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how to tell if a golf ball is still good

by Vicenta Gislason Published 2 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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Monitor the way the balls move. The newer one is likely to have some more bounce to it since it’s never been used before, but your older golf ball shouldn’t be far behind it. If they both bounce at relatively the same height, your older golf ball should be okay.

Monitor the way the balls move. The newer one is likely to have some more bounce to it since it's never been used before, but your older golf ball shouldn't be far behind it. If they both bounce at relatively the same height, your older golf ball should be okay.

Full Answer

Are used golf balls worth buying?

Two-piece golf balls last a long time. A two-piece ball has a solid rubber core with a soft plastic or ionomer cover. Ralph Peterson, research and development director for Wilson golf balls, said,...

How long do golf balls last in the garage?

Jun 04, 2021 · Without visible damage, a golf ball can last up to seven 18-hole rounds without any loss of performance. In fact, you are more likely to lose a golf ball on the course before it just wears out. But as soon as the ball feels rough, you should replace it. Most golfers swap out golf balls far more frequently and there’s nothing wrong with that.

How old are golf balls supposed to be?

Aug 14, 2018 · If you are playing a premium golf ball like a Pro V1, don’t be so quick to discard them if they start showing some visible signs of wear. Secondly, if you are looking to save some money, purchasing used golf balls can save you some serious money without sacrificing any …

Do golf balls get worn out?

When the golf ball eventually dries out, it is still not as effective as a golf ball that did not spend any time submerged in the water. The longer the ball stays in the water, the less it will fly. Now, you may be thinking you can live without a few extra yards as long as you save some money.

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How do you check a golf ball?

0:061:09How to Get a Golf Ball to "Check Up" - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipWhenever you hit a ball to check up on the green you're going to want to carry it almost all the wayMoreWhenever you hit a ball to check up on the green you're going to want to carry it almost all the way to the flag. With putting spin on the ball it'll stop within a couple feet of the hole.

Are old unused golf balls still good?

Do Unused Golf Balls Go Bad? If unused golf balls are stored at room temperature which is around 70-80 degrees Fahrenheit, they can last for 10 years. Golfweek.com indicates that you wouldn't be able to tell the difference between a new ball off the shelf and a new one that has been stored for years.Jun 19, 2020

Are 20 year old golf balls still good?

So keep your balls in a cool, dry place and they will last for awhile. The golf ball researchers at Titleist state, "Today's Titleist golf balls can be safely stored for five years or even more, as long as they are kept away from excessive heat. ... Normal indoor conditions should be fine for storage."

Do used golf balls lose distance?

Its results confirmed that in the absence of visible damage, repeated use had no effect on a ball's performance. However, it also found that even small scuffs led to a measurable loss in distance, reducing driver distance as much as 6 yards.

When should you throw away a golf ball?

Once the cover is cracked, it's completely useless to you. Sometimes, the noise will be a little bit faded, which could just mean that your golf balls are on their way out but haven't completely died yet. If you play competitively, you should replace them right away.

When should I replace my golf ball?

Tour players replace their golf ball anytime a half a dozen times a round – some players replace the ball every hole. It is a personal preference, but the data doesn't lie. A golf ball with a “scuff mark” or tear mark can vary offline by as much as 10 yards over a 100 yard distance.

What is the lifespan of a golf ball?

A golf ball in good cosmetic shape will hold its shelf life for 5-7 years or seven 18-hole rounds. However, scuff marks from any unfortunate play are more likely to result in a player changing golf balls much sooner than losing their core integrity.Oct 8, 2021

How long do golf balls last in the box?

There have been no definitive scientific studies on exactly how long they will be fine for however golf ball researchers at Titleist state that as long as you keep your golf balls away from excessive heat or cold they can safely be stored for five years and most likely up to a decade.

Do unused golf balls deteriorate with age?

He stated golf balls are now designed with multi-layer surfaces and solid cores, therefore will not go bad or impact performance. Although, golf balls with scuff marks could impact the ball's performance. This occurs from over-play, or by hitting other objects; rocks, trees, cart paths, etc.Jan 3, 2018

Can golf balls get waterlogged?

3 days agoThe golf ball core is hygroscopic, which means that it absorbs water. However, it takes 12 hours for the water to get through the cover and find its way to the core. Therefore, we can confidently conclude that a golf ball that has been immersed underwater for an extended period can be waterlogged.May 22, 2021

What do you do with old golf balls?

What to Do With Old Golf BallsSelling Old Golf Balls. Many people don't know that used golf balls can also be sold. ... Give Away Old Balls. ... Clean & Reuse Golf Balls. ... Turn Old Golf Balls Into Decorations. ... Use an Old Golf Ball as a Massage Tool. ... Use an Old Golf Ball as a Meat Tenderizer.Jan 19, 2022

Do cheap golf balls make a difference?

