Does golf balls have a shelf life- How to care your Golf balls Tips and Hacks
As a golfer I have been curious to know the shelf life of Golf ball while keeping its optimum performance. Is it 3 years? 5 years? 10 years? Indefinitely?
I’ve been gifted few boxes of golf balls and few of them I have started using. I was Wondering if I can take my time with them or start using them off. I assume over time the shell and core loses some elasticity, thus degrade in performance.
In this blog I am going to talk about the shelf life of golf balls still new and in the box and shelf life of the golf balls that are already being used on regular basis.
Shelf life of New Golf balls still in box
This majorly depends on where your “shelf” is. Stats suggest that under ideal temperature and humidity conditions the solid core balls will show minimal degradation over time.
I would think that would not be the case if you kept them in the garage or trunk of your car and they were exposed to extreme temperature variations.
What you will not get is advances in technology of newer models so unless you just love a specific year and model of ball, I personally would minimize my stockpile and upgrade as new models are released.
How to Care for the Golf balls in Box
Place of storage
The solid core balls decline more from storage conditions than from age. Most of the garage temperatures goes from -5F to +95F from summer to winter.
so no golf equipment must be stored in the garage.
If the Golf balls are stored in a closet ( Room Temperature)in side your home , then golf balls can sty in good condition for more than 20 years
.
Take note of new Designs:
With advances in design, the performance from 5 cycles ago will be different than the current, even with all else equal. You can make a decision to keep or donate to a junior golf program after a certain amount of storage time.
Shelf life of Golf balls that are on Constant use
Golf balls can wear out over time, but they are designed to be highly durable for a reason.
After all, a golf ball may be repeatedly hit so forcefully that it travels 211 MPH in the air and does not break apart.
Contrast this with tennis balls, which are replaced every nine sets. Golf balls are durable, but because they don’t last forever, you should be aware of the symptoms that your golf balls are nearing the end of their useful life.
There are specialised internet firms that only salvage and sell old golf balls.
If you come across any golf balls, which cost generally $3.99 per ball on average, why not sell them at a discount if they’re still in good condition?
Do Golf Balls Wear Out with regular use?
Yes, indeed
But, Is it a very quick process?
No way, no how.
In fact, there are still some golf balls from the late 1980s that individuals use on a daily basis.
It’s something you can’t foresee, so you add some unclear dates on to attempt to keep your golf balls as fresh as possible.
Your golf balls contain a barrier or cover layer on top, as well as a complicated inside. This can be either dual-layer or multi-layer.
Dual-layer golf balls tend to wear out their welcome sooner than multilayers. There is little to resist the shocks and collisions caused by a steel golf club end slamming against it hundreds of times.
You can do a few things.
How To Preserve Golf Balls For A Longer Shelf Life
Modern golf balls are as close to unbreakable as they can get. Period. I could be proven wrong any day I must say.
If you’re concerned about golf balls being ruined due to poor storage, you should know that we no longer use balata balls.
Modern design makes it exceedingly impossible to harm your golf balls just by incorrectly storing them. Because ethylene covers are manufactured, they can endure high and low temperatures without transmitting them to the dual or multilayer core of the golf ball.
This is crucial to remember: for the greatest outcomes, maintain your balls between 37° F and 82° F.
That margin I just provided you isn’t even all of it.
That margin I just told you isn’t even the entire thing, since it can go a little lower or higher than that, but temperature isn’t the only factor.
Humidity, altitude, and other factors all play a role, so have this safe, wide margin ready and adhere to it to the letter.
Mostly keep your Golf balls in Room Temperature in your Closet- golf balls will thank you and stay fresh and ever green!!
What happens to golf balls when they're submerged in water?
If your gold ball gets wet, it won’t break or decrease instantly.
The presence of a microfracture on the ball’s cover indicates that there was one there previously.
The first time it is exposed to water, however, it will not be harmed. If you’re one of those folks who spends their time searching for lost golf balls in streams and ponds on golf courses, I admire your commitment.
The majority of used golf balls have been bleached of their colour. Logo or brand name will fade away even if you have a white ball.
Since water may intensify and magnify ultraviolet (UV) radiation, ethylene on the golf ball’s cover is damaged.
Freshwater bodies of water on golf courses don’t have creatures that may darken the water and block UV radiation. Like a magnifying glass, it allows you to see little details.
