How much does temperature affect driving distance?

I've noticed when I've gone out the past few times it's been about 50-55 as opposed to 80-90 a month or so ago (indian summer), and my throws are up to 30 feet shorter. (From "Not Very Far" to "Not Even that Far")

Sounds like an SAT question.
hmm for every ten degrees less, you will throw about ten feet shorter?
I also noticed last week, while playing in a snow shower, my drives were pretty short too. So I would guess that temperature/airpressure, do have something to do with D of the disc.

And don't underestimate the fact that it's just plain #(Y*%U cold.

When temperature decreases the atoms/molecules inside of the disc (as well as any other object) will vibrate less. This will cause the disc to contract, giving it a slightly smaller diameter, thus affecting the flight of the disc.
Cold weather may also stiffen your muscles, preventing you from throwing with a loose release. Not to mention bulky clothing (jackets/sweatshirts) getting in the way.
Make sure to keep yourself warm and try to keep the disc warm if possible.

Not positive, but I doubt the temperature will make the disc shrink enough for there to be a noticable differece. Bulky clothing, stiff joints and muscles, and thinner air maybe? would be my explanation. Isn't the air thinner when it is colder out which would create less lift for the disc?

How much does temperature affect driving distance?

I've noticed when I've gone out the past few times it's been about 50-55 as opposed to 80-90 a month or so ago (indian summer), and my throws are up to 30 feet shorter. (From "Not Very Far" to "Not Even that Far")



It has everything to do with air pressure which has a direct correlation with temperature. When it is hot(high pressure usually) the air is lighter and the disc will carry farther. Conversely, when it is cold(usually low pressure but not always) the air is heavier and the disc will not carry as far.

Try to look at the bright side...fewer leafs resulting in wider fairways and the ground is harder so your shorter drive could skip farther.

Cold weather is another (valid) excuse you can use after a not so hot round.

The change in size of the disc is likely not visible to the human eye. But you can tell that it has contracted b/c the disc will have a firmer feel to it. It's the concept of linear thermal expansion and is encourtered in many aspects of everyday life. For example, next time you drive over a major bridge you can notice that the slabs of concrete are seperated by hing-like braces (look almost like teeth, or like a gear). These are used to allow for the expansion and contraction of the concrete over summer and winter in which temperature levels are extreme. Plastic has a very low coefficeint of linear expansion and changes molecular structure quite easily compared to conrete.
The disc won't shrink to the size of a mini but it will undoubtedly undergoe change.

When matter gets cold, molecules slow down and start to move to the next state down (gas moves tward liquid, liquid moves tward solid) Just because u cant see the air molecules doesnt mean they are not there. We are living, playing at the bottom of an ocean of air, held to the earth by gravity. When it gets colder the air molecules slow down. This thoery could be validated by people who play at very high altitude where it is closer to space and there is less air molecules. Remember, though, the Berneli (sp?) effect needs air molecules to move accross the airfoil to create the low pressure that lifts the disc and causes the high speed turn effect to, so mabee the discs may not high speed turn as much at high altitudes because of the high altitude and hyser more. Heck, maybe colder, lazyer molecules help create an even lower pressure on the flight plate and discs may high speed turn FASTER at colder temps. OK, now im babbling. How much this effects flight, I don't know, I'm new and havent played in real cold conditions yet, and i'm not sure how measurably it effects the disc but this is a good question. Id like to build a thrower to test discs though and this would be a good experiment. Some pros would know i bet (a little help!)

What I meant was I didn't think the size of the disc would change enough for it to affect its flight due to the surface being less creating less lift. I'm sure the size does change.

Gotcha . . .
Looking at the other posts it seems like the answer has more to deal with air anyway . . . I don't know.

I actually just threw 40 discs on my lunch break. It's pretty cold here (NY) but there was too much wind for me to tell if there was any change in my distance.

ok, sounds like there's enough of a consensus that lower temperatures could be affecting my distance that i cqan use it as an excuse! ;)

actually, not looking for an excuse, i have some pretty good ones already, just frustrated that my distance seems to have decreased. on the brighter side, i was having no problem flattening my throws from a hyzer release.