The cheap golf balls have fewer materials and they are designed to offer a single benefit to a golfer (ie. distance, high ball flight, low spin). An expensive golf ball is typically made of several more pieces and it can offer multiple levels of performance and functionality for a player.

Two-Piece

Two-piece golf balls last a long time. A two-piece ball has a solid rubber core with a soft plastic or ionomer cover. Ralph Peterson, research and development director for Wilson golf balls, said, "For a two-piece ball, we've really seen no changes after five to seven years."

Three-Piece

A three-piece golf ball, usually targeted at better players, features a solid rubber or liquid center surrounded by elastic windings and a Surlyn or balata cover. "Three-piece wound balls are a bit different because they go through stress relaxation of the windings, " said Peterson, adding that they should last "a couple of years."

Storage

GolfBallTest.org debunks a myth about golf ball storage: "Storing golf balls in the freezer is never recommended and does not preserve their compression and freshness, contrary to some belief," In fact, playing with cold balls will sap your drives of their normal distance. So keep your balls in a cool, dry place and they will last for awhile.

Considerations

Even if you can store golf balls for a years without a loss of performance, you might be disappointed in their performance when you take them to the golf course. That's because golf ball manufacturers are continually looking for cutting-edge methods to improve the performance of their balls.

How long does a golf ball last?

Without visible damage, a golf ball can last up to seven 18-hole rounds without any loss of performance. In fact, you are more likely to lose a golf ball on the course before it just wears out. But as soon as the ball feels rough, you should replace it.

What is a golf ball?

The modern golf ball is a pretty impressive, resilient piece of equipment. They are made to withstand high swing speeds, the sometimes unpredictable terrain of a golf course, and the errant shot.

Hundreds of Millions of Lost Balls

There is an enormous secondary market for used golf balls. It is estimated that there are as many as 400 million lost golf balls out there, and guys like this risk their lives to recover them.

How Did The Used Balls Perform?

For the test, I took a random selection of the balls sent to me and tested each of them on my launch monitor. I hit full shots with a Sand Wedge, which gives a real indication of how well they can still spin. Then I hit my driver to see if there were any issues with overall spin and distance.

Think Twice Before You Stop Using That Ball

To me, this test proved a couple of things. If you are playing a premium golf ball like a Pro V1, don’t be so quick to discard them if they start showing some visible signs of wear.

Construction of a Golf Ball

To best understand how golf balls are affected when they spend some time in the water, it’s essential to know how they are made. Generally speaking, golf balls are constructed of a cover, and then inside there are one two or sometimes three additional layers of materials.

Are Golf Balls Affected When They Go Under Water?

To determine how much golf balls are affected when they go underwater, we need to break this down into two categories, the first being new golf balls and the second being used golf balls.

What Happens?

When a golf ball with these micro-cracks ends up in a pond, water will seep into the center or core of the golf ball. When this happens, the core is not nearly as active as it was because of the water. It loses most of its spring effect that makes it fly.

How Long Does It Take To Get Waterlogged?

For a golf ball that has been hit several times and has some tiny imperfections in the cover, it will only take several hours for the golf ball to lose distance. This is not that much time.

Are Lake Balls Any Good?

So that brings us to the next question, if we know that golf balls do get waterlogged, are these golf balls worth purchasing? Here are a few things to consider.

What Does It Mean If They Are Refurbished – Are These Worth Using?

When you purchase a refurbished golf ball, you won’t know if it was in the water or not (unless the company claims that it wasn’t). A refurbished ball has it’s cover sandblasted off, replaced, and then it is painted to match what type of golf ball it originally was.

Does The Quality Of The Golf Ball Really Matter?

The quality of the golf ball makes a huge difference as soon as you can see and feel that difference although admittedly it will matter more for experts and improvers more than complete beginners.

How Golf Balls Are Made?

In order to better understand how water can affect a golf ball, it’s helpful to know how golf balls are constructed. Modern balls consist of multiple layers – either two, three, or four. All kinds of flashy core technology could be going on on the inside, but what’s really important is what’s going on with the outer layer.

Can Golf Balls Get Waterlogged?

Generally speaking, the surlyn and urethane outer shells of golf balls do their job pretty darn well. However, at the microstructural level, there are unavoidable gaps in the molecules. And these gaps are just big enough to allow water particles to squeeze their way through.

Does Water Affect Golf Ball Performance?

Theoretically, and anecdotally, yes. A layer of water inside the ball does it no favors. Since the ball isn’t able to compress as much, it will surely not be able to fly as far – especially if it’s been lying in water for months, or even years.

Should You Play With Waterlogged Golf Balls?

Modern golf balls are, in general, very well put together, and there is now evidence to suggest that a few months in a lake does not affect a ball’s performance.

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