Our knowledge of UV light’s ability to naturally break down synthetic polymers, which are used to create plastic bottles, chairs and golf ball covers, is limited to a few sources.
It might be a lost ball, depending on how long it’s been in the water and how terrible the bleaching is.
Do wet golf clubs do more damage to golf balls than dry ones?
They absolutely do.
After a light shower, make sure the ball and club are completely dried off before striking. Why not carry extra towels in your golf bag.?
It’s time to call it a day if it’s not simply a light drizzle or pitter-pattering. No friction occurs when you strike the club with a wet ball and clubhead.
The ball spins as a result of the friction that occurs when these two objects collide.
The ball gets mishit by the water, even if it’s only by a little amount, and the force is not distributed properly.
As a result, the dimple peaks become chipped, which might imply that you have to replace your balls. This is something that no one wants to happen.
You change the way you strike the ball, which accelerates wear and tear and increases your chances of breaking the ball on impact with the bat. On really rainy days, it’s not worth it, so make careful to dry your clubs before swinging.
Use These 5 Tips to Test Your Golf Ball
THE BOUNCE TEST IS NUMBER 1
It’s as simple as taking a fresh golf ball and bouncing it against the old one.
The ball may be bounced off a granite countertop, a tile floor, or any other hard surface.
Keep an eye on the balls’ movements. In spite of the fact that it’s brand new, your older golf ball should have a similar bounce to the newer one.
You should be able to use your older golf ball as long as they both bounce at around the same height.
Perform the ” Float” Test
Ideally, your golf balls should float… in saltwater. However, Golf balls sink to the bottom of a freshwater lake on a golf course because of the law of buoyancy.
If you can, obtain a couple of cups of seawater, or manufacture your own using aGlass of water and salt to generate a seawater equivalent in your kitchen.
When boiled with few table spoons of salt, tap water may be used as a substitute for saltwater with no difficulty.
You should add a tablespoon of salt to one cup of water in the jar. Then they can put the lid on the jar and shake until the salt is dissolved into the water.
You should add the golf ball to the jar to see if it floats or sinks. If the golf ball doesn’t float, you should continue adding and dissolving tablespoons of salt to the jar, one at the time, until it does.
IT HAS THE ABILITY TO TRAVEL LONG DISTANCES
Driving your ball as far as possible is the goal, followed by making a score under par.
In any case, that’s the fantasy I have. Go to a driving range or a golf course (whatever is most convenient for you) and mark any balls that you’re considering throwing away.
First, drive over them with the driver. Next, take a cart to gather them all. Identify where they are and how hard you hit them in order to avoid injury. If possible, utilise a laser rangefinder to determine how far you want the balls to go before you hit them.
Is the Golf Ball chipped?
Golf ball that has been damaged
If the ball is chipped in any way, you’ll need to go around and check it.
Splits or significant cracks in the cover are the most obvious, but you have to dig a little deeper.
Dimples that are scratched along the peak indicate that they are chipped. The peaks of the dimples are susceptible to chipping when your club makes contact with them (especially if the club is wet).
Ways to Use Or Refurbish Old Golf Balls
Using these simple procedures, you may recondition old golf balls that previous players have left behind.
1. COLLECT ‘EM
Go buy yourself a ball retriever, explore a golf course’s woods, and dig in the course’s little pond. Many dead golf balls can be found at any given time along the course of the course.
2 CLEAN ‘Em OFF
It’s actually a lot easier than it seems. Soak your golf balls in a soap solution for ten to twenty minutes before using them again.
Using a soft nylon or plastic bristle brush, remove any dirt and debris from the fish. A golf ball’s aerodynamics might be affected by excessive dirt.
3.POLISH ‘EM UP.
Make them sparkle with a little wax or polish.
No matter what it takes, the aim is to make them seem brand new right out of the box. Get the appearance of polished leather by buffing your shoes with a shoe shine brush or polish on a cloth.
4.TEST ‘EM carefully
Use the bounce test, float it, and do anything else you need to do to ensure that it will last.
Sandblasting them would need you to construct a new cover with dimples, so it’s a procedure of cleansing and rejuvenation.
Dimple-less golf balls are prohibited from competition and tournament play, so don’t get too carried away during the restoration process!
