WIND CALCS , FORMULA's , & MORE

DarSum 1,440 Posts

Mon, Aug 8 2011 9:11 AM

Here's a chart I copied last year off the forum. This isn't my creation. This is  the original that I copied from a post in the forum. Mine has been altered for my clubs and balls. It is actually a pretty good starting point for new players that have no idea how much a head or tail wind is going to affect their shots. GIve it a try and manipulate the yardages to suit your clubs and balls. I know for me personally this chart helped a lot when I started out.

	5mph	7mph	10mph	12mph	15mph	17mph	20mph
260yd,	7.59	10.62	15.17	18.2	22.77	25.78	30.34
250yd,	7.29	10.2	14.59	17.5	21.87	24.8	29.18
240yd,	7	9.8	14	16.8	21	23.8	28
230yd,	6.71	9.39	13.42	16.1	20.13	22.81	26.84
220yd,	6.42	8.98	12.84	15.4	19.26	21.82	25.68
210yd,	6.13	8.58	12.25	14.7	18.39	20.82	24.5
200yd,	5.83	8.16	11.67	14	17.49	19.83	23.34
190yd,	5.54	7.75	11.09	13.3	16.62	18.85	22.18
180yd,	5.25	7.35	10.5	12.6	15.75	17.85	21
170yd,	4.96	6.94	9.92	11.9	14.88	16.86	19.84
160yd,	4.67	6.53	9.34	11.2	14.01	15.87	18.68
150yd,	4.38	6.13	8.75	10.5	13.14	14.87	17.5
140yd,	4.08	5.71	8.17	9.8	12.24	13.88	16.34
130yd,	3.79	5.3	7.56	9.07	11.37	12.85	15.12
120yd,	3.5	4.9	7	8.4	10.5	11.9	14
110yd,	3.21	4.49	6.42	7.7	9.63	10.91	12.84
100yd,	2.92	4.08	5.83	7	8.76	9.91	11.66
90yd,	2.63	3.68	5.25	6.3	7.89	8.92	10.5
80yd,	2.33	3.26	4.67	5.6	6.99	7.93	9.34
70yd,	2.04	2.85	4.08	4.89	6.12	6.93	8.16
60yd,	1.75	2.4	3.5	4.2	5.25	5.95	7
50yd,	1.46	2.04	2.92	3.5	4.38	4.96	5.84
40yd,	1.17	1.63	2.33	2.79	3.51	3.96	4.66
30yd,	0.88	1.23	1.75	2.1	2.64	2.97	3.5
20yd,	0.58	0.81	1.17	1.4	1.74	1.98	2.34
10yd,	0.29	0.4	0.58	0.69	0.87	0.98	1.16

D0UBLEBOGEY 5 Posts

Fri, Sep 8 2017 11:41 AM

D0UBLEBOGEY:
Is this for headwind? Or tail wind?  Can't imagine you use the same yardages for both. 

Royboy1946 1,847 Posts

Thu, Nov 9 2017 1:38 AM

+ for headwind, - for tailwind with a slight adjustment. example head 180 12head= 180+12.6=192.6 tail 180-(12.6*.75)= 170.55

marbo79 6 Posts

Sat, Aug 13 2011 7:46 AM

trumpy959 99 Posts

Fri, Aug 12 2011 11:20 AM

trumpy959:

   The wind speed in MPH above the line is for straight on, or straight against scenarios. The % of adjustment below the line corresponds to the number directly above it,  to either be added or subtracted as needed.  Diagonal winds need a bit of imagination and experimentation.  For example a 9 o'clock to 3 o'clock breeze (or visa versa) needs no additional yardage added if your plan is to ride the full effect of the wind and DING your shot. This is an easy approach that works well for me. Of coarse various irons and ball combinations play a factor, as well as elevation and green speed. With my current equipment full backspin or topspin equals an additional loss or gain of approx. 4%, which can further be used to fine tune your shot.

