. I wonder why that post has the elevation component having a different effect on the disc stability than temp and humidity (assuming the cause of the change in stability is a change in air density).

Not to stir up another topic but does higher air density cause the center of lift on a disc to move to the back more creating the additional understability?

Would more dense air in general increase the forces on the disc and exaggerate both phases of flight making a disc more understable at high speed but more overstable at low?

[Meillo]

I think the main difference is that warm ground makes the air heat up and rise, lifting the disc with it, whereas cold ground leads to downward air flow, pushing the disc down. This is the reason I get a distance boost in early summer.


My bag doesn't change much, only white discs out and more baseline plastic.

[mostlynorwegian]

I'm more concerned with grip, and feel. Out goes the harder plastics that get super stiff.

[sidewinder22]

I notice my discs are a slightly more understable in winter.

[Doofenshmirtz]

Lower air temperature, lower humidity and lower elevations all make the air denser. Hot, high humidity days here in the South sure seem to make discs a little more overstable.

Does anyone know if colder temps tend to change the shape of the disc, perhaps decreasing diameter and increasing dome slightly?

[davistd0]

The only things that matter for winter golf:
-no white discs if you play in snow
-use ribbons if you play in deep snow (A+ for helping pace of play)
-no throwing irreplaceable discs
-thick clothing, multiple layers, and tight muscles/tendons have 5x more impact on disc flight than temperature
-from previous point, use less stable and slightly faster discs than normal to compensate
-have fun and work on the parts of your game that need practice

[sidewinder22]

Definitely makes them stiffer and more brittle. Since they are stiffer, they warp less at the hit.