Does golf balls have a shelf life- How to care your Golf balls Tips and Hacks
As a golfer I have been curious to know the shelf life of Golf ball while keeping its optimum performance. Is it 3 years? 5 years? 10 years? Indefinitely?
I’ve been gifted few boxes of golf balls and few of them I have started using. I was Wondering if I can take my time with them or start using them off. I assume over time the shell and core loses some elasticity, thus degrade in performance.
In this blog I am going to talk about the shelf life of golf balls still new and in the box and shelf life of the golf balls that are already being used on regular basis.
Quick Guide!
Shelf life of New Golf balls still in box
This majorly depends on where your “shelf” is. Stats suggest that under ideal temperature and humidity conditions the solid core balls will show minimal degradation over time.
I would think that would not be the case if you kept them in the garage or trunk of your car and they were exposed to extreme temperature variations.
What you will not get is advances in technology of newer models so unless you just love a specific year and model of ball, I personally would minimize my stockpile and upgrade as new models are released.
How to Care for the Golf balls in Box
Place of storage
The solid core balls decline more from storage conditions than from age. Most of the garage temperatures goes from -5F to +95F from summer to winter.
so no golf equipment must be stored in the garage.
If the Golf balls are stored in a closet ( Room Temperature)in side your home , then golf balls can sty in good condition for more than 20 years
.
Take note of new Designs:
With advances in design, the performance from 5 cycles ago will be different than the current, even with all else equal. You can make a decision to keep or donate to a junior golf program after a certain amount of storage time.
Shelf life of Golf balls that are on Constant use
Golf balls can wear out over time, but they are designed to be highly durable for a reason.
After all, a golf ball may be repeatedly hit so forcefully that it travels 211 MPH in the air and does not break apart.
Contrast this with tennis balls, which are replaced every nine sets. Golf balls are durable, but because they don’t last forever, you should be aware of the symptoms that your golf balls are nearing the end of their useful life.
There are specialised internet firms that only salvage and sell old golf balls.
If you come across any golf balls, which cost generally $3.99 per ball on average, why not sell them at a discount if they’re still in good condition?
Do Golf Balls Wear Out with regular use?
Yes, indeed
But, Is it a very quick process?
No way, no how.
In fact, there are still some golf balls from the late 1980s that individuals use on a daily basis.
It’s something you can’t foresee, so you add some unclear dates on to attempt to keep your golf balls as fresh as possible.
Your golf balls contain a barrier or cover layer on top, as well as a complicated inside. This can be either dual-layer or multi-layer.
Dual-layer golf balls tend to wear out their welcome sooner than multilayers. There is little to resist the shocks and collisions caused by a steel golf club end slamming against it hundreds of times.
You can do a few things.
How To Preserve Golf Balls For A Longer Shelf Life
Modern golf balls are as close to unbreakable as they can get. Period. I could be proven wrong any day I must say.
If you’re concerned about golf balls being ruined due to poor storage, you should know that we no longer use balata balls.
Modern design makes it exceedingly impossible to harm your golf balls just by incorrectly storing them. Because ethylene covers are manufactured, they can endure high and low temperatures without transmitting them to the dual or multilayer core of the golf ball.
This is crucial to remember: for the greatest outcomes, maintain your balls between 37° F and 82° F.
That margin I just provided you isn’t even all of it.
That margin I just told you isn’t even the entire thing, since it can go a little lower or higher than that, but temperature isn’t the only factor.
Humidity, altitude, and other factors all play a role, so have this safe, wide margin ready and adhere to it to the letter.
Mostly keep your Golf balls in Room Temperature in your Closet- golf balls will thank you and stay fresh and ever green!!
What happens to golf balls when they’re submerged in water?
If your gold ball gets wet, it won’t break or decrease instantly.
The presence of a microfracture on the ball’s cover indicates that there was one there previously.
The first time it is exposed to water, however, it will not be harmed. If you’re one of those folks who spends their time searching for lost golf balls in streams and ponds on golf courses, I admire your commitment.
The majority of used golf balls have been bleached of their colour. Logo or brand name will fade away even if you have a white ball.
Since water may intensify and magnify ultraviolet (UV) radiation, ethylene on the golf ball’s cover is damaged.
Freshwater bodies of water on golf courses don’t have creatures that may darken the water and block UV radiation. Like a magnifying glass, it allows you to see little details.