   5         7        10        12         15        17        20     (MPH)

   -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

   2         3         4          5           6          7          8     (% of adjustment )

   

   150 yard w/ 17 MPH headwind ( 150 + 7% = 160.5 )

   150 yard w/ 17 MPH tailwind  ( 150 - 7% = 139.5 )  



I use a similar system of apreciating wind brake, The difference it is that I divide the wind strengh by 2 and I add or substract from yardage. That give close results to yours. For crosswinds I use inspiration:p.

genorb [Belgium]


genorb
1,238 Posts
Thu, Aug 11 2011 9:46 AM

   YankeeJim:

   IMO, if one is  calculating yardages this tight you're just setting yourself up for a rant or something. I mean, 1/2 a yard??!! C'mon. With the deviations built into this game that's just crazy.

Hi Jim,

I guess those numbers were not all obtained from experiments on the course, otherwise you would not get such a perfect linear relation with a constant factor like 0.584.

One knows that wind affects distances, the simplest relation one can come with is a linear relation. You know that for 0mph wind, the distance is not affected. You try, from experiments on the course, to guess what happens for a perfect headwind of 20mph. Then you do the same for 10mph. From these 3 points, you can get the best linear relation and hope it works for other speed of the wind .

All these numbers above are summarized in the following formula: if D is the distance from the ball to the hole (I am talking about approach shots) and if D' is the distance corrected for the wind (I am talking about perfect headwind here), the formula which encode all those numbers above is

D' = D (1+V / 171)

where V is the speed of the wind in mph. 171 is the magic number found by the original poster. All linear relation between speed of wind and the additional distance you need to add can be written under this form (edit: only the magic number, 171 in this case, will be different).

Linear relation means that if you double the speed of the wind, you double the distance to add (it's not obvious that this relation is linear!). Indeed, the relation I wrote above can be written as

deltaD = D' - D = D V / 171

deltaD being just the additional distance. Written like that, if you double V, you double deltaD.

Regards.

YankeeJim [United States]
[WGT Nation member]

YankeeJim
25,559 Posts
Thu, Aug 11 2011 11:38 AM

Good explanation, Gen, but your observation of "it's not obvious that this relation is linear!" is where it all breaks down. Up until the CGs, none of the clubs in play had a linear relationship from swing strength to distance. I would think it safe to assume this non-linear trait would extend to the other factors in the game, like wind speed. If that were the case then the charts would be just an educated guess.

In my layperson mind I see VEM as the vehicle that makes computing exact mathematical results and expecting them to act consistently virtually impossible (no pun intended.)  Charts like above would give you a good benchmark to work from as DarSum did but what did he wind up doing?~making his own charts. His best guess based on experience.

Heh-I'm in Ace's camp, not being a gamer. See the ball, hit the ball, go find it and hit it again.  ;-)

genorb [Belgium]
[WGT Nation member]

genorb
1,238 Posts
Thu, Aug 11 2011 2:40 PM

   YankeeJim:

   Good explanation, Gen

Thanks Jim

   YankeeJim:

   Charts like above would give you a good benchmark to work from

That's the point. When you first start to play this game, you have no idea what could be the impact of the wind on your shot. Those kind of charts give you an idea. But it depends on other parameters, like the club and balls you are using, the amount of spin or the topography of the landing area.

Regards

It is easyer to memoryse a constant 0.58. For 100 y shot a 1 mph wind will deviate the ball with 0.58 yards. You do the math for the rest. If distance is 170 and the wind 14mph we  multiply 0.58x1.7x14=13.8y.

marbo79 6 Posts

Wed, Aug 10 2011 1:25 PM

lets make it easier...
60% of wind = yardage.. EG: 150 yards + 10 MPH downwind = 156 yards
 
 
at least that's what I do... it's not perfect, but close... (I think)
I do agree that there are sometimes variables...
Make sure to calculate the elevation of the target FIRST. That has a huge effect on the effectiveness of the wind as well...
 
