Elevation golf calculator
This elevation golf calculator adjusts any yardage for an uphill or downhill shot and for the altitude of the course. Elevation changes a golf shot in two separate ways, and this tool handles both at once to give you the distance the shot really plays.
Elevation golf calculator: enter the shot
Enter the distance to the flag, how far it sits above or below you, and how high the course is above sea level. You get the distance the shot plays.
How does elevation affect a golf shot?
Elevation matters in two ways. First, a green above or below you changes how far the ball has to travel before it lands, so an uphill shot plays longer and a downhill shot plays shorter. Second, a course high above sea level has thinner air, so the golf ball flies farther there than it does at the coast.
How to use the elevation golf calculator
- Choose yards and feet, or metres.
- Enter the distance to the flag.
- Enter the height change: a plus number for uphill, a minus number for downhill.
- Enter the altitude of the course above sea level, or leave it at 0.
- Read the plays-like distance and how many clubs to change.
Golf elevation formula
Uphill or downhill adjustment = height change in feet ÷ 3, in yards
Altitude gain = altitude in feet × 0.00116, as a percentage
The first is the caddie's rule: one yard of distance for every yard the green sits above or below you. The second is a widely used formula from the ball makers for how much farther the ball carries in thin air.
Golf elevation adjustment example
The flag is 150 yards away and 20 feet above you. The uphill adjustment is 20 ÷ 3 = 6.7 yards, so the shot plays 157. Now put the same shot on a course at 5,280 feet. The ball flies 6.1% farther there, so 156.7 ÷ 1.061 = 148 yards. The altitude more than cancels the hill.
Golf altitude distance chart
| Course altitude | Extra carry | 150 yd plays |
|---|---|---|
| 1,000 ft | 1.2% | 148 yd |
| 3,000 ft | 3.5% | 145 yd |
| 5,280 ft, a mile high | 6.1% | 141 yd |
| 7,350 ft | 8.5% | 138 yd |
Elevation golf calculator FAQs
How much does elevation change affect golf distance?
Add one yard for every yard of rise, or one yard for every three feet. A green 30 feet up adds 10 yards, which is about one club. The elevation golf calculator above does the sum for any height.
Do I add or subtract yardage for a downhill golf shot?
Subtract. The ball stays in the air longer before it meets the lower ground, so it travels farther. Enter the height change as a minus number.
How much farther does a golf ball go at altitude?
About 1.16% for every 1,000 feet above sea level. At a mile high, that is roughly 6%, or 15 yards on a 250-yard drive.
Is this the same as slope on a golf rangefinder?
Yes. A slope rangefinder measures the angle to the flag and does this same sum. Check the rules of your competition before using one: slope mode is often not allowed.