Our knowledge of UV light’s ability to naturally break down synthetic polymers, which are used to create plastic bottles, chairs and golf ball covers, is limited to a few sources.
It might be a lost ball, depending on how long it’s been in the water and how terrible the bleaching is.
Do wet golf clubs do more damage to golf balls than dry ones?
They absolutely do.
After a light shower, make sure the ball and club are completely dried off before striking. Why not carry extra towels in your golf bag.?
It’s time to call it a day if it’s not simply a light drizzle or pitter-pattering. No friction occurs when you strike the club with a wet ball and clubhead.
The ball spins as a result of the friction that occurs when these two objects collide.
The ball gets mishit by the water, even if it’s only by a little amount, and the force is not distributed properly.
As a result, the dimple peaks become chipped, which might imply that you have to replace your balls. This is something that no one wants to happen.
You change the way you strike the ball, which accelerates wear and tear and increases your chances of breaking the ball on impact with the bat. On really rainy days, it’s not worth it, so make careful to dry your clubs before swinging.
Use These 5 Tips to Test Your Golf Ball
THE BOUNCE TEST IS NUMBER 1
It’s as simple as taking a fresh golf ball and bouncing it against the old one.
The ball may be bounced off a granite countertop, a tile floor, or any other hard surface.
Keep an eye on the balls’ movements. In spite of the fact that it’s brand new, your older golf ball should have a similar bounce to the newer one.
You should be able to use your older golf ball as long as they both bounce at around the same height.
Perform the ” Float” Test
Ideally, your golf balls should float… in saltwater. However, Golf balls sink to the bottom of a freshwater lake on a golf course because of the law of buoyancy.
If you can, obtain a couple of cups of seawater, or manufacture your own using aGlass of water and salt to generate a seawater equivalent in your kitchen.
When boiled with few table spoons of salt, tap water may be used as a substitute for saltwater with no difficulty.
You should add a tablespoon of salt to one cup of water in the jar. Then they can put the lid on the jar and shake until the salt is dissolved into the water.
You should add the golf ball to the jar to see if it floats or sinks. If the golf ball doesn’t float, you should continue adding and dissolving tablespoons of salt to the jar, one at the time, until it does.
IT HAS THE ABILITY TO TRAVEL LONG DISTANCES
Driving your ball as far as possible is the goal, followed by making a score under par.
In any case, that’s the fantasy I have. Go to a driving range or a golf course (whatever is most convenient for you) and mark any balls that you’re considering throwing away.
First, drive over them with the driver. Next, take a cart to gather them all. Identify where they are and how hard you hit them in order to avoid injury. If possible, utilise a laser rangefinder to determine how far you want the balls to go before you hit them.
Is the Golf Ball chipped?
Golf ball that has been damaged
If the ball is chipped in any way, you’ll need to go around and check it.
Splits or significant cracks in the cover are the most obvious, but you have to dig a little deeper.
Dimples that are scratched along the peak indicate that they are chipped. The peaks of the dimples are susceptible to chipping when your club makes contact with them (especially if the club is wet).
Ways to Use Or Refurbish Old Golf Balls
Using these simple procedures, you may recondition old golf balls that previous players have left behind.
1. COLLECT ‘EM
Go buy yourself a ball retriever, explore a golf course’s woods, and dig in the course’s little pond. Many dead golf balls can be found at any given time along the course of the course.
2 CLEAN ‘Em OFF
It’s actually a lot easier than it seems. Soak your golf balls in a soap solution for ten to twenty minutes before using them again.
Using a soft nylon or plastic bristle brush, remove any dirt and debris from the fish. A golf ball’s aerodynamics might be affected by excessive dirt.
3.POLISH ‘EM UP.
Make them sparkle with a little wax or polish.
No matter what it takes, the aim is to make them seem brand new right out of the box. Get the appearance of polished leather by buffing your shoes with a shoe shine brush or polish on a cloth.
4.TEST ‘EM carefully
Use the bounce test, float it, and do anything else you need to do to ensure that it will last.
Sandblasting them would need you to construct a new cover with dimples, so it’s a procedure of cleansing and rejuvenation.
Dimple-less golf balls are prohibited from competition and tournament play, so don’t get too carried away during the restoration process!