Just my humble observation

TrufflIE 524 Posts

Tue, Jan 31 2012 8:01 PM

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chrisironsbones 3,524 Posts

Mon, Feb 6 2012 7:48 AM

Easier to work out wind by what club you use NOT distance.  Example (R11's & Nike lvl:48)
If you were using the 180 yard iron, the club would get effected by 7.5 yards per 10 mph wind (nike balls) whilst the 195 iron might get effected by 8 or 9 yards per 10 mph wind & 210 iron might get effected by 9 or 10 yards per 10 mph wind.  Whilst the 100 yard wedge & 120 PW would get effected 5 yards per 10mph wind and 135 iron & 150 iron would get effected by 6 yards per 10 mph wind.  EASIER TO FOLLOW!
The 225 iron might get effected by 10 or 11 yards per 10 mph & wood would be 11yards too.
Elevation change: 3 feet up = 1 yard, 4 feet down = 1 yard (but some holes are higher/lower than actualy indicated)
Extra yardages for R11's with Nike level 48's:
80 wedge =83 yards, 100 wedge=103 yards, 120 PW=126 yards, 9i,135=142, 8i,150=157, 7i,165=172, 6i,180=188, 5i,195=204, 4i,210=221, 3i,225=237
Distance you get (roughly) approaching green with full back spin:
PW=116, 9i=131, 8i=146, 7i=161, 6i=176, 5i=191, 4i=206, 3i=221
Due to the extra yardages of Nikes/Callaways, a good thing to learn is the distances your balls travell with no spin, and then with full spin, knowing this you can manipulate spin, by giving it a touch above fullspin, or a touch under half spin etc,etc to know how far your ball will travell, i.e full spin your 180 iron might go 176 yards, no spin 188 yards, so by manipulating spin you can get it to travell say 180 yards, its proper distance without having to choke back on meter (or you can just give no spin and choke the meter back.LOL)
This formula has served me well in this game, and is for sale at my profile page for a tidy sum of $20.  Money well spent because it will guarantee you first place in the $20 ready go every time you enter!  ()

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TrufflIE 524 Posts

Thu, Apr 26 2012 4:42 PM

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20feet 2,060 Posts

Tue, Apr 24 2012 10:42 AM

20feet:
I JUST USE TAIL WIND ON THE TEE,   60% X WIND ? = ?
HEAD WIND ON THE TEE,                  40% X WIND ? = ?
ON THE FAIRWAY TAIL WIND              30% X WIND ? = ?
ON THE FAIRWAY HEAD WIND            20% X WIND ? = ?
http://www.wgt.com/gameclient.aspx?view=tourney&JSON=%257B%2520%2522TournamentId%2522%2520%253A%2520%25227751cce8-f072-428b-b79f-a03c00ecb095%2522%252C%2520%2522GameType%2522%2520%253A%2520%25221%2522%252C%2520%2522GameCourseId%2522%2520%253A%2520%2522BOS_11_FC_01%2522%252C%2520%2522TournamentDefinitionUrl%2522%2520%253A%2520%2522assets/tournament/UserCreated/%2522%252C%2520%2522Brand%2522%2520%253A%2520%2522%2522%252C%2520%2522IsReadyGo%2522%2520%253A%2520%25220%2522%2520%257D

 
May work for your clubs, but i've noticed my long irons play about 100% of the wind...

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gr8flbob 588 Posts

Fri, Sep 14 2012 3:47 PM

MikeDeck51:
hey what do you do with those distance formulas? i dont understand the egual amounts what does those mean would like to know thanks mike

Each combination of club and ball and spin will have an certain average carry (and roll), given flat terrain and nil wind. 