Cold air is thicker not thinner, but I doubt that has anything to do with anything. It's probably your coat. Try throwing with your coat on in the summer. Still can't throw as far?

Just for fun try throwing with a long sleeve shirt on with buttons on the sleeve. Probably takes 50 feet off your throw. Nobody plays with long sleeves on with buttons on the sleeves. Winter coats are even worse.

It's probably your coat. Try throwing with your coat on in the summer. Still can't throw as far? Just for fun try throwing with a long sleeve shirt on with buttons on the sleeve.



doh! that's could be it, i was wearing a t-shirt, a long sleeve shirt (with the cuffs unbuttoned), a sweatshirt, and a winter jacket (which i took off after a few throws). plus, now that i think about it, the discs were probably more slippery due to moisture in the air. not sure what to do about all the layers, though, i'm pretty skinny and get cold easily. what do you folks wear in the cold weather?

I think the cold-cold makes me smaller, my arm smaller and my brain smaller ... maybe it just appears that my disc isn't going very far ... since I'm so small.
Doh!

try multiple layers instead of a heavy coat. I play all winter long and I can throw just as far in the winter as long as there isn't snow on the ground. Depends on your run up and release. Playing a lot in freezing temps helps too :D

I'm surprised there's a debate about this: Colder air is thicker and doesn't rise so discs don't go as far.

BRIGHT IDEA: In cold weather, ball golfers put an extra ball in their pocket to warm up so that they can tee off with a warmer ball, which compresses more and goes farther. So, logically, maybe you should shove your best driver down your pants to get ready for the next tee! :)

Wasn't really a debate. I was just pretty sure air changed due to temperature, wasn't sure which way it went, but now that I think about it, it does make more sense that it gets thicker. I was just innappropriately correlating elevation, coldness, and thin air when i guessed air got thinner due to coldness.

Just another point besides air pressure...

In the summer (in most areas) the ground heats up as the sunlight hits it. Now the earth gives off this heat in the form of geothermal heat waves. Basically, the heated air rises and your disc will also be carried by it. If you want proof, look at the highway on a hot day. You will see the hot air rising and the air will look distorted. Now in most areas, the ground does not give off enough heat that you can see it, but it does radiate enough so that a disc could be suspended in flight for a longer period of time.

It's pretty normal when you lose a little distance in the winter. Discs usually turn over more because you have to put a little more into them. Don't get frustrated. By the end of winter, you will be throwing the same distance that you were in the summer. Then guess what happens when the summer comes around again!

It's pretty normal when you lose a little distance in the winter. ... Don't get frustrated. By the end of winter, you will be throwing the same distance that you were in the summer. Then guess what happens when the summer comes around again!



That's a nice thought! One other bonus of Winter: the grass is slippery and has been affecting my x-step, so I started throwing with both feet planted just to work on perfecting my upper body technique, and am now throwing almost as far as I was with the x-step. (Which admittedly still isn't very far)

Being up in Wisconsin, I know all about playing in 30-40 degree weather. I have always noticed that when is is really cold out, the discs just don't go as far. I find myself having to throw harder than I usually do in normal weather. I don't know the physics behind this theory though. :confused:

Its because it's cold outside and you hands are cold, plus wearing a jacket and boots don't help. Throwing in snow and on ice also doesn't help the distance factor.

I'm surprised there's a debate about this: Colder air is thicker and doesn't rise so discs don't go as far.

BRIGHT IDEA: In cold weather, ball golfers put an extra ball in their pocket to warm up so that they can tee off with a warmer ball, which compresses more and goes farther. So, logically, maybe you should shove your best driver down your pants to get ready for the next tee! :)



Makes since for ball golfers, but why do the top distance pros keep their plastic in coolers untill just before they throw?

I have found that when my discs are colder I they tend to be less grippy and I can snap them alot harder. My biggest D by 40ft was on a "cold for the south" day. I improved from 412ft to 440ft. by a normal drop in temperature by 20 degrees. Of course once it gets too cold your hands can be affected thus causing loss of control hence loss of distance.