Behind the Swing

Urethane balls keep about 90% of their spin in the wet, ionomer balls only about 55%. And of 15 wedges tested, only one kept its spin completely. What the data means for your autumn gear.

Two big tests, two answers: at MyGolfSpy, putting performance barely depended on price; at Today's Golfer, going up to about $300–400 paid off. What that means for your next putter.

The 5-iron loses more strokes per shot than any other club – at every handicap. What strokes gained data reveals about your bag and which swap is really worth it.

A tee won't add distance on a par 3, but it gives you more spin and a steeper landing angle. And data from 668,000 par-3 holes shows: amateurs almost never miss the green long – they miss it short.

From under a metre to almost 20 yards off: independent tests show huge differences between launch monitors. What to look for for your winter practice – and why expensive doesn't automatically mean more accurate.

The average amateur hits their driver about 205 m – and that's barely changed in eight years. What millions of measured drives reveal about handicap, age and accuracy.

Does a warm golf ball fly further? Lab and on-course tests show up to 8 m difference. Plus: what the Rules of Golf say about warming balls, leaves and dew.

Up to 20% less spin, higher launch, more dispersion: what dew and rain do to your wedge and driver – and why one test shows the exact opposite.

For every 10 °C drop, your driver loses about 3–4 m of carry. Add cold balls, moisture and soft fairways. How much distance autumn really costs you – with TrackMan data and a rule-of-thumb table.