Add in wind, and it will impact both carry/roll distance and, depending on the relative direction of the wind, left or right deflection of the shot. The longer the ball is in the air (determined by spin and length of shot) the more the actual carry and direction are affected.
Let's take an excerpt from the OP:
120yd, 10mph wind = 7yd
110yd, 10mph wind = 6.42yd
100yd, 10mph wind = 5.83yd
90yd, 10mph wind = 5.25yd
80yd, 10mph wind = 4.67yd
70yd, 10mph wind = 4.08yd
What the info is telling you is if you had a direct headwind of 10mph and 100 yds to the pin, you need to use a club and power that will produce a 106 yd shot (I round it all out because this game is just not that precise). If it's a direct tailwind, use a 94 yd shot. if the wind is directly R-L or L-R, use your 100 yd shot, but offset the aiming point 6 yds right or left respectively. (That's about equal to 2.5 flag-stick lengths.)
If the wind direction is anywhere else than directly at you, or toward the target ,or at right angle to your ball flight, you will need to reduce the corrections you make in aiming and distance.
Remember that there are programmed deviations in this game so, even with the best balls and clubs and a 'dinged shot' your shot will end up somewhere in a 'circle of error' of a few % of total distance.
Additionally, the terrain where your shot lands (slope, type of lie, etc.), as well as any elevation changes between your lie and the target, can have a huge impact on the result. What course you're playing also has an impact.
All these factors mean that ultimately you have play all the courses a lot to know what to expect. There's no real short cut to low scores; know your equipment capabilities and know where to put your shots (especially approach shots) to give yourself the easiest possible putts.

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SkuyGuy 7 Posts

Sat, Sep 22 2012 9:00 AM

Hi all,
I think I have found the right forum to post my math for calculating distances. Are you ready?
 

The math looks like a lot. I used to do the calculations on a handheld calculator. I finally wised up and built an 
 
excel spreadsheet where I just type in the data and get the answer. This is the distance formula as explained below:
 
distance to hit = d + w*(d/210)*sin(A) + 0.4 * e + {d/(bs+ 0.14*e)}/{1+(w/20)*BB}
 
***************************
 
Explanation
___________
 
There are four "terms" involved:
 
1. "d" is the distance shown to the hole.
 
2. "w*(d/210)*sin(A)" is the amount of yardage to compensate for the wind against or with you. A negative angle, 
 
tailwind, subtracts yardage and a positive angle adds. More explained below.
 
3. "0.4 * e" adds or subtracts yardage from the strike due to elevation. A negative elevation subtracts yardage and a 
 
postive one adds.
 
4. "{d/(bs+ 0.14*e)}/{1+(w/20)*BB}"  When using backspin yardage needs to be added. This term is explained in detail 
 
below.
 
 
In its most basic form it does not calculate for backspin:
 
 
distance to hit = d + w*(d/210)*sin(A) + 0.4 * e
 
where:
 
d = The distance to target in yards.
 
w = windspeed.
 
e = elevation in feet

 
210. This means that at 210 yards the wind strength against you knocks off 1 yard for every 1 mph. So if you are at 
 
105 yards it only knocks off about 1/2 yard per mph. Wgt varies this a bit but I use 210 right now, it seems to vary 
 
between 190 and 270. Also, changing this values has little affect on overall outcome, but its necassary to get within 
 
a few yards on your strike.
 
e = elevation. I use 0.4. This adds or subtracts yardage to the hit according to elevation change. 0.4 seems to be 
 
perfect and constant.
 
A = the angle of the wind. If it is against you use 90 degrees, and for pure tailwind use -90 degrees. Pure crosswind 
 
is 0 degrees, etc. The wind vector that affects the balls travel distance is the sine of the angle. For the wind 
 
vector that affects the lateral movement of the ball, how much the ball gets pushed sideways, I use the cosine of the 
 
angle.
 
Using full backspin requires adding yardage to your strike. To do this I have found that each club (and ball!) has a 
 
characteristic number to divide the distance, d, by. It varies from club to club. For wedges I typically use between 6 
 
to 8 yards, and for irons it varies from 13 to 68 from small yardage to large yardage irons.  For example, if the 
 
distance to the hole is 100 yards, then divide 100 by 6.75 or 100/6.75 = 14.8 yards. The new equation looks like this:
 
distance to hit = d + w*(d/210)*sin(A) + 0.4 * e + d/bs
 
where:
bs = the backspin divisor for the club in use.You will have to experiment with this number. To start, for high degree 
 
wedges (like 52, 60, 64 Clevelands) I use about 8. 
 
*On a side note my Cleveland 60 deg 80 yard wedge has so much backspin I don not use it at all and hence dont use the 
 
d/bs part, so the formula is simpler.
 
