⛳ How much spin survives the rain?

Last week we looked at what headwinds do to scoring. This week, there’s another reason your usual shot might behave differently.

In MyGolfSpy’s 11,400-shot wedge test, the wedge with the highest spin on dry 50-yard shots produced 7,217 rpm. Add moisture and that fell to 3,506.

Another model went from 6,857 dry to 6,860 wet. Almost no change.

That’s quite a difference if you’ve bought a wedge expecting the same stopping power on a dewy autumn morning as on a dry summer's day.

Across 15 wedges, the biggest spin figure didn’t consistently mean the closest finish either. Carry distance and direction still mattered.

So when you next test wedges, ask how consistently they carry and how they behave when wet. A single impressive number leaves plenty unanswered.

Your current wedges deserve a look too.

Our guide to checking worn grooves explains what to inspect before deciding they need replacing. Age alone doesn’t make that decision for you.

And there's no better time to look at this than the off-season!

🥶 Your ball has a temperature too

Cold air and a cold golf ball are two different things.

​Golf Monthly tested three ball models at different temperatures. The Chrome Tour X carried 179.3 yards with a 7-iron at 17°C, then 170.2 yards when chilled to 5°C.

The models didn’t all respond alike, so don’t turn that into a fixed winter club adjustment.

Our heated-ball article covers earlier tests pointing to a simple habit: store your balls indoors at room temperature before playing.

Heating them beyond that doesn't buy an extra driver distance.

And leaving them in the garage or in the trunk of your car may not be the best idea either

Because if you arrive at the first tee with golf balls a lot colder than room temperature you are likely going to be giving up some distance straight off the bat!

🌧️ Read the notice before lifting

​National Club Golfer’s preferred-lies reminder arrives as England enters its October permission window.

But the calendar doesn’t give you permission to improve your lie. Your committee must adopt the Local Rule.

Check where it applies and how far you may place the ball, always no nearer the hole.

And don’t confuse preferred lies with lift, clean and replace: under that separate rule, the ball returns to its original spot.

Outside England, check your local arrangements. The club’s actual wording matters wherever you play.