This does get the distance closer and allows for using the full backspin confidently. However, elevation effects the 
 
balls ability. This can be compensated for. The new part of that formula becomes:
 
d/(bs+0.14*e)
 
This has the affect of decreasing the added yardage for higher elevations and increasing the added yardage for lower 
 
elevations. 0.14 seems to be the right value to use. The new formula becomes:
 
distance to hit = d + w*(d/210)*sin(A) + 0.4 * e + d/(bs+ 0.14*e)
 
Added backspin distance is also, unfortunately, effected by the direction of the wind. Into the wind and the ball 
 
bites best, while with a strong tailwind it bites the least. To compensate for this effect the whole term d/(bs+ 
 
0.14*e) can be divided another number that is dependent upon the wind angle. If pure headwind, dividing the term by 1 
 
has no affect, and with pure tailwind dividing by 2 seems to have the best result. The new formula becomes:
 
distance to hit = d + w*(d/210)*sin(A) + 0.4 * e + {d/(bs+ 0.14*e)}/AA
 
where AA is a number dependant on wind angle. The numbers I use for AA for 90 degrees is:
 
1 (pure headwind). For other angles use:
80 deg = 1.06
70 = 1.12
60 = 1.17
50 = 1.23
40 = 1.31
30 = 1.33
20 = 1.37
10 = 1.385
 0 = 1.4  (pure crosswind)
-10 = 1.576
-20 = 1.752
-30 = 1.928
-40 = 1.104
-50 = 1.28
-60 = 1.456
-70 = 1.632
-80 = 1.81
-90 = 2.0   (pure tailwind)
 
This gets it even closer. However, wind speed affects these numbers. It seems most accurate for 20 mph. A stronger or 
 
lighter wind makes it act different. To compensate for this modify the backspin distance formula divisor AA to be 
 
equal to  AA = 1 + (1 - AA)*(w/20). For a wind stronger than 20 mph this has the affect of decreasing the yards added 
 
for backspin, with the largest effect for pure tailwind all the way to no effect for pure headwind, which is how the 
 
ball acts when played. For a lighter wind than 20 mph it has the effect of adding more yards, even with a tailwind. 
 
For no wind the term d/(bs+0.14*e) is simply divided by 1, having no effect, which models the scenario well. If we 
 
call AA AAA andsomething like BB and consider the (1-AA) term, a new and simpler formula can be divised. Here are the 
 
new values for BB:
 
BB for 90 deg = 0, or for:
80 = 0.06
70 = 0.12
60 = 0.17
50 = 0.23
40 = 0.31
30 = 0.33
20 = 0.37
10 = 0.385
0 = 0.4  
-10 = 0.576
-20 = 0.752
-30 = 0.928
-40 = 0.104
-50 = 0.28
-60 = 0.456
-70 = 0.632
-80 = 0.81
-90 = 1.0   
 
The new formula becomes:
 
distance to hit = d + w*(d/210)*sin(A) + 0.4 * e + {d/(bs+ 0.14*e)}/{1+(w/20)*BB}
 
 
 
Best of luck!

RadioactiveRebel 36 Posts

Sun, Jul 21 2013 1:27 PM

After playing a couple weeks, I'll add my 2 cents worth for how I play.
 
Winds under 10mph I totally ignore. Over 10mph I generally divide by 2 and add/subtract to my distance. For crosswinds over 10 I hit a bit early or late to compensate rather than move the marker.
 
For uphill shots I divide the amount of feet high to hole by half and add that to the yards needed. So 130yrds to hole 10 feet up I view as 135yrds and then figure wind as above. Now sometimes this falls short. Why? Because though the hole is only 10 feet higher than you, the edge of the green may be higher than that and cause you to fall short.....and a downhill slope where your ball lands may cause it to roll too far even with back spin.
 
If I put full back spin on ball I just shave 5 yards off distance if hitting over 100 yards.
 
Is it perfect? No. Does it work out close enough? Most of the time. Have a hole that constantly falls short? Make note of that holes special circumstances and adjust accordingly next time.
 
Also note this is using the starter gear you get when first sign up.

Alpick1 [Canada]
[WGT Nation member]

Alpick1
29 Posts
Wed, Sep 9 2020 11:01 AM
For me I simply use the rule of 3 and its pretty accurate for any wind circumstances :

1) Take your yardage to the pin = (A)

2) Use the first wind number (EX. if wind shows 13-15 Mph you take 13)

3) ** Take the 13 Mph wind and adjust it from where it stands in the wind indicator (see explanation how to do it below) = (B)

4) Multiply (A) x (B) = (C)  

5) Divide (C) by 200 where's the WGT algorithm for wind is bases on 200Yds distance.

6) The result will give you the amount of yds to add or substract from the shot.

7) Adjust for slope.

** To find (B) This is based on the following  wind strenght pattern : from 12 to 3 O'clock ,from 3 to 6 O'clock, from 6 to 9 O'clock or from 9 to 12 O'clock, there is always 5 wind positions.

So for example starting where 12 O'clock is Headwind and 6 O'clock is Tailwind :

12 or 6 O'clock your multiplyer number will be +/- 13 Mph,

1st position of wind after or before this (left or right from 12 O'clock or 6 O'clock ) will be +/- 11 Mph

2nd wind position will be +/- 9 Mph

3rd wind position will be +/- 7 Mph,

4th wind position will be +/- 5 Mph

5th wind position and the last one (Close to 3 O'clock or 9 O'clock) will be +/- 3Mph

*So for each wind position you will add or substract 2 Mph on any wind conditions.

Let say you have a 172Yds shot, Wind blowing at 15-17Mph from 6 O'clock (Tailwind) at 3rd position (Wind triangle will pointing on top corner left or right into the wind indicator). So that means you take the 15 as the wind factor and your Wind multiplyer will then be11Mph.

So 172 Yds x 11 Mph = 1892  divided by 11Mph = 9.46 Yds to substract from the shot witch will be a 163Yds shot to the pin.

Have fun with it and hit them str8 !


ScottHope [United Kingdom]
[WGT Nation member]

ScottHope
6,795 Posts
Thu, Sep 10 2020 1:41 PM

    Alpick1:
   So 172 Yds x 11 Mph = 1892  divided by 11Mph = 9.46 Yds to subtract from the shot which will be a 163Yds shot to the pin.

This part doesn't make sense to me Alpick1. To get 9.46 out of 1892 you need to divide it by 200, which is a figure you mentioned in part 5 of your post. Is that correct?

Another part that doesn't quite add up for me is your example.

   Alpick1:
   Let say you have a 172Yds shot, Wind blowing at 15-17Mph from 6 O'clock (Tailwind) at 3rd position (Wind triangle will pointing on top corner left or right into the wind indicator). So that means you take the 15 as the wind factor and your Wind multiplyer will then be11Mph

You state that each wind position after|before 12|6 O'clock subtracts multiples of 2mph from the wind speed.

Using that in your example where the wind speed is 15-17mph and the tailwind is at the 3rd position from 6 O'clock. Shouldn't the wind speed of 15mph have 6mph (not 4mph) deducted to bring it down to 9mph (not 11mph) to use as the multiplier?

Way to calculate putting power for specific green speeds:
 
To get a speed factor you divide the number 9 by the green speed. 
SLOW (7.4)...9 divided by 7.4 = 121.6% (roundup to 122) 
STANDARD (7.9)...9 divided by 7.9, = 113.9% (114)
FAST (9) ...9 divided by 9, which is simply one to one, or 100%
VERY FAST (10)...9 divided by 10, = 90% 
TOURNAMENT (11.)...9 divided by 11, = 81.8% (82)
TOURNAMENT (12)...9 divided by 12, = 75%
TOURNAMENT (13)...9 divided by 13 which is 69.23% (69)
 
For example, on a Tournament 12 green with a 20 foot putt that is 2 feet down one could calculate power needed as 20 - 2 = 18  * .75 